While promoting itself as the defender of freedom and democracy across the planet, that is hardly the course that has been taken, nor the key point for decision-making. For over a century, the interests foreign and domestic, but most particularly foreign, have been based upon “what is in the best interests of the United States”, or “protecting the interests of the United States.” Even a first grader, or most particularly a first grader, would ask “What are the interests?” Yet that question is rarely if ever asked. Its a fill in the blank type of concept where the assumption is we all somehow “know” what is meant. It usually devolves down to “our way of life”, another little ditty that is rarely explained. The “interests” are two-fold, resources and corporate interests. In other words, the United States has strong national interests in access and control of the natural resources of the planet, and in protecting the interests and growth of corporations and their holdings and operations across the globe. Of course, it is more complex and involves the creation of multiple organizations to facilitate in the control and enforcement – like the IMF and World Bank – and maintaining the US dollar as the universal currency of trade – particularly oil trade.

In this march of “interest” advancement and protection, carried out by both Democrats and Republicans, the United States has done little to nothing to protect or advance human rights, liberty, and democracy. Rather, despots and dictators are the frequent recipients of US aid and support; US resistant leaders have been conveniently overthrown, discredited, or assassinated. For the truth is that it is much easier to control leaders who are focused on their own self-interest and gathering power (and wealth) to themselves ruling over populations who are easily controlled – and free people are not easily controlled.

So it was no real surprise when Obama (the supposed poster child of progressive democracy) embraced Narendra Modi (who at least tacitly supported the brutal crackdown on the “Gujarat Riots“:

According to official figures, the riots ended with 1,044 dead, 223 missing, and 2,500 injured. Of the dead, 790 were Muslim and 254 Hindu.^[13] The Concerned Citizens Tribunal Report,^[14] estimated that as many as 1,926 may have been killed.^[1] Other sources estimated death tolls in excess of 2,000.^[15] Many brutal killings and rapes were reported on as well as widespread looting and destruction of property. The Chief Minister of Gujarat at that time, Narendra Modi, was accused of initiating and condoning the violence, as were police and government officials who allegedly directed the rioters and gave lists of Muslim-owned properties to them.^[16]

In what should be a warning for those thinking that the people of the United States will perform their own impeachment by not voting Donald Trump into a second term, we should look to India where Modi and his far right BJP party have been voted in again. Hate violence and purges are up as minorities have been painted as the scapegoats of the nation’s problems, and impediments to corporate operations (like environmental regulations) have been removed or ignored. If this sounds familiar, it is because it is currently happening in the US and is daily in the news – for those who still watch the news.

While the United States consistently self-aggrandizes over our wonderful (and disappearing) democracy, it is India that is the largest democracy on the planet. What is very clear is that the people can make choices that are not only counter to their self-interest, but counter to the democratic power that spills like sand through their hands.