This hepcat wonk, who's kind of a lovable dork -- author of the book In Defense of Goliath -- out there explaining how the US provides global services like creating a currency and the necessary security for trade, and that this is something most other nations appreciate, and in fact that would be impossible if they didn't.

This is true (and in fact non-state actors may have their say too), but he says the great threat to Pax Americana isn't China. Rather it's Medicaid. At some point we may be tempted trade in our global military empire for better services for our population.

The implication is that this is a bad deal. I disagree. Government works for the people, and as such health care really is more important than the far reaches of empire. Letting our national infrastructure (social and physical) degrade while bankrupting our treasury with foreign occupations and a global military footprint serves the interests of no one.

It's the great challenge of this leadership generation to manage this transition. A single nation-state policing the world is unsustainable. If we reduced our military budget by 25% we could have health care and energy independence. Sounds good to me.