Part I: A New Persona for the U.S.A.

I've tried to stop feeling so utterly, hopelessly sad about what has happened, and is happening, to the people along the Gulf Coast and New Orleans in particular. But I just can't. There's too much devastation, there's too much suffering, there's too little aid. I wish I could turn back time, but I can't. The fact is, this country is in the midst of one of the most horrific disasters it has ever faced. As we continue to do everything in our power to help the people affected by the storm recover and as we work to minimize the impact of the cataclysmic events on our economy, we need to look at where this country heads in the aftermath of this catastrophe. And we need to look inward, to look at what we stand for as a people.

We need to work to regain our position of leadership in the world. I'm not talking about leadership by force or by faith, I'm talking about leadership by philosophy and by example.

Our country's view of the world, its approach to dealing with cultures that do not share our values, and its view of its position in that world should be clearly articulated. So should the values by which we, as a people, wish to lives our lives. If we ever wish to live in harmony with the rest of the world, or even hold onto any hope for harmony, we must do this.

A Proposal As To Our View of the the World
The world comprises myriad nations, cultures and religions. So long as the value systems that attach to those nations, cultures and religions do not incite attacks on other nations, cultures or religions, the United States will treat each of them as having a legitimate place in the world and in the collective governance of the world. Whenever the actions of any country or culture or religion appear to cause needless suffering, the United States will work with the global community to collectively address the issue. The United States will never take unilateral military action except to defend itself and its people against attack.

Because the United States has, historically, led the world in economic and industrial development, its citizens generally have one of the highest standards of living of any country. It is right and just for our citizens to help enhance the standards of living for others around the world, both through personal donations and through their government's contributions of money and materials. It is equally right and just for our citizens to reevaluate their own standards of living and to modify their consumption habits if those habits are harmful to the global community. Finally, it is right and just for the people of the United States to help people of less fortunate countries learn how to enhance their standards of living, while protecting the rights and privileges of the earth's population.

We as a nation do not have an inate responsibility to other nations, beyond humane treatment, except to the extent to which accumulation of wealth is attributable to the suffering of others; then, we do have a responsibility to make reparations.

Values that Shape the United States
The United States is not a Christian nation, as some would suggest, despite the fact that the majority of its citizens call themselves Christians. While many values that guide U.S. society are shared with Christianity, the same values may be shared with Islam, Buddism, Paganism, and many other religions, as well as many who are agnostics or atheists. Some of the values that form the underpinnings of U.S. society include:

• Every person has inherent worth and dignity
• We believe the the First Amendment to our constitution should guide our national policies with regard to religion, that is, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"
• Justice, equity and compassion in human relations should guide our national policies
• Every person has the capacity to develop a conscience that serves as his or her guiding principles, and it is our society's responsibility to encourage development of conscience that is in alignment with our society's values
• We will operate as a nation as a democratic society, in which government is not only of and for the people but also by the people
• We recognize that there will be discords between our own citizens and between our citizens and the citizens of other countries about what constitutes moral behavior and we believe that those discords should be addressed through discussion and debate; we acknowledge that some of those discords cannot, due to deeply held personal beliefs, be addressed and we believe that, in such cases, we as a society must accept that individuals will always hold invididual beliefs
• Our goal with the world community is to establish peace, liberty, and justice for all people, while acknowledging that it is neither our right nor our responsibility to intervene in the affairs of other nations except at the express invitation of those nations
• It is the responsibility of every individual and every nation to acknowledge the limitations of the earth's resources and to behave in ways that will protect them

Priorities for U.S. Policy
Priorities that should guide U.S. policies, both domestically and internationally, include:

• Social and political policies should be developed to help assure that all able-bodied citizens are able to use their capabilities to secure or create employment that offers sufficient remuneration to allow them to live comfortably, and above the poverty line
• A safety net of unemployment benefits should be available but time-limited for those who are able-bodied, provided employment opportunities exist that would allow the individual to live above the poverty line
• A safety net of unemployment benefits should be available to people who are unable to work and who have no other means of income
• The United States military should disengage from combat as soon as possible without abandoning the citizens of Iraq to civil war and should, thereafter, be sent to combat only to protect the United States and its citizens or after the global community collectively decides that military action is necessary
• Social and political policies should be developed to help assure that every United States citizen has access to adequate healthcare
• Environmental protection and rehabilitation policies should be established to rapidly improve the environment and to protect it from future degradation
• Energy policy should focus on rapid development of renewal energy resources that can be used to power automobiles, aircraft, machinery, industrial plants, and other equipment that presently require hydrocarbon-based fuels
• Economic policy should have at its core three main priorities: keep the world's and the nation's economy healthy; engender economic well-being at every level of society; and maintain flexibility to enable economic imperatives to change with changing circumstances
• Policies which support economic and business growth should simulataneously offer necessary social and environment protections.

Part II later. This is apt to be an evolving and growing piece.