Why Does Everyone Hate Uncle Sam?

Last week, while discussing the turmoil in Serbia and the assault on the U.S. Embassy, with my class, one of my eighth graders, a Dutch student, asked, “why does the whole world hate the United States?” I thought for a minute and then realized that the whole world does not hate the United States, quite the contrary, they simply hate our government. I must say it is with good reason.

I have lived abroad for the last seven years in three different countries (Ecuador, Mali, and Zambia) and have rarely experienced anti-American sentiment. When 911 happened, the American community in Ecuador was supported and comforted by the Ecuadorian people. My family personally received emails and letters of condolences from them. In all three countries, American ideals – equal opportunity and freedom, as well as our way of life are greatly admired. There are always lines at our Embassy of people applying for visas to visit, work, or study in the U.S. These are hardly the actions of people who hate the U.S.

However, while aspiring to live in the U.S. and appreciating our way of life, many do hate our government for how it acts around the world. Iraq – The U.S. government bombed Iraq through the 1990’s to allegedly aid the Kurds even though when the Kurds expected our help to overthrow Saddam at the end of the first Gulf war they were left high and dry by the U.S. government. Then the U.S. invaded Iraq under the pretext of carefully orchestrated lies about Saddam’s links to al-Qaida and weapons of mass destruction (see Center for Public Integrity website). With no end to the undeclared war in sight, John McCain has indicated that U.S. forces will be in Iraq for another one hundred years. The terrorists are licking their chops.

Japan – Recently, two U.S. marines have been accused of raping Japanese children. This caused a public outcry in Japan certainly against those marines but also for the U.S. to remove its military bases from Japanese soil. The war has been over for almost sixty-three years and we still occupy Japanese soil. Why?

Cuba – We have economically embargoed that country for forty-six years. Bad health is what eventually made Castro step down. With new leadership in place in Cuba, this would be the perfect time to end the embargo and attempt to bring real change through free market economics to Cuba. Our “leaders” seem none too keen for that.

Kosovo – The Serbs hate our government’s actions there just like we would hate theirs’ if the Serbian government encouraged Florida to secede from the U.S.

Canada – Our friends to the north have even been peeved at us for our government’s self-righteous attitude toward their medical marijuana law.

Now, I know I run the risk of being called unpatriotic and some would even say I should just stay abroad if I hate my country so much. Grow up. To criticize one’s own government is a natural right and a responsibility of citizenship. Our government has not only wronged many in the world, it has wronged its own people.

It takes money from hard-working Americans and gives it to institutions like the United Nations and World Bank, who then give it to third world dictators and bureaucrats who put it in their personal bank accounts. These countries then go into default on their loans and the American taxpayer is called to bail them out again.

Our government allows the Federal Reserve Bank to print money out of thin air. Then it distributes it first to its banking and corporate buddies. The bankers and corporate types enjoy pre-inflated money while the American worker eventually experiences higher prices and is left holding the debt of the newly printed money from the Fed.

Uncle Sam has continually eroded the rights of the very citizens it exists to protect. The so-called Patriot Act has expanded the federal government's ability to use wiretaps without judicial oversight; has made it far easier for the government to monitor private internet usage; has authorized “sneak and peek” warrants enabling federal authorities to search a person’s home, office, or personal property without that person’s knowledge; and has required libraries and bookstores to turn over records of books read by their patrons.

There are other examples of our government’s cruel and unusual punishment that could be stated - the Drug War and eminent domain to name just two. I had high hopes (no pun intended) that this election cycle would be different. That as a country we would demand more from our leaders. Barack, Hillary, or John are not going to deliver. In the larger scheme of things, it does not really matter if the world or individual Americans hate our government. What matters is that Americans understand the reasons why Uncle Sam is hated and stop playing the patriotism card. The U.S. government is doing a lot of things wrong and it is up to the American people to put a stop to it. Hopefully, eventually, this will happen through the ballot box not the battle field.

A Letter to Republicans

Today, Republicans will participate in twenty-one primaries and caucuses in pursuit of choosing their presidential nominee. The party faithful should consider where each of the four candidates stand on spending and taxes before they make their selection.

In terms of spending, the National Taxpayers Union recently issued a report on the spending proposals of all four GOP candidates. The economic proposals of all candidates but one would increase government spending. Mike Huckabee is the biggest spender with a proposal that would increase federal spending by $54 billion. Mitt Romney’s proposal would add $19.5 billion. John McCain comes in as the third Republican candidate for president with a proposal that would increase spending by $6 billion. McCain’s six billion spending increase does not include his plans to find Osama bin ladin, keep U.S. troops stationed in Iraq for the next 100 years or his plans to expand the war on the Middle East to Iran.

According to the National Taxpayers Union, the only Republican candidate for president that has not proposed spending increases is Ron Paul. As a matter of fact the Union indicated that his proposal would cut federal spending by $150 billion! In ten terms in Congress, Dr. Paul has never voted for an unbalanced budget or a tax increase noted the Union.

In terms of taxes, the Club for Growth rated each of the candidates on tax policy. The Club found that Governor Huckabee really does live up to his nickname “Tax Hike Mike”. During his tenure as governor, the average tax burden on Arkansans increased by an average of 47%. Sales taxes (Fair Tax anyone?) and motor fuel taxes led the way with increases of 37% and 16% respectively. According to the Union and the Club, Huckabee would no doubt be a huge tax and spender as president.

Governor Romney’s positions aren’t much better. As Massachusetts governor, he opposed Ballot Question 1 to eliminate the state income tax, proposed an auto excise tax on SUVs, proposed a green fields tax on the development of open space, refused to endorse the 2003 Bush tax cuts, and proposed a federal gas tax hike. Mitt represents the old and discredited Rockefeller wing of the GOP. He is a former northeastern governor with proposals that would increase federal spending and tax positions that will raise taxes to pay for his increases.

John McCain has done anything but talk straight about taxes. He was one of only two Republican senators to oppose the 2001 Bush tax cuts even though he states that he wants to make them permanent today. He also voted against repealing the Death Tax in 2002 and he was one of only three GOP senators to oppose the 2003 tax reductions. Quoting the Club for Growth, “…Senator McCain's vigorous opposition to and misguided rhetoric against the most pro-growth tax cuts in twenty years should make economic conservatives very worried about the tax policies that would emanate from a McCain presidential administration.”

The Club for Growth had nothing pro-tax to write about Congressman Paul, because he has never proposed or voted for a tax increase in nearly 20 years in Congress. Quoting the Club, “Ron Paul's record on taxes is excellent…..”

Since history repeats itself, it is important to vote for a candidate that has a history of fiscal conservatism. There is only one Republican candidate that fits that bill – Ron Paul. All the others, Huckabee, Romney, and McCain have a history of tax and spend.

National Taxpayers Union – http://www.ntu.org
The Club for Growth - http://www.clubforgrowth.org

Kenn Jacobine teaches English and History for the American International School of Lusaka, Zambia