The US has has taken a hardline on NATO. Of course, NATO members love to criticize the nation that pays the bills that their economic policies can’t afford—or perhaps that their economic priorities refuse.

Germany wants an American debt-funded military and complains like a cat when something is taken away. Everyone wants to negotiate with an Iranian government that actually issued an arrest warrant for the American president. It’s not that those nations believe negotiating is an answer; they don’t know what the answer is. For them, negotiation is nothing more than their ongoing career habit that guided them through fundraisers and elections.

Europe is largely Liberal anymore. It’s like a nest of baby birds whose economic theory is that mamma and pappa bird need to give them more worms—and this is the way to keep the economy going. None of these baby birds demonstrate awareness that worms don’t just appear; the adult birds must go find them! The solution is for baby birds to grow up and learn to hunt for worms of their own. But, tell that to European Liberal leaders these days and you’ll get a response of aloof entitlement and condescension.

There are ways in which things must be done so that cash flows. Money doesn’t move merely because the government told it to. People are driven to invent and pursue dreams and healthy ambitions. Keep them from killing each other, stay out of their way, and then they will gladly generate profit on which they gladly pay enormous taxes.

Ambition is unimaginable to a baby bird who thinks it will never be able to fly simply because it never has. Lucky for us, many Americans are growing up. But, Europe might not grow up in time.

Democrats

Doug Schoen: Democratic convention — On first night this is what worked and what didn’t // Fox News

Death & Taxes

And it’s taxable
Filed your tax return? IRS to distribute tax refund interest checks // USA Today

Security & Public Safety

Attorney General William Barr announces nearly 1,500 arrests so far under ‘Operation Legend’ // ABC News America

Prices, Rates, Oil & Food

300 Pizza Huts are closing after a giant franchisee goes bankrupt // CNN

Mid East

Iran sanctions: nearly all UN security council unites against ‘unpleasant’ US // Guardian

NATO Focus

Victor Davis Hanson: American soldiers leave Germany — and suddenly Germany is upset // Fox News