We did this not only to remove a layer of government bureaucracy. We believe that different experiments across the states offer the best hope for finding solutions to difficult social problems. Empowering elected representatives and reducing the reach of the central bureaucracy will clear the way for the deregulation that the economy needs and the voters will demand. While recognizing the centrality of our security relationship and economic ties, I believe the most important impact of our alliance rests upon the democratic values we share. It is sometimes said that the United States views Asia with a foreign perspective, seeking to impose Western values on Asian societies.
Japan is the first and greatest refutation of that charge.
It would be hard to imagine two nations with more divergent histories and cultural roots than ours. These are not solely American or Western principles. They are also Japanese and, now, Korean and Taiwanese principles. Indeed, they are human principles. It is, indisputably, a reflection of our history, but it also honors and reflects aspirations that are deeply rooted in cultures as diverse as those found in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.