Imagine an America where England set standards of interaction for American organizations, corporations and individual citizens.

If we don’t want that, why would other countries?

The United States is highly influential in the world. In the Foreign Policy Agenda of the U.S. Department of State it states that the goals are "to create a more secure, democratic, and prosperous world for the benefit of the American people and the international community."

America has mastered the art of meddling. The tendency of America to get involved with other countries threatens the future of Americans if something does not change soon.

The president makes foreign policy decisions for the United States. Currently the U.S. approval ratings are declining in the Middle East and Muslim countries. With the recent protests in Egypt, their approval rating for America decreased from 27 percent to 17 percent due to Obama’s backing of their former president, Hosni Mubarak.

The U.S. intervenes with other countries to promote democracy. International law defines intervention as "dictatorial interference in the affairs of another state for the purpose of altering the condition of things." You cannot force democracy on another country. Our efforts to promote democracy fail because democracy needs to develop out of internal conditions, not by the suggestion of another country.

There are five major categories of foreign assistance. They are bilateral development aid, economic assistance supporting U.S. political and security goals, humanitarian aid, multilateral economic contributions, and military aid. The United States is the largest international economic aid donor in dollar terms but is the smallest contributor among the major donor governments when calculated as a percent of gross national income. the United States ranked last at 0.13% of gross national income (GNI).

Denmark ranked first at 0.96% of GNI, while Japan dispensed 0.23%, France 0.38%, and Germany 0.27%.

In 2004 the United States was providing some form of aid to around 150 countries. Among those countries are Iraq, Egypt, Israel, Afghanistan, Jordan, Peru, and Pakistan. Iraq received $18.44 billion dollars in foreign assistance.

Yes, I can see where it makes America look generous and kind by aiding other countries. Some may say that it is our duty to humanity. Modern industrialized countries often rely on resources from third world countries so that foreign aid will, one day, lead to equality in foreign trade.

But when said third world countries come to solely rely on American foreign aid, and we aren’t reaping anything other than low approval ratings, it is hard for us to agree.

America has internal problems that need to be focused on. We are simply paying for our alliances with these countries as if we are buying their friendship.

Have we forgotten about George Washington? Washington dedicates a large part of his farewell address to discussing foreign relations, and the dangers of permanent alliances between the United States and foreign nations. In his farewell address he said U.S. diplomacy should “steer clear of permanent alliances” and “trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies."

I agree with Washington. America needs to steer clear of permanent alliances. It has only led us to unnecessary wars.

We do need to show good faith and justice toward all nations. It can be done without meddling. Obviously it isn’t benefiting the American people if our approval ratings keep declining.