Remember when the US led the world?

I'm not that old--unless you're 18 or younger--and I certainly remember when the US led the world in all that was moral and right and good. A lot of things, anyway.

So now this, today:

"111 nations adopt cluster bomb treaty, but not U.S."

(The link to the story is here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080530/ap_on_re_eu/ireland_cluster_bombs)

Yeah, we USED to be moral. We used to do the right things. No longer. Not right now, anyway.

The United States lead the world in reducing pollution? Sure. In the 1960's and 70's. Not now. We famously/infamously bailed on the Kyoto Protocol, with this administration. We have to protect corporations, instead. Clean air? Clean water? Clean earth? Maybe. If it absolutely doesn't interfere with corporate profits.

The United States also famously/infamously jumped ship on what seemed to be a good idea to eliminate land mines in the world. You'd think we'd want to, since they kill and maim civilians--including children--particularly after the wars are over, right?

But no, that would hurt business.

Seriously.

That's the one, big, glaring reason we don't do "the right thing" anymore, nationally and internationally, on a range of different topics: we don't want to curb business--actual or prospective, of any kind.

All we can do right now is contact our legislators for change. That and vote and hope that the "next leadership" for the country and our own locales are more moral and right and good than they are now.

The way we used to be.