Fourth off I dont mean to flame you but you are exactly what i mean so proud of what we have done for the world. Can you tell me what we have done that WASNT done ONLY in our interest alone?
I'm a bit confused. Whose interests should the US Govt be concerned with? Paraguay's? Canada's? Maybe the US Govt should set policy with an eye to how it benefits India? No, wait, even better...instead of shipping surplus grain to Ethiopia so as to to not cause a drop in our grain prices like you said, why don't we send grain that's actually meant to be eaten by our population! That way prices will be driven up, and it will be more expensive for American citizens to eat as a result of US Govt. policy.
The United States government exists primarily to protect and advance the interests of the United States, and will continue to do so unapologetically. Read the last sentance again please, because no matter how many many times I say that on this board, people are always surprised and indignant when the US does something to further it's own agenda at the expense of another nation(s). History has shown however, that when it coincides with, or does not conflict with the US agenda, the nation is capable of extreme generosity. It is the single largest (by a *huge* margin) contributor to NGE's (Non-Governmental Entities..ie..Red Cross, Amnesty, etc..) and relief agencies in the world, and when there is a disaster anywhere, the US is the first foreign nation on the scene, with people, supplies, and money. Again, much of this also serves US interests, but if I give charity to get a tax deduction, is that money worth any less?
Additionally, the US government's policies are supported by most of the people, most of the time. That is exactly how a Republic should work. We here may not think that drug offenses should not be felonies punishable by prison, but the majority does, and polls show that they don't support legalization. Whether the people support the govt.'s positon, or the govt. supports the people's position is almost immaterial, either way there is broad support for most US policies, which ensures that while the country may make adjustments, it's not changing course in the forseeable future.
And why should it? You think it's an accident that the US is the most powerful nation on earth? You think it's just by chance that it's citizens have access to the largest supply of good & services on earth, and that immigrants from all over the world scrape and claw and scratch to get to America? If you were to score: social, economic, & political freedom, opportunity, fairness & equality (racial & economic), the US would definately not place highest in all individually, but average them, and the US would score higher than any nation/society/government ever seen on the face of this planet.
By the way...I don't believe there is such thing as America, or an American. The US has been, and continues to be a grand experiment in what can be achieved when you bring together people from different cultures all over the world, and allow them to use their talents. You're gonna get some friction, but you're gonna get some cool shit too. If you wanna say there's injustice, and it's not even close to perfect, fine...you're 100% right. Go out and work for social progress, just don't expect Nirvana overnight.