Is the US the “sick man” of the globe, asks a Reuters article?

It’s a provocative headline. And the answer is probably “yes,” in many respects.

“Report drunk drivers,” says one sign. “Report Suspicious Activity,” says another. “Report Unclaimed Bags,” says a third.

Americans are being trained to denounce their neighbors. There’s something a little sick about so much tattling.

And here’s something that is not only sick, but fatal:

“Tax deal cruises through Senate,” said yesterday’s Washington Post headline. The House is supposed to follow.

Now, you take a place like Italy or Greece. The papers report that there are riots in Italy. And in Greece, anti-austerity demonstrations have turned violent.

You don’t see that sort of thing in the US. Nope. Because in America our public servants really serve.

Some of the members of the Senate wanted the rich to pay more in taxes. Others just wanted to be sure the poor got more unemployment benefits and other giveaways.

But after hours of argument, the world’s greatest deliberative body thrashed out a compromise. Forget the taxes. Forget the cuts. Everybody gets something.

Yes, dear reader, that’s what makes America great. You might think it is reckless to extend the tax reductions, what with the nation going broke and all. Or you might think it hardhearted not to give more handouts to the little guy, what with the Great Correction underway. But it’s always inspiring to see the peoples’ representatives joining hands and doing something that is truly stupid. Lower taxes AND more spending too!

Meanwhile, the poor Europeans just can’t seem to get with the program. They’re cutting services. They’re working to balance budgets. They’re raising taxes.

And even still, investors sell their bonds!

No kidding.

“Spain debt yields near euro-era high,” says The Financial Times.

See what good it gets you? You try to do things right and investors stab you in the back.

So you see, the Americans are right. Better to spend, spend, spend…until you go broke.

Bill Bonner is the President of Agora Publishing. For more on Bill Bonner, visit The Daily Reckoning.