Words of advice for US seeking to be standard-bearer

The United States likes to be a standard-bearer, as shown in its policies toward the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region.

A standard-bearer normally stands at the forefront of an activity, but the United States seems unable to do that as much as it would like to.

It is because the country is overburdened. First, the U.S. government has failed to introduce effective policies for improving the weak economy. Second, the two major U.S. parties have been actively making trouble for each other. In such a situation, the presidential election is unlikely to bring any good news to the United States or the rest of the world.

Cliche-ridden China-bashing remains a routine for the two presidential candidates this year. One candidate blamed Chinese manufacturers for taking away American jobs, and the other said that certain Chinese companies endangered U.S. national security and promised to crack down on unfairly cheap Chinese goods.

U.S. presidential debates have been an integral part of the country’s political system. The better a candidate performs in the debate, the more votes he will get.

However, this year's presidential race is somewhat different from previous ones. Many voters have been wavering between the two candidates because they do not trust them or the parities behind them, and have no expectation of either candidate to solve domestic economic issues.

At present, the top priority for the United States is to do its own things well. It should pay more attention to its own problems and make more contributions to the world economic recovery, instead of making hard efforts to promote "democratic transition in the Middle East" and re-engage in the Asia-Pacific region, exporting crises, sowing discord, or making waves worldwide.

Experience shows that the electorate tends to be irrational during elections, and naturally restores rationality after elections. In order to please irrational voters, the two candidates have taken some short-sighted moves that will do no good to the country. The United States has only itself to blame for becoming unable to act as a standard-bearer.

Read the Chinese version: 给总想举旗的美国进一言; Source: People's Daily Overseas Edition Daily; Author: Ding Gang

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