A world without America
February 27, 2007 | By Nathaniel Ward
What would the world be like without America? That’s a question answered in a new online video produced by the British media firm 18 Doughty Street. The video has been a tremendous hit online—and it was inspired by a Heritage column.
In his July 4 column last year, Heritage national security expert Peter Brookes explained just such a dystopian reality: “The picture isn’t pretty. Absent U.S. leadership, diplomatic influence, military might, economic power and unprecedented generosity, life aboard planet earth would likely be pretty grim, indeed. Set aside the differences America made last century—just imagine a world where this country had vanished on Jan. 1, 2001.”
Click here to send this video to a friend.
Special interests and global warming
With liberals now in control of Congress, there seems to be a perfect storm forming that will advance harmful global warming regulations, Heritage’s Mike Franc writes in Human Events. Not only is the environmental lobby on board, but big business special interests are urging action as well.
Click here to read more about the special interests’ collaboration on environmental rules.
The moral case for limited government
In an important new paper, Heritage scholar Ryan Messmore uses both moral and practical arguments to explain why government should be limited in its scope. In order to cultivate a strong body politic and ensure that society’s obligations are met, government must perform only those tasks which it does best, while “ensuring that other social institutions are free to exercise their own particular tasks.”
“A good but limited government,” he writes, “will thus acknowledge that other social institutions are better able to cultivate virtuous citizens, care for those in need, and further true democratic freedom while exercising its own crucial responsibility to protect its citizens and social institutions from injustice.”
He continues: “When government exercises power outside its proper boundaries, not only does it assume responsibilities that it is not qualified to fulfill, but it also undermines its legitimate task of protecting freedom and justice.”
Find out how liberalism has undermined civil society—click here.
In other news
- Vice President Cheney was unharmed after an assassination attempt in Afghanistan today. Terrorists connected with the Taliban exploded a bomb outside Bagram Airfield and claimed the attack was directed at the Vice President, who was visiting the base.
- In another example of how well federalism can work, five western states are cooperating to set environmental standards stricter than the national rules. Whether or not the new regulations make good policy (and many of them don’t) this development does indicate that Congressional action is hardly necessary when seeking policy change of this nature.
- Iran may be targeting New York City for terrorist attacks, Newsweek reports.
- President Bush asked several state governors to support his plan to overhaul the tax code so private individuals can more easily buy health insurance. The governors, though, sought a less innovative solution to expanding health coverage when they called for huge increases in federal funding.
- The AFL-CIO and UAW are whining to the United Nations that American regulations do not allow them to organize non-laborers like graduate students. The UN’s International Labor Organization lacks the power to override the government’s decision, however, meaning the complaint is largely symbolic.
Coming up at Heritage
To attend these or any other Heritage Foundation events, RSVP at Heritage’s events website. Or you can watch these events live online at Heritage.org. All times are Eastern.
- On Wednesday, February 28 at 1:00 pm, Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI) and Bob Schaffer of the Colorado State Board of Education make the case for returning policymaking authority to state and local education leaders.
- On Friday, March 2 at noon, Ward Connerly of the American Civil Rights Coalition will discuss the ongoing drive to eliminate race and sex preferences around the nation, including his recent success in Michigan. He promises to announce during his remarks the next states in which this battle will be waged.
- On Tuesday, March 6, three British representatives to the European Parliament will discuss the political integration of Europe and how that could affect American relations with longtime allies like Britain.
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation.
