Ever concider...

[Brett]

What life would be like in the US if we had firmly remained an Isolationist country?  Not getting involved with anyone else's political conflicts, growing all our own food, manufacturing all our own goods, developing all our own energy and natural resources, etc.

Some of the benefits I see:

- no dependence on foreign oil
- no huge trade deficite
- more jobs
- better control over the quality of our food supply
- thousands of lives spared from fighting on foreign soil for the 'benefit' of foreign nations.
- no invasion by thousands of illegal aliens (Separatism to me means well guarded closed borders.)
- not having to press '1' for English
- billions of dollars in foreign aid available to help our ow needy
 
Possible down sides:

- fewer fresh fruits and vegetables in the winter months (our non-growing season).
- the loss of some technological or medical advances developed in foreign countries.

What are your thoughts?

   

[Questor]

I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Isolationism leads to countries like Pre-Meiji Japan, modern Iran, and modern North Korea. It's better to be connected to other countries. The problems start when a country loses its national identity. The European countries are wrestling with this, and the US has started wrestling with this.

[Arier Blut]

Things would not be very good if we were to shut down everything as Questor eluded to. Japan was very weak at the end of that era because they did not progress with the rest of the world.

Policing the world only leads to problems. Even the people we have bailed out over the years pretty well hate us. So we make enemies with the ones we fight as well as the ones looking for a hand out of liberation. It is a no win situation.

Possibly with Southern CA and FL there would be a year round growing season for veggies. If not root crops could get us through just like Russia.
Another advantage would be a self sufficient people that would not fold easily under an enemy invasion.  How well do you see our major cities' people being able to defend themselves when most have outlawed weapons within their limits? I figure most folks on these boards could take care of their families. But most of America is not like that. Americans are pampered and think their luxuries are necessities.

[SHOOTALL]

no influx of political refugees ? , students , workers from other countries etc etc .
 Not sure what we would be but would be it wouldn't be what we are now !

[powderman]

Isolationism= no illegals, more jobs,better wages, less taxes to SUPPORT ILLEGALS, no walmart unless they decided to buy American. We could easily survive, but we would still have enemies around the world. Enemies who would eventually grow strong enough to attack us. If we simply pull our head in our shell like a turtle without fighting terrorism worldwide, it will be right here, as it was on 9-11-01. I would like us to do less in some areas but don't believe totally cutting ourselves off from the rest of the world would be in our best interest. POWDERMAN. 

[Redtail1949]

unfortunatly isolation can not be obtained now or then...i agree we have no business trying to force others to our ways. yet, 911 happened because we failed to recognize the threat to us in a very isolated and far off land. we must engage and know what is going on everywere in the world and when a threat arises to us we need to be willing to act and act very forcefully or we are destined to see another 911. the next one may have a mushroom cloud with it.

[gypsyman]

What he said!(Redtail)  gypsyman