In a private setting yesterday, a shrewd observer of this election season commented that both major US political parties appear to fear acknowledging how the United States became and sustains its position as the best country in all of world history.  In terms of quality of life for an entire country’s population, whose benefits spill over and fill the cups of its trading partners, despite imperfections and improvements yet to be made, I concur wholeheartedly.

Still, I sense danger.

At least two consequences arise when our political leaders fail to return to and build upon what protects America’s ability to act compassionately.  First, on the home stage, policies our leaders advance can strategically undermine our national security.  (Think of US policies that subsidize even noble environmental objectives with US taxpayer money that, in turn, flows into Chinese companies for clean energy products that advance military use technologies). Second, on the world stage, the failure to advocate American accomplishments abandons ideological grounds where geopolitical battles rage.

Into the void steps the Communist Party of China (CPC).

CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping, according to People’s Republic of China (PRC) media reports, recognizes that a “key aspect” in the competition between nations’ political systems is a “key advantage for the [PRC] in gaining strategic initiative”.

Xi praises his political party’s governance system as ideologically superior and advocates adopting it to rule people all over the world.  Xi is fighting to win an ideological confrontation, an ideo-political war, to supplant an international order that relies on broadly respected legal institutions to govern distribution of resources worldwide.  The General Secretary seeks to bring global resource allocation decisions under his power and control.

Yet, Xi fears an intensifying ideological confrontation with Washington.

Our leaders should do more than pay lip service to our foundational, ideological strengths, they should deliberately support and toughen them.

For the future of America, they must.