America Shouldn’t Blame Its ‘Ills’ on Others

This is an election year in America, and all kinds of unusual and absurd debates abound. Because of the continually high unemployment rate since the end of the financial crisis, every level of society is filled with a feeling of anxiousness. Many people are asking, “What is wrong with America?” The New York Times released a report on the Aug. 7 that charged that some of the think tanks with the strongest influence on policymakers in Washington, D.C., may be in the pockets of the foreign governments from which they received funds and that, in turn, helped influence the direction of American policy.

Normally, most American academics believe that America’s strategic policy decisions are well-informed, largely due to the role that think tanks play. Since American think tank influences are large, it is vital that they remain independent and that they do not receive benefits from governments, political parties or interest groups. People familiar with think tanks know that they rely on donations from the whole of society to operate. America has relatively generous laws toward the management of these think tanks, but requires them to be not-for-profit in order to accept donations. In addition, their work must produce research reports and policy advice, and not act on behalf of or consult for those who provide donations. These are the key differences between think tanks and consulting and lobbying firms.

If it is true that those who accept donations are beholden to the donors, then American think tanks lose their independence from the get-go. Despite the fact that think tanks can’t completely eliminate political biases, as long as they closely follow the law, they can’t be blamed for any wrongdoing. However, the critical issue from The New York Times report is that the acceptance of these donations from foreigners is a clear transgression; people have no choice but to wonder what think tanks’ real motivations are.

This author believes The New York Times’ real message is that several problems have become apparent in American policy and that these problems are due to the infiltration of foreign money into American think tanks. Of course, if the U.S. wants to disallow foreign funds from entering their own think tanks, then that it is fine. But if it wants to blame America’s policy problems on other countries, well then that’s just unkind.

Actually, if The New York Times report and its logic seem a bit strange, one can look to the many examples in American history of other countries being scapegoated during times of domestic political struggle. For example, the red scare of McCarthyism, or the post-Cold War theory of the Japanese threat, or, even more recently, “China threat theory,” etc. In American academic circles, every time the American domestic situation gets rough, there are always some completely unassociated or seemingly irrelevant countries that will become collateral damage. It seems that these types of accusations are used again and again as a tool for personal gain. Even if it is wrong, it won’t become the target of public criticism, nor is there any expenditure of political or moral costs for using this tool. It seems that for other countries, to oppose American hegemony and dominance is impossible, so they must bite their tongues and let the criticism come. Today, Norway, the U.A.E., and other accused nations have no good recourse for these accusations.

As a paper which has historically touted its emphasis on the principles of freedom and justice, The New York Times is bound to reflect on those serious problems that appear in American society. However, it doesn’t seem that in the future it will continue to be this way. America should not focus its criticisms on other countries, but rather should look to itself. America’s main challenge is that it won’t be considered a role model for the world, but rather an increasingly problem-riddled “sick man.” If only people in America start reflecting on themselves, then perhaps they can find their way once again.