What is Isolationism?

I think non-interventionism is confused with isolationism. Recalling McCain's past opinions, I think he'd be quite happy with marching our troops into whatever country currently holds the "bad guy of the year" to dethrone some tyrannical meanie-face and spread "democracy". In comparison to him, I suppose Ron Paul would look like an isolationist. Frankly, if there's more non-interventionism in the Republican party these days that's a cause to celebrate.

And McCain wonders why he lost the election? This is typical republican hyperbole. It's a buzz word that has been following Paul around like the plague for decades. Ron Paul and other libertarian-ish candidates would be better described as a "non-interventionist" rather than an isolationist. An isolationist will have no relations no trade with other nations. A non-interventionist will have trade and friendly relationships, but wouldn't go around sticking our noses in to other nations internal affairs or wars.

Well McCain should understand if you aren't the ones sticking your head into everyones business you are less likely to one get attacked and to need to get involved in every thing any one country starts to do. I mean the United States has bases in almost every country it seems we need to pull back to how we where pre WWII if I am an Isolationist by McCain's idea then fine I am Happy to be one. I am for trading and having relations with countries but trade agreements isn't trade it is forced trade. If the market doesn't want it why would you force it. RON PAUL 2012! The only candidate that will make Obama a One Term President.

Well that's exactly what isolationism is. A national policy of abstaining from political or economic relations with other countries. It's about minding your own business and I agree. I don't think that we should intrude, especially when it is clear we are not wanted. It causes war, get's people killed, and wastes money.

Taskr, I would NEVER claim to understand what John McCain is thinking, I don't think anyone really wants to go down that road. But, I have heard many republicans, including Ron Paul, call for eliminating foreign aid to countries. This MAY be what they are thinking, but again, I would rather not take that scary road down the mind of John McCain.

I would say he borders on isolationalism and that is fine. McCain must be backing a different horse, so to speak, but even then I find his comments unnecessarily divisive in a Republican primary year that needs to be more united. True isolationalism, like we had strongly ingrained prior to WWII, would not work in an international economy like we have now. It is also increasingly difficult to avoid fighting around the world to keep the little conflicts from evolving into WWIII. Noone is going to forget the lessons of WWII anytime soon.

Calling Dr Paul an isolationist is a cop out. He is for minding our business but not shutting out the rest of the world. I bet a heck of a lot of people if they read his opinion with out his name on it, most would agree. I am willing to bet that this is true for most of his stances. Isolationism, to me, will be when I find an uncharted island and mover there.....

George Washington, in his Farewell Address, spoke of the wisdom of being slow to engage in quarrels between nations when there was no relationship to the US: "The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities." I think you could currently substitute the "Middle East" for "Europe". However, I would caution that because Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East, we would be neglecting our duty as the beacon of liberty in the world if we abandon her to her enemies. I think we need to consider more of a policy of non-intervention than true isolationism and perhaps that is also what Ron Paul believes. At the very least, we have to recognize when we have stepped into too many burning buildings.

Ron Paul is NOT an isolationist. What is he is for is us minding our own business and I for one am all for it. But those other idiots like butting their noses in where it doesn't belong and spending billions if not trillions trying to miniplate the rest of the world. we would not tolerate other countries trying to tell us what to do...much less butting our nose in where it doesn't belong...so we should not either. It's all about egos...big egos..the "it's all about me" thing. If something..anything.. happens in the world they think because they are so great that it has something to do with them...because nothing is NOT abut them ....and if anyone does not think EVERYTHING is their business than that person is stupid or crazy....and we wonder why we are hated so much by so many parts of the world.

I wasn't real familiar with him until recently. I am finding he's pretty balanced as far as being ready but not aggessive, which is how I feel we should be. Keep the military up to date, trained and ready. Bring them home to protect our borders here. As for trade, that I am not real informed on. So I'll take a pass. I know he isn't for NAFTA. That's all I felt I needed to know.