Many of the countries themselves survived the 20th century because America had come to their rescue. Only last week, the world got another reminder about the immense difficulties in all those arenas where America seems to succeed with ease. Because good political institutions produce economic success that lasts. But now, politicians elected and sworn to uphold America's Constitution contemplate yielding up a portion of America's sovereignty. Because, apparently, they have forgotten another defining difference between America and the rest of the world.
People everywhere look at how their neighbors are doing.
Americans succeed because of their view of success. The emergence of the American mantra was a direct result of our political institutions, providing for a more perfect Union, Justice, domestic Tranquility, common defense, general Welfare, and securing the Blessings of Liberty. Those blessings have maintained America on a steady course while the world lurched from crisis to crisis. Another blessing has been America's penchant for dealing with reality, as opposed to theory. One of the wisest arrangements of Providence has been the veil under which it has hidden the future.