I agree with the thesis of David Von Drehle’s Washington Post column. I think that the U. S. should promote democracy in the world. We just differ on the means. I don’t think that bombing other countries, stationing troops in most of them, invading the countries of every Tom, Dick, and Abdul, or letting the U. S. economy dwindle to a few large banks, some technology firms, and a health care system so that most wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few ultra-rich promotes democracy.
I don’t think that Ronald Reagan’s bellicosity and building up of the American military or Maggie Thatcher’s assertiveness brought about the collapse of the Soviet Union. I think it was their optimism and building up of the American and British economies, respectively, buoyed by the prosperity of free Americans and Britons.
We can’t accomplish that by importing legions of poorly educated peasants or by bringing in low level technicians who speak incomprehensible English. That will promote both income and social inequality.
The push factors have failed to promote democracy everywhere we’ve tried them while the pull factors have been incredibly effective. Why do we keep pushing?
promote democracy :
Can we at least say, Democratic republic? at least so we don’t look like fools?