It Ain't Nobody's Business

One of the things I often stress to my son is to mind his own business. I think that if something doesn't directly concern or threaten you, you should keep your nose out of it. The world already has too many busybodies.

Decades ago, I came across a used LP (long-playing record, for anyone who has grown up in the CD age) by Billie Holiday. One song that immediately struck a chord (sorry!) with me was a song called It Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do. I now have many versions of that song and in fact I am using Winamp right now to play them as I write this post.

I am currently reading Empire of Debt by Bill Bonner and Addison Wiggin. To give context to the precarious fiscal situation in the United States, Bonner and Wiggin list and discuss other empires that have come and gone. In their opinion, The US is in decline and they give all the reasons why.

I think that the lessons that history has taught about empire building can be distilled quite simply to a few short sentences:

• Powerful nations can't seem to mind their own business.
• Minding the business of everyone else costs a lot of money.
• Spending all that money causes an eventual fiscal collapse.

Sure, as in everything else, there are nuances and complications and sometimes even extenuations. The fact is that empires come and go, and if everyone minded their own business, it would generally be a better world.

The United States is far from being the worst empire in history. In fact, many would argue strenuously that the United States isn't an empire at all, and that it is simply protecting its interests around the world by acting as the world's policeman. In many respects, the US has done a good job of protecting much of the world, and there are malcontents everywhere who lack the grace to be grateful. I don't want to be one of those people. Still, the fact is that the United States has spent itself into bankruptcy and all that remains is for lenders to stop financing the deficits and then, watch out.

I don't really want to rail against the United States here. I love Americans and have said many times that when the chips are down, I want a bunch of rednecks at my side. I just want everyone, worldwide, to refocus their attentions from everything around them back to themselves.

What do I mean?

I want Canadians and Europeans to stop looking down their noses at Americans.

I want Muslim nations and organizations to concentrate on improving situations at home. Leave the rest of us alone.

I want blacks to stop blaming whites for everything that is wrong with the world.

I want feminists to stop bitching and stop blaming men for everything that is wrong with the world.

I want us all to mind our own business.

Can we do that?