With some 232 years under our belts, one has to wonder if we are making some of the very same mistakes as did other world powers of the past?

Any nation that believes itself to be invulnerable to finality, while undertaking a similar path as did the likes of the Greeks, Rome, the French of yore, Great Britain and Spain, is only fooling itself - and there are no new worlds to conquer or inhabit, save for the outback of South America, Antarctica, and the outlying planets of our own solar system, the latter being a chore and a half!!

“So what direction are we heading into, and if wrong, can we correct our course?”

With the discovery of vast oil and mineral deposits, the Russians and others are rebuilding their decaying societies. China too, is becoming a super, super power, with no end of growth in sight!

The nations of Europe are ganging up to create a mighty contender, similar to the one envisioned in the first Roller Ball Movie, with a hint of George Orwell (Eric Blair) thrown in for good measure. “So who does that leave?”

Thanks to the never-ending generosity of our Uncle Sam, a gaggle of forever bleeding hearts, our unlimited open door policies, and pure apathy and ego

on our part, we are fast becoming just another also-ran! Not a pleasant fact to face, but a fact none the less!

Those who relied totally upon our innovation and tenacity to carry the day are now beginning to realize that inventiveness and an awesome industrial base alone, are quickly overcome by lies, false claims of friendship, foreign treachery, and of course outright theft - maybe Tail-Gunner Joseph McCarthy had it (at least) partially right?

“So what can we do to cure a near fatal illness like this?” We can smarten up, take all promises with a grain of salt, realize that yesterday’s enemies are probably today’s as well, trust basically in ourselves, keep our eye over our shoulders, and re-adopt the ethics of some two centuries past. “They worked back then, and even progress has not outstripped the need for common sense in this day and age!”

It is, as I have avowed time and time again in the past, great to be a friend to the world - but even friends can turn on you in a heartbeat! After all, was not China once on her knees before the Japanese Empire, and what about the Spanish, the Brits., the French, Mexico, the Germans etc., etc.? Have we not warred with them all, at one time or another?

The United States has always been famous for it’s generosity. We have rebuilt past enemies, opened our doors wide to invaders (even peaceful ones), gave away our money and fruits of our brain, fought other’s wars even when the direct threat was not to us, and we have even bowed to world opinion on more than one occasion. For if this were not true, we would have tied a rusted can to the tail of the United Nations long ago!

It is not that the U.N. is a bad idea - but then so is morphine and sodium chloride good, if taken in moderation that is! An overdose of any of these, however, can be fatal, or at least, they can damage one immensely!

The same, unfortunately, can be said of fair-weather friends, some self-serving politicos, and a few allies of the moment! “We must walk softly, but keep that big stick close at hand!!”

VERITAS (Truth)