Olympia Snowe: “when reflecting on the attributes that have made our great country prosperous--its free market system, its hard-working…”

“when reflecting on the attributes that have made our great country prosperous--its free market system, its hard-working and enterprising people, its treasured natural resources--we must not overlook the rule of law as an equal, if not paramount element of the blessings we have secured. Since our Nation's founding, Americans have recognized that the success of worthy enterprises in a functioning market require the government--rather than choosing winners and losers--to consistently and dispassionately enforce the rules that bind all actors. While our legal system evolved over the course of centuries to provide for the rule of law throughout our country, the fates of American people and businesses have become increasingly bound to counterparts in the world beyond our borders. Whether called 'Globalization', 'Internationalization' or some other moniker, the rapidly growing number of connections between suppliers, consumers and financiers across national boundaries means that agreements breached and laws broken on the far side of the world can harm companies and workers here at home. Yet our government has failed to adapt to this new reality.”