On its 250th birthday, America must leave behind the illusion of primacy

On its 250th birthday, America must leave behind the illusion of primacy Submitted by Jeffrey D. Sachs on Mon, 07/06/2026 - 15:21 The failed Iran war presents costly proof that global dominance was always beyond Washington's grasp People wait to re-enter the event site after being evacuated due to storms during Independence Day celebrations in Washington, DC, on 4 July 2026 (Amid Farahi/AFP) On On the fourth of July, the United States turned 250 - an event that summoned the founders who spoke of a republic seeking “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind”, rather than dominion over them. Yet the story that matters most for our own moment does not begin in 1776.