This is what I have to say about isolationism

in response to a post by The Probligo:

"There are already at least two instances of nations having chosen or preferred such isolation; North Korea and Mianmar without doubt, East Germany and the Russian bloc, other possibilities would be the apardtheit South Africa, Mugabe’s Zimbabwe and Iran with others as weaker possibilities."

You are right, sir. These are examples of the bad consequences of actually closing the borders. Don't look at me, as a libertarian, to defend either the Neocon paradigm, as defined by their sworn enemy, Justin Raimondo of Anti-war.com, nor the "Buchananite" version of isolationism espoused by the paleocons. Nor do I support the vision of the right-wing John Burch Society nor that of Democratic Socialist Lyndon LaRouche; isolationists all.

However, libertarianism's early great high-priest Thomas Jefferson expressed our credo on foreign policy:
"I am for free commerce with all nations, political connection with none, and little or no diplomatic establishment. And I am not for linking ourselves by new treaties with the quarrels of Europe, entering that field of slaughter to preserve their balance, or joining in the confederacy of Kings to war against the principles of liberty." --Thomas Jefferson to Elbridge Gerry, 1799. ME 10:77
"I have ever deemed it fundamental for the United States never to take active part in the quarrels of Europe. Their political interests are entirely distinct from ours. Their mutual jealousies, their balance of power, their complicated alliances, their forms and principles of government, are all foreign to us. They are nations of eternal war. All their energies are expended in the destruction of the labor, property and lives of their people." --Thomas Jefferson to James Monroe, 1823. ME: 15:436

"I sincerely join... in abjuring all political connection with every foreign power; and though I cordially wish well to the progress of liberty in all nations, and would forever give it the weight of our countenance, yet they are not to be touched without contamination from their other bad principles. Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto." --Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Lomax, 1799. ME 10:124

Now, that is a tad (and I mean a tiny, little bit) more extreme than I think we should go - we should have a loose defensive alliance with other nations that allow true individual freedom - and it is also important for us to bring justice to those who harm our citizens, meaning that their activities must be neutralized and anyone who looks up to them for an example must be discouraged.

But I was taught that one should not take up an offense for another [http://www.romanceopedia.com/I-LingerieCatalog.html (Oops! Wrong link. I meant this one http://www.new-life.net/peace1.htm) Proverbs 17:9 - "He who covers an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends."]. That is to say, that one must take the greatest care about intervening in the arguments of one's friends. I say that applies on the macro level as well as the micro. (Of course, as a budding Austrian School economist, I say that about everything.)

# posted by Al : 5:24 PM

I strongly recommend that you read his post.