I have heard the term “leader of the free world” for years but never stopped to think about what “the free world” really meant.

According to the dictionary:

1) The Free World is a Cold War–era term for the non-communist countries of the world. The free world included countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Canada, West Germany, Australia and countries belonging to organizations such as the European Community and NATO. In addition, the “Free World” occasionally includes the Commonwealth realms, Japan, Israel, and India.

2) the part of the world where democracy and capitalism or moderate socialism rather than totalitarian or communist political and economic systems prevail.

President Obama is referred to as the “leader of the free world.” To be fair, all American presidents since the Cold War have been referred to as the leader of the free world.

The reason they were given that title was because of the freedoms Americans enjoyed and the support the American government gave to nations that were free or wanted to be free but might not have had the military or economic muscle to make it happen.

The Obama administration said the “world was pretty tranquil” during a recent press conference. Obama himself said there has never been a better time to be alive, with all of the world peace, tranquility and economic activity.

It’s a great time to be alive. Hmm, really? On what universe?

The United Kingdom, Italy, France, Canada, West Germany, Australia and the like could not, in and of themselves, support or maintain peace worldwide for the advancement of freedom and democracy.

Communism and socialism simply take what they want and dictate to the people what they will get. Where would a lot of Europe be if it weren’t for America and its commitment to freedom across the world? It would probably be known as “communist block Europe.” They would be speaking Russian or German.

The American president is known as the leader of the free world because Americans were willing to jump in to help maintain peace and freedom where and when needed. Americans are unique in their resolve to help people live a life of freedom and the pursuit of happiness. You could count on America and Americans.

This president has changed that meaning tremendously. I would imagine when other leaders in the free world hear Obama referred to as the “leader of the free world,” they snicker.

America is quickly becoming the home of the overburdened and underemployed. With more than 50 percent of Americans dependent upon some form of government aid and more than 92 million Americans out of work, how free can we be?

The administration is cutting salaries for our military and cutting back on military funding, so our ability to shore up a government that might need help and get to people who need protection will become next to impossible.

But I don’t know why I am so concerned. Even if we had the power, would we use it? Do you think Putin would be doing what he’s doing right now if Ronald Reagan were president? Do you think ISIS would have been able to get as far as it has gotten if Ronald Reagan were president? Do you think Hamas would be doing what it is doing if Ronald Reagan were president?

They are getting away with it because the prime ministers in those other “free world” nations are unable to help, militarily or economically.

The reason our president has been referred to as the leader of the free world is because the persons who previously sat in that office understood the role the president played in keeping communism and socialism at bay. That fear of the military and economic might of the U.S., along with its allies in the free world, were what kept peace in a large part of this planet.

Obama is right on track to do what he has set out to do. Bring America down to the level and status of a third-world country. He and John Kerry don’t appreciate American exceptionalism. They don’t understand it.

Obama believes if he weakens America, then other countries will want to be friends with us, will hate us less, and we can all have a campfire sing-along moment. Yup, worked in Kuwait. Not. Worked in Crimea. Not. Worked in Ukraine. Oh, not there, either.

Actually that line of thought has never worked. It has never led to freedom, only more captivity and more oppression.

I do agree with my friends on the left about one thing. The turmoil in the world is America’s fault. Yes, it is. It is our fault because they can’t trust Obama. We won’t help them. We won’t come to their aid. We are not there for them – and that actually leaves us weak and vulnerable.

Leader of the free world? I think not.

Joe Messina is host of The Real Side (TheRealSide.com), a nationally syndicated talk show that runs on AM-1220 KHTS radio and SCVTV [here]. He is also the current president of the Hart School Board. His commentary publishes Mondays.