Well, as usual the primitives don't understand.
If the United States were not the leading world power, the primitives wouldn't be enjoying the luxury of all those taxpayer-paid social services programs.
If the United States were a second-rate power, who would subsidize us?--the Maldiveans?
Germany is a prime example. For about fifty years, Germany enjoyed a high standard of living (and still does, when one considers other places) and generous social services programs.....financed in the most part by the American taxpayers.
The United States assumed control of, and paid for, the defense of Germany, taking that expensive burden off the shoulders of Germany. Not having to spend much on national defense, Germany of course had all this extra money, to spend on other things.
And the presence of American bases in Germany were a substantial part of that country's economy; if I recall correctly, four out of ten Germans were employed simply because the United States was there.
Well, we've been slowly pulling out of Germany, with the inevitable consequence that their economy is faltering, their jobs are disappearing, and.....their generous social-services programs being cut.
It'll probably be another ten years or so, but I suspect "free medical care for all," "free college education for all," "free time off for all," in Germany will evaporate. It's already eroding.
And it's not because of any "increased" defense expenditures by Germany; it's because the American presence there, in both military and non-military senses, boomed the German economy, and now the balloon's running out of air.
The primitives of course won't believe this, clinging to their ancient superstitions and taboos, but an American military presense somewhere substantially boosts an area; in fact, the American military is the biggest and most-effective civilian and humanitarian foreign-aid program we've ever had--it provides jobs and money.
When I was wandering around the socialist paradises of the workers and peasants, I was surprised by the popularity of an idea suggested by some there--that the United States establish a military base on Crimea, in the Black Sea.
As first explained to me, the reason was to bolster Ukraine against Russia.
But then as further explained to me, the real reason was that an American military base means jobs, money, and a higher standard of living for people in the area.