President Donald Trump talked a lot in his candidate days about making America great again. Most of us think we are great now, but we could be doing a much better job in many ways.
Let me count some of those ways. Readers, feel free to add others.
The U.S. could be greater, first, by bringing a majority of our military troops home. It is reported we have more than 800 troop sites worldwide now, in addition to those actually in action. We have, for too long now, entertained the thought that we could, or should, be the world's police. Rome tried this many moons ago and many other nations followed before we volunteered. It just doesn't work, and we can use our dollars much more productively for our taxpaying American citizens.
To the reader who says we need a large military budget: Yes, we do, but we already have a many-times-larger military budget than other world nations.
Second, we can stay out of other nations' struggles with borders, religions, and other problems that are uniquely their own. Think of all the great things we could do without that astronomical military budget draining us.
ADVERTISEMENT
President Dwight D. Eisenhower knew of problems, having been a World War II general before his presidency, and he warned us in his retirement speech. But we haven't learned. The military-industrial complex still dictates much too great a portion of our tax-money expenditures.
Third, let's bing our nation's infrastructure up to a condition of which we all could be proud. I'm talking about highways, byways, waterways, and all our beautiful terrain being properly tended to.
Fourth, bring our nation's health care up to a level that would compare favorably with nations like Canada and Norway. Why, as a self-professed democracy, are we avoiding single-payer health care?
Finally, develop a taxation plan that limits exorbitant piles of money left dormant in the socks of a few lucky wealthy citizens. By doing so, we can lower the taxation on the larger pool of our poorer citizens, thus making their lives a bit easier. The working class makes this world go round.
Doing more for the working class, and for all of us, certainly could make us greater.
Bernie Hughes of Superior is professor emeritus of educational administration at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
