What the US can teach

The role of the US in the world has been to adopt policies that allow our citizens to grow their wealth and it still is. The US needs to encourage foreign governments to pursue the same path. The US doesn’t need to take care of these foreign countries or their citizens.  They are responsible for that and their governments are responsible for making their citizens self-reliant.

The US had a prosperous agricultural economy and played a significant role in advancing the industrial revolution in the 1800s. Citizens and their families were responsible for their own self-support and the government was funded largely by tariffs. We were a meritocracy. Families prospered in proportion to their own ingenuity and diligence. Using that model, with few distractions, citizens were able to pursue their own interests and enjoy fulfilling their own aspirations. The US had a historical and geographical advantages, The US was physically isolated from war after 1965, but poised to participate fully in the industrial revolution.

Great Britain started the industrial revolution and seemed to be able to participate fully in the 1800s despite the distractions of war. They were the largest empire on the planet.

Other European countries made their contributions to the applied sciences that led to more discoveries and the expansion of the industrial revolution to all areas of endeavor.

Many other countries had customs and habits of corruption that distracted their citizens from the quest for economic freedom and many still do.  American Indians, living on government reservations, are free to leave the reservation to enter the US mainstream achieve their own goals and some do that. So many do not. When government “takes care” of individuals rather than allowing them to take care of themselves, something happens to them. They become distracted and complacent.

Some customs we find in foreign countries seem to be helpful, particularly in Asia. They are respectful as well as ingenious and diligent.

Russians lived through Monarchy, Communism and lots of wars throughout their history. They missed the industrial revolution in large part because of wars that raged through the 1800s. They became good fighters, but never learned how to have an economy. Russia is twice the size of the US, but it barely keeps its head above water. They never took the time to learn free market business or industry.

China lived through Monarchy, Communism and isolation. They are growing their economy even though it remains a Communist country

The US needs to encourage all countries to concentrate on building a free market economy with the rule of law. It doesn’t seem to matter whether or not they are democracies. Property rights need to be established and education needs to include developing skills needed to do their own projects.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader