Friday, November 04, 2016

Is the best justification for voting for Trump to upset the expectations of those who believe that U.S. taxpayers exist for the benefit of the rest of the world?


No doubt, Hillary Clinton is the world’s candidate for president 
notes the Cato Institute's Doug Bandow in an article I agree with only partly.
The Washington Post titled one article: “The World is Pulling for Clinton.” 
One reason is Donald Trump’s ugly populism. America is not unique in that respect, however. In Europe, a gaggle of populist parties is on the march, some having entered government. 

Even more important to foreign governments is Washington’s commitment to subsidize the defense of virtually every advanced industrialized nation.  

 … both the Obama administration and Clinton campaign have done their best to convince the Europeans that America will always do its duty as the former see it, that is, put the interests of nominal allies before that of the U.S. [including using U.S. troops around the world only when such nominal allies, not when Americans, think they are necessary.] 

 … There are, of course, lots of good reasons to vote against Donald Trump. But perhaps the best justification for voting for him is to upset the expectations of those who believe that American taxpayers exist for the benefit of the rest of the world. Surely countries capable of defending themselves and their regions should do so.
Americans should vote for whoever they believe would best serve the U.S. They should be suspicious if other nations strongly prefer one candidate. Those in Washington should take the interests of others in account, but should never forget who they are obligated to serve.