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The source of the United States’ phenomenal financial problems could be traced to its modus operandi, which seems now to have gone completely out of control. It does not stem from any of its many educational and social programs or from health care and social security matters. It all amounts from its dangerous philosophy, which consists of solving all problems through the manufacture and sales of weapons and the never-ending of struggles and wars.

Immaturity in Perspective

The United States is relatively a very young nation. Regardless of its tremendous resources, it is still immature as revealed in its determination to encounter problems everywhere through the show of machismo. Any nation or group of nations that chooses to follow the same US approaches in international relations is bound to end bankrupt, same way of this American nation today. Since World War II ended in 1945, the United States embarked upon a great military build-up to control the entire world through the military.

To this end, it proceeded to build military bases in almost every nation, some 146 countries out of about 180 of them. It equipped several of these with missiles pointing in every direction. It stationed military warships in virtually all the major seas and oceans around every continent. These actions were always taken without any consultation with the United Nations. Because of this, the USA has been viewed as a threat by millions of people around the world.

For the former Soviet Union to put missiles in Cuba close to the USA was not acceptable but for the United States to put missiles in Poland pointing to Russia and in Colombia pointing to Venezuela that was fine! For any country in the world to dictate to the United States what to do that is not acceptable. But for the USA to dictate to other nations what to do is viewed as normal, like telling Iran and North Korea that they should not have nuclear weapons.

At this stage of history, the United States could find a providential way in turning this phenomenal financial problem of national debt into a very good opportunity. In this regard, those nations that provided the USA with big loans may become involved in doing something positive and constructive in the best interest of all people in the world without exception. They could get together and discuss vital conditions that should be set for the USA to have all of its debt forgiven at once. These conditions should not be taken lightly since they would benefit all people. To this end, the USA must observe the following conditions:

Criteria for Eliminating National Debt

1. Closing 90% of its foreign military bases by removing all US troops from there and returning them home to enjoy and cherish their beloved ones again, while donating all US military buildings to humanitarian organizations.

2. Refusing to let US military stay in such bases even if the head of state of such nations were to request the continuous presence of US troops. The USA could provide nations in need with physicians and school teachers instead.

3. Changing the mission of warships scattered around the world by using them as bases to conduct humanitarian activities, like using them as floating hospitals to serve the very poor nations of the world especially.

4. Developing a global program of disarmament and arms control, starting with the abolition of all nuclear weapons and landmines. There is a better chance for peace if the world were to be disarmed than armed.

5. Replacing the product of the military industrial complex from one of destruction to one of construction, like making tractors instead of tanks, building homes for the poor instead of barracks for soldiers.

6. Training soldiers to perform humanitarian work as to help alleviate human suffering through the elimination of hunger, provision of adequate residential facilities, and giving needed assistance to the invalid and the sick.

7. Stopping once for all the use of the military to solve any human problem whatsoever. This means traditional belligerent polices should be replaced by healthy dialogues and a sound diplomacy.

8. Setting up an example of how a good government should take good care of its people by providing them with good educational means, excellent health care and adequate residential facilities.

If we were to examine all the problems that have developed in the world over the past 6,000 years of recorded history we are bound to discover the following. The source of any problem could be always traced to some lack of responsibility of one kind or another. In a capitalistic nation, such as the United States, the super rich seem to be in control of everything, including the US government. Hence, they have the sacrosanct obligation to take the initiative to solve the present serious American financial problem.

Provided Essential Guidelines

The leading spiritual leaders of all times, from Confucius and Buddha down to Jesus all the way to Francis of Assisi, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa in addition to others, provided us with good guidelines. They pointed out for us the path we should take as to create a harmonious world characterized by peace and harmony. Those blessed with great wealth are urged to give to the needy all or, at least, half of their possessions to the poor. This applies especially to all millionaires that would include also many members of the US Congress.

The Republican approach of not taxing the rich adequately goes against the teaching of these outstanding spiritual figures in history. While Republicans, more than Democrats, claim openly with pride belief in God and in Jesus Christ, they seem to be among the first that literally ignore the teachings of the Master Teacher of Nazareth. They listen to the teaching of Jesus only if they agree with Him, only if they feel it is in their best interest. They literally care less about the words Jesus said: The least thing you do to others you are doing it to me.

If Jesus were to materialize today and walk in the streets among us He would not hesitate to describe Republicans in the USA as hypocrites putting them on the same level of the Pharisees of His time. All Republicans in the United States need is simply to have a clear and clean conscience that is altruistic and that is characterized by love and compassion for all the needy especially the poor and the middle class. Their determination to deprive the millions of hard-working struggling Americans from the social security and Medicare reveals that their priorities are clearly upside down.

It is obvious that they want to cut these vital benefits, which do keep Americans alive, for more weapons and for more wars. When one realizes that they want to pass these two vital items to the “private sector” meaning insurance companies, they do reveal that their responsibility for the welfare of the American people is zero. This is based on the fact that the primary purpose of insurance companies is not to provide specific services but to literally exploit the people the best they can to fleece them of all the money possible.

The only question that needs to be raised relative to the phenomenal debts the USA has amounting to trillions is this. What is the real source that caused the United States to plunge into such a huge debt? In the first place, this debt was not there for decades. In fact, when President George W. Bush became President he inherited from the previous President William J. Clinton some $800 billion surplus. The answer is simple. It originated from the US government’s decision to start putting top priority on the manufacture and sales of weapons and the determination to solve all encountered problems through devastating wars.

Unjustified Reasons for Wars

The reasons given for the US invasion of Iraq were proven to be entirely false. This war, which is still going on already for eight years, has caused the destruction of the infrastructure of a number of cities, while causing the ruthless massacre of entire large populations, not mentioning those that were maimed with legs or arms amputated. This was in addition to the creation of thousands of refugees and the needless loss of lives of quite a few thousands of young US soldiers. This was viewed by some world-wide leaders as immoral and illegal.

Among them we find Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu of South Africa, the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, in addition to others. If the United States decided to use the money spent on the Iraqi war constructively, it could have provided adequate residential facilities for all the homeless in the world scattered especially in Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. This would have contributed to the elimination of so much pain among millions of poor people.

Of course, as though this was not enough, the United States invaded also Afghanistan prior to Iraq for purpose, it said, to capture Osama Bin Laden. This also led to the destruction of the infrastructure of cities and the massacre of tens of thousands of innocent people, including women, children the elderly and the sick. For this war the United States already spent several billions of dollars, enough money that could be used to provide the American people with free health care and free education for the next several decades.

Ascetical writers tell us that the basic difference between the wise and the fool lies here. The wise learns vicariously, that is, through the experience of others, while the fool learns the hard way, that is, through his own mistakes. We learn from history that the military never brought about peace on a permanent basis. Its presence was hardly welcome anywhere since the military always served as an instrument to destroy the infrastructure of cities, leaving tens of thousands homeless and killing numerous innocent people.

All the major powers in history, from the time of Alexander the Great to the Romans all the way to the Ottoman Empire and later the Spanish and the British Empire, had one thing in common. They all collapsed because the money they spent on wars led to the destruction of their economy. The days for the collapse of the US economy seem to be counted. The United States’ decision to police the whole world and to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries proved to be a grave mistake. Americans are now suffering as a result.

Need for Humility and Repentance

Today the USA has learned the meaning of exceeding one’s limits. This nation needs to be humble by asking the world for pardon for its past belligerent policies that forced many to suffer crucial pain. This is what the saintly Pope John Paul II did when he asked the world to forgive the Catholic Church for its past crusades against Moslems. The world was so impressed at this humble approach of this saintly Pope that many became Catholics as a result. The USA would achieve same positive results if it were to follow the Pope’s example.

Some time ago, Pope Benedict XVI stated that there was a time when some wars were viewed as justifiable. Then he said: War is never justified under any circumstance whatsoever. Since the majority of those in the US government, especially Republicans, claim with pride to be Christians, they are expected to observe the admonitions of their Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. This Master Teacher has openly rejected the Old Testament’s eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth that always revealed impatience stemming from hatred.

This same Master Teacher replaced this doctrine by asking His followers to practice tolerance and love instead. This explains why we have the proverb: You can catch more flies with honey. Moreover, we all know that charity begins at home. The US government must know that before it tries to “fix” the world, it has first to try to “fix” itself. Before it poses as savior to people of other nations, it should first pose as savior to its very own people. This constitutes a sacrosanct obligation and not a convenient luxury.

Republicans oppose social security and adequate health care, which they identify with socialism. We may bring here the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas who said: When you hear statement never ask “who” made the statement, but always ask “what” does the statement say? If it is conducive to the welfare of all people, then follow it even it comes from a garbage man. If not conducive to the welfare of all people, then reject it even if it comes from the king. The real strength of the nation is not measured by the kind of military it has but by its kind of people in terms of good health and ability to produce.