Why do we (The U.S.) seem to make every other nation's problems our problems?

Question

The problems we have in our own country would take priority over other countries' problems, right? It seems to me that the U.S. spreads itself too thin by "adopting" problems that other coutries are having. An analogy: Wouldn't you attempt to save your own children in a fire before trying to save anybody else?
I think that we have to make ourselves well before trying to aid other countries. We are part of the U.N. but we carry an extremely larger burden than the other World Powers. Can anyone explain this in better terms?

Answer 1

The price of being a world leader. If you listen to the pols, they'll say "It's in the U.S.'s best interest" to do it. They also want to maintain "The Balance of Power" around the world, which is critical to world peace. It's expensive to be a leader and take action, but the price of inaction would be much greater.

Answer 2

I think that Canadians are in the same boat as the States, I think its because in Canada and the U.S. we are so diverse in a population made of every race and creed on the planet , that there is too many parents trying to save their children from the fires, unlike most countries we have politicians in our offices from everywalk of life and with that, ties to the countries from where they came from. I think in general the population could care less what happens in the world as long as it isnt happening at home...its the big corporations and those in control of the money who worry whats going to be taken out of thier accounts and whos going to replace whats lost. Could you imagine what our nations would look like if we invested in our own? Instead of investing all that cash in the war machine and invest it in our schools and hospitals

Answer 3

We will go anywhere corporate america can make a buck.
If we actually cared about other people we would put a stop to the violence in darfur. We would not overthrow democratically elected presidents, We would not support terrorists regimes, We would not play God with peoples lives.
We give the lowest amount of money, we dont spread ourselves to thin.