Americans have got themselves into an insoluble dilemma. They (most of them) want the privileges of empire, but they are unwilling to accept the responsibilities of empire. It is impossible to have the one without the other.
Civis Americanus wants to be able to go wherever he feels like going; to be treated respectfully, if not lovingly; to have his dollars accepted, whatever the local currency; to find someone at hand who understands his language; to fill his house and museums with any work of art or craft, from anywhere, that strikes his fancy; to have all markets open to the products of his industry and the profitable application of his capital and expertise; to have a predominant voice in global affairs; to divert to his use and convenience a major portion of the earth’s resources. One may even add, among the customary imperial privileges: to enjoy a sufficient surplus to maintain a considerable percentage of the population in idleness under one formula or another (welfare, alienation, dropout, revolution, ecology, etc.).
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