A Policeman's Lot Is Not A Happy One

When I was much younger than I am today
I used to hear it said of international politics
with varying degrees of weary resignation
that 'America is the world's policeman',
which by turns was both to be expected,
and 'a good thing'. One of the many jobs
this policeman had was to define 'freedom',
which America has done with alacrity.

It's arms industry has followed
where diplomacy has gone first
in conflicts all across the world.

Of late America has retreated from it's role,
as the measure and the policer of 'freedom',
and hid behind 'America First' which meant
'Only America' and 'Elite America for itself,
forget the little people whilst using their image
as advertising fodder' when the small print
on the policy was properly expanded.

It became a license for scammers and pyramid sellers.

Spurred by this the world has reshaped itself.
Old empires have renewed themselves
by returning to their old illiberal  habits
with regard to their smaller enemies,
who America has been quick to champion
in words, but slow to act in support of.

Few people want the old policeman back,
any more than they want the old world order.
But an America with a stronger spine, to bolster
it's foreign policy, and with which to see clearer
both friend and foe beyond it's borders
that mostly picks on countries it's own size
and defends countries that are smaller 
is what the many small countries are looking for.