NationStates Jolt Archive

Post your speculation here. What would happen globally if the US were to become deeply isolationist; pulling not only from Iraq but also all other foreign military installations, terminate all foreign treaties involving a military presence or involvement and ending all funding of foreign governments and causes.

What do you think would be the short term, mid term and long term consequences?

How do you think this policy would have served had it been done in 1980? What if it were 1940? 1910? Any other time frame?


Speculate and have fun. Consider as many moving parts as you can comprehend - not just your pet "bumper-sticker" cause.

Then they're fucked, since there completly dependant on foreign fuel and foreign money.

Today? We get to watch the US and the rest of the world's economy implode.

Okinawan schoolgirls would be a lot safer.

Then they're fucked, since there completly dependant on foreign fuel and foreign money.

Just like every other nation who depends on the U.S. The world would also be severely damaged by the resident superpower cutting ties with it.

As to what would happen? A weakening of the country, with a lack of trade, at least initially. U.S. loves to import a helluva lot of finished products while exporting raw materials, so I guess that would be incentive to bring production back home after awhile. Unless companies just decide to leave the U.S. altogether.

Long-term...America becomes...isolated? By an emergent China and to a lesser extent India. Say what you will about the Americans, but I prefer at least that historically democratic nation to be the world leader than China or earlier Russia.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=J8OYvHPpGDY

I say nothing much, the world is rather stable with or without America ATM

America IS isolationist-many of the problems faced today can be tracked to the fact America would rather deal with it's own internal situations than external problems. Sadly, this is not a good attitude for the world's only superpower to take, but it's an attitude that is still prevalent. Most Americans would rather withdraw and let the world tend to itself, but our national interests are global and we really can't afford such provincialism.

America IS isolationist-many of the problems faced today can be tracked to the fact America would rather deal with it's own internal situations than external problems. Sadly, this is not a good attitude for the world's only superpower to take, but it's an attitude that is still prevalent. Most Americans would rather withdraw and let the world tend to itself, but our national interests are global and we really can't afford such provincialism.

ROFL wait, wait, invading a country, spouting vague rhetoric about another, deployments in god-knows how many foreign nations and bases in an almost equal number, business interests that tie into more countries...yep. America is isolationist alright.

ROFL wait, wait, invading a country, spouting vague rhetoric about another, deployments in god-knows how many foreign nations and bases in an almost equal number, business interests that tie into more countries...yep. America is isolationist alright.

I think, or at least it was pretty clear to me, that he was saying that the common American person feels we're capable of just sticking to ourselves and screw everyone else and their problems. It's always been a dominant opinion, but I think now that we're seeing the results of the Iraq War, you can see it expressed a lot more. It's just that the people in positions of power have made choices that make us too dependent on the globalism, and so that trend continues.

Honestly, I think we could become a lot more self-sufficient, at least set up something just between ourselves and Canada. We could cut off much of our partnership with the Middle East and put our efforts into Canadian crude oil and start drilling Alaska while we focus working together to form an alternative energy source before it's all used up. It would remove much of our need to play global police in the world, since everyone else seems to think that we shouldn't be protecting our/their investments. Many of our military bases were built up during the Cold War, and we can sell them off since they're obviously no longer necessary. It would be ridiculous to believe we could just shut down every military base, but a lot of them should be removed, since they do little more than project power in places where power needn't be projected.

Well, chances are the world would still hate us, just like they do now, the only difference would be that we would have spent a lot less money in getting hated.

We were fairly isolationist, until two little incidents called WW I and WW II happened, and we were dragged into the world's halfwit peccadillos.

Some wag at the State Department got the bright idea that maybe if we were proactive in interfering, we might nip that shit in the bud.

Well, chances are the world would still hate us, just like they do now, the only difference would be that we would have spent a lot less money in getting hated.

Now they would hate us for Abondoning them. No matter what we do, everybody hates us. :) Makes you feel warm in fuzzy in side.

But really, I think Africa would take a really big hit becuase America is the main exporter of food to impoverished nations.

Well, chances are the world would still hate us, just like they do now, the only difference would be that we would have spent a lot less money in getting hated.

/Threadwin.

The world and American economies would implode, probably provoking a series of regional wars.

We were fairly isolationist, until two little incidents called WW I and WW II happened, and we were dragged into the world's halfwit peccadillos.

Some wag at the State Department got the bright idea that maybe if we were proactive in interfering, we might nip that shit in the bud.

Dragged in?

Hahahahahahaha

"America should have minded her own business and stayed out of the World War. If you hadn't entered the war the Allies would have made peace with Germany in the Spring of 1917. Had we made peace then there would have been no collapse in Russia followed by Communism, no breakdown in Italy followed by Fascism, and Germany would not have signed the Versailles Treaty, which has enthroned Nazism in Germany. If America had stayed out of the war, all these 'isms' wouldn't today be sweeping the continent of Europe and breaking down parliamentary government — and if England had made peace early in 1917, it would have saved over one million British, French, American, and other lives."

~Winston Churchill, Interview with the New York Enquirer

Dragged in?

Hahahahahahaha

"America should have minded her own business and stayed out of the World War. If you hadn't entered the war the Allies would have made peace with Germany in the Spring of 1917. Had we made peace then there would have been no collapse in Russia followed by Communism, no breakdown in Italy followed by Fascism, and Germany would not have signed the Versailles Treaty, which has enthroned Nazism in Germany. If America had stayed out of the war, all these 'isms' wouldn't today be sweeping the continent of Europe and breaking down parliamentary government — and if England had made peace early in 1917, it would have saved over one million British, French, American, and other lives."

~Winston Churchill, Interview with the New York Enquirer

Riiight. I guess that's why the British and French asked us to drop in...

Coming from the guy who was astute enough to conceive of, plan, and supervise the Gallipoli debacle...

The world and American economies would implode, probably provoking a series of regional wars.

why?

/Threadwin.

Aww gee, thanks!

Okinawan schoolgirls would be a lot safer.

lmfao! :p:p:p:p:p:p

But really, I think Africa would take a really big hit becuase America is the main exporter of food to impoverished nations.

Yeah, we are, through the IMF and the World Bank.

We helped them with the growth of GM seeds that will grow in the Sahara, and look what happens, no one (Europe, or US) will by their crops because (in Europe's case) they are GM and therefore less healthy than the crop that they were derived from (even though no dangerous effects have been reported during the testing of these crops) and in the US's case we have enough food already (we are the only nation in the world that could increase production without the addition of new technology)

Since the US is the ruling Hegemon, for the moment, it would probably be a bad thing to run out right now. Also, if we pulled out of NAFTA and the WTO I could see another bout of trade wars in our future.

Riiight. I guess that's why the British and French asked us to drop in...

Coming from the guy who was astute enough to conceive of, plan, and supervise the Gallipoli debacle...


Asking someone for help in upsetting the balance of power that had held for a century isn't the same as dragging them kicking and screaming. Oh no! People are asking us to intervene in their wars! What choice do we have but to join in?

There wouldn't have BEEN a Gallipoli debacle if the Russians hadn't insisted upon a southern front to break through the Dardanelles.

I don't know if the US has the natural resources to pull off being isolationist anymore. Certainly they would still be able to trade for what they needed, but without their position on the world stage, they would not get the deals that they get now. A restructuring of America's role in the world would have a multitude of effects, most of which I believe would be crippling to the US.

Post your speculation here. What would happen globally if the US were to become deeply isolationist; pulling not only from Iraq but also all other foreign military installations, terminate all foreign treaties involving a military presence or involvement and ending all funding of foreign governments and causes.

We would not have to pay the 41% (or 43%, cannot remember, anyway >40%) of the cost of US soldiers in Italy, as we currently do pay.
We woulnd't have stupid free-fall nukes in our airbases.
We wouldn't have to but the stupid F-35 as Berlusconi wants us to.
Iran would be selling us its oil for euro, cash. So would Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc.
Putin would not be in power - since the Russians wouldn't feel encircled by NATO, and hence no need for another "strong man".
EU would have its common defence force.
No European soldiers would have died in Iraq.
Turkey would stop oppressing the Kurds living within its boundaries.
Pakistan wouldn't be so keen on being a nuclear power without US help.
People wouldn't be kidnapped throughout Europe and tortured by CIA on "terrorism" suspects.
etc, etc...

Okinawan schoolgirls would be a lot safer.

Some would also be a lot broker.

I don't know if the US has the natural resources to pull off being isolationist anymore. Certainly they would still be able to trade for what they needed, but without their position on the world stage, they would not get the deals that they get now. A restructuring of America's role in the world would have a multitude of effects, most of which I believe would be crippling to the US.

Many people here seem to confuse isolationism with closed trade - which it is not.

I have seen little real speculation about what the world stage would look like, so I'll start with my own bit of fiction. I'll try to interject my own opinion with other opinions so that nobody really can tell what I think - so that my post may serve as an example of the format I hoped for instead of a topic unto itself..


The US recalls their troops from Iraq. Afghanistan. Germany. South Korea. Japan. Etc. The US stops sending aid for Egypt. Israel. The continent of Africa.

1) Middle East Chaos as a HUGE power struggle erupts. Egypt and Saudi Arabia struggle with civil war. Iraq falls into complete chaos. Iran attacks Israel with nukes, and finds itself nuked to the stone age. then finds itself also battling Saudi Arabia and Turkey (who refuse to allay or tangle with with the still powerful remains of Israel). Kurds become extinct - victims of Iraq and Turkey persecution. Nations find themselves fighting so many simultaneous wars the line between friend and foe become virtually indistinguishable. Some nations simply cease to exist (Syria, Lebanon, Palestinian territories) Oil production comes to a near standstill. Nations give favored status to those who pay with weapons instead of cash. Chine becomes the weapons dealer of choice. Living conditions become abhorrent. Fuel costs skyrocket. Deaths number in the tens of millions.

2) Europe attempts to trade fuel only with Russia, Venezuela and other places outside of the middle east - trying to avoid contributing to the fracas. Eventually one nation, probably France, gets caught making back-room deals with a middle eastern nation. This causes them to become sanctioned by other European nations. Tit-for-tat leads to trade wars and the eventual dissolving of the EU. Individual nations growing mistrust leads to military buildup and economic chaos. Meanwhile...

3) China invades Taiwan. They soon start to eyeball Japan - payback time. Japan quickly builds a formidable army, but it is no match for the vast number of Chinese. North Korea invades south Korea in a tremendous battle know nearly as much for it's bloodshed as it's brief duration. It is jokingly called the six-HOUR war.

4) Tensions in Europe are high, but they are all prepared to allay against any Asian (China) threat - this includes Russia. They attempt to create a mutual defense treaty, but political squabbling defeats that before it begins.

5) Meanwhile, back in South America.... Venezuela invades Ecuador and Columbia. It is a bloody fight. Columbian drug lords put up a mighty defense in Columbia and gain political clout. Soon a drug lord is elected president of columbia, then stages a political coup taking control of every facet of the government there.

6) Meanwhile, back in North America... Imports now cost considerably more due to the outside world chaos. Environmental concerns are all but forgotten as oil production becomes a new priority. Domestic production becomes important again as labor becomes a larger share of the US economy. Labor unions gain a much stronger foothold, but inflation and fuel rationing make it bittersweet. Unemployment is problematic as former military members and suppliers re-enter the private sector. Bell-Bottoms and corduroy inexplicably come back in fashion. it is hell on earth.

Many people here seem to confuse isolationism with closed trade - which it is not.

I have seen little real speculation about what the world stage would look like, so I'll start with my own bit of fiction. I'll try to interject my own opinion with other opinions so that nobody really can tell what I think - so that my post may serve as an example of the format I hoped for instead of a topic unto itself..


The US recalls their troops from Iraq. Afghanistan. Germany. South Korea. Japan. Etc. The US stops sending aid for Egypt. Israel. The continent of Africa.

1) Middle East Chaos as a HUGE power struggle erupts. Egypt and Saudi Arabia struggle with civil war. Iraq falls into complete chaos. Iran attacks Israel with nukes, and finds itself nuked to the stone age. then finds itself also battling Saudi Arabia and Turkey (who refuse to allay or tangle with with the still powerful remains of Israel). Kurds become extinct - victims of Iraq and Turkey persecution. Nations find themselves fighting so many simultaneous wars the line between friend and foe become virtually indistinguishable. Some nations simply cease to exist (Syria, Lebanon, Palestinian territories) Oil production comes to a near standstill. Nations give favored status to those who pay with weapons instead of cash. Chine becomes the weapons dealer of choice. Living conditions become abhorrent. Fuel costs skyrocket. Deaths number in the tens of millions.

2) Europe attempts to trade fuel only with Russia, Venezuela and other places outside of the middle east - trying to avoid contributing to the fracas. Eventually one nation, probably France, gets caught making back-room deals with a middle eastern nation. This causes them to become sanctioned by other European nations. Tit-for-tat leads to trade wars and the eventual dissolving of the EU. Individual nations growing mistrust leads to military buildup and economic chaos. Meanwhile...

3) China invades Taiwan. They soon start to eyeball Japan - payback time. Japan quickly builds a formidable army, but it is no match for the vast number of Chinese. North Korea invades south Korea in a tremendous battle know nearly as much for it's bloodshed as it's brief duration. It is jokingly called the six-HOUR war.

4) Tensions in Europe are high, but they are all prepared to allay against any Asian (China) threat - this includes Russia. They attempt to create a mutual defense treaty, but political squabbling defeats that before it begins.

5) Meanwhile, back in South America.... Venezuela invades Ecuador and Columbia. It is a bloody fight. Columbian drug lords put up a mighty defense in Columbia and gain political clout. Soon a drug lord is elected president of columbia, then stages a political coup taking control of every facet of the government there.

6) Meanwhile, back in North America... Imports now cost considerably more due to the outside world chaos. Environmental concerns are all but forgotten as oil production becomes a new priority. Domestic production becomes important again as labor becomes a larger share of the US economy. Labor unions gain a much stronger foothold, but inflation and fuel rationing make it bittersweet. Unemployment is problematic as former military members and suppliers re-enter the private sector. Bell-Bottoms and corduroy inexplicably come back in fashion. it is hell on earth.

BUAWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHHA!!!!!

Awesome piece of comedy.

I think it would be stupid to say there'd be no serious repercussions if a world superpower suddenly became isolationist. But after a while, I think the rest of the world would adjust. The US on the other hand would just continue to decline imo.

Many people here seem to confuse isolationism with closed trade - which it is not.

Historically the two have been linked. After WWI the US decided not to join the League of Nations and raised tariffs. After WII the US helped form the UN and joined the GATT. The EU combines eliminating barriers of trade between member nations and working togther for common causes.

The isolationists I have seen recommend that the US leave the WTO, which along with its predecessor the GATT has helped lower trade barriers. I dont see the US going free trade after leaving this organization. I see trade wars.

The balance of power will change for sure.

Isreal will have to close its ties with Europe. And I believe that also strike some sort of deal with Iran. I dont think Iran will nuke Israel (mainly because thye dont have nukes!!!), on the contrary, they will get closer. Most people seem to think Iran wants nukes for Isreal, because thats what the TV says. But actually the hisotrical enemies of Persia are the arabs. Also the russians and to match the power of Pakistan and India.

The druglords taking over south america.... actually if the US stoped consuming so much drugs, I believe druglords will lose most of its power. Venezuela attacking Colombia?? more liekely the other way around.... BUT There is no way a war starts in south america without Brazils approval.

China will surely invade Tawain and NK will go for SK... But those advances are going to be halted quickly by no one else than Russia AND India, who will surely not like the idea of China growing more powerfull. I doubt the Chinese will have the power to go for Japan.

The EU will surely strenghten and will start to play a bigger role in the middle east and asia...with out doing something so dumb as going to war in Irak... wich will surely be an improvement.

No....the world wont collapse if the US is gone...so take a leave if you want to. :p

The US owes IMMENSE amounts of money, so I don't think that would be possible, without seriously damaging the US economy. Other than that, it's difficult to say. The US helped us after WWII, but I'm not sure that in general the US would come out on the helpfull side (if you did a help-hurt median)

In 2000, Al Gore gets elected as President, since all the votes were counted in Florida. He continues Clinton's drawdown of the military, to the point that we close all bases not in U.S. territories by July 2000. In January, North Korea attacks South Korea with a massive strike. To the chagrin of the Communists, their main tunnels under the DMZ are discovered by GPR and bombed as soon as the attack is made known. Losing the air war and forced to attack through the heavily fortified DMZ, the North Korean attack bogs down and turns into a stalemate.

Meanwhile, Iraq invades Kuwait, rapidly taking the tiny nation with no recrimination from the U.S. Bin Ladin is too busy planning celebration party (since his ties to Iraq are soooo strong) to carry through 9/11. Britain, forced to make a decision between committing its troops to Korea or Kuwait since no other nation wants to get involved, chooses Korea since the defending forces are relatively intact. NK forces are rapidly defeated with the added troops and air power, and China gets involved, citing 'human rights abuses'. They send "humanitarian aid" to North Korea in the form of 250,000 troops, toppling what's left of the government. Initial skirmishes between Chinese and South Korean troops turn into full scale war.

British soldiers, caught in the middle, are forced to defend themselves. But, the weight of Chinese infantry and air cover force the defenders back to the DMZ, where an ironic Inchon landing causes a crack in the static defenses. China pours south. South Korea, faced with extermination, detonates tactical nukes stolen from closed U.S. bases in the breach. China retaliates by destroying Daejon in a similar manner, causing the remains of the government to sue for peace, rather than watch their nation be destroyed. Britain pulls out in defeat.

The British populace, tired of foreign wars, nixes any Kuwait invasion. Bolstered by non-intervention, Iraq forms a coalition with Israeli border nations and attacks with the massed force. Israel fights bitterly, with its advanced ex-U.S. military technology holding the edge, but barely. The slumbering E.U. finally wakes and helps the nation fight off the invading forces. The massive losses suffered weakens Iraq to the point that Iran invades from the west, surprising the Saddam. Iran captures the nation, but loses the Iraqi oil wells when the retreating army burns them.

The spike in oil prices is countered by President Gore's Global Warming initiative. Investment in alternative energy for the past five years has produced a super-efficient solar cell and high-capacity batteries, eliminating the dependence on foreign oil for transportation or home heating. Those suffering the price pinch purchase the American made vehicles, shifting from gas burning cars almost overnight. Domestic oil production is more than enough to satisfy industrial needs, causing American demand to plummet. China, copying the American technology due to wikipedia, and Europe, buying the cars and cells, move from oil as well. The spike in oil price is followed by a dizzying plummet, destroying Arab economies in the process. The surviving nations in the Anti-Isreal league sue Iran for peace, seeing the coming disaster.

Alas, it is too late. The Arab League, desperately watching the oil income dry up, adds Pakistan for its opium production. India, taking an active role in the world with China's saber rattling, attacks the drug fields with commando raids, citing Pakistan's selling to India's populace. Pakistan retaliates by capturing Kashmir, bolstered by its new allies. An overzealous Indian response with a sizable military force causes a declaration of war. Pre-emptive Pakistani nukes fall on Indian cities, sparking a response. Both nations are destroyed, along with the remainder of the Arab forces. China, always opportunistic, sweeps all the way to the Mediterranean, with only EU backed Israel stopping it.

China attacks the Suez Canal, finally triggering a response from the EU. A massive combined force sweeps south from Turkey. A Russian-led force slides south from Vladivostock. Facing a war on two fronts, China resorts to tactical nukes. The E.U. responds, and everything quickly goes strategic.

The Western Hemisphere blissfully watches American Idol, apathetic to the burning world. Ironically, Africa is blissfully ignorant as well, embroiled in their multiple permanent civil wars/genocides.

Al Gore solves the Nuclear Winter as well, with giant air filters.

Post your speculation here. What would happen globally if the US were to become deeply isolationist; pulling not only from Iraq but also all other foreign military installations, terminate all foreign treaties involving a military presence or involvement and ending all funding of foreign governments and causes.

What do you think would be the short term, mid term and long term consequences?

How do you think this policy would have served had it been done in 1980? What if it were 1940? 1910? Any other time frame?


Speculate and have fun. Consider as many moving parts as you can comprehend - not just your pet "bumper-sticker" cause.

See US history, 1921-33.

In 2000, Al Gore gets elected as President, since all the votes were counted in Florida. He continues Clinton's drawdown of the military, to the point that we close all bases not in U.S. territories by July 2000. In January, North Korea attacks South Korea with a massive strike. To the chagrin of the Communists, their main tunnels under the DMZ are discovered by GPR and bombed as soon as the attack is made known. Losing the air war and forced to attack through the heavily fortified DMZ, the North Korean attack bogs down and turns into a stalemate.

Meanwhile, Iraq invades Kuwait, rapidly taking the tiny nation with no recrimination from the U.S. Bin Ladin is too busy planning celebration party (since his ties to Iraq are soooo strong) to carry through 9/11. Britain, forced to make a decision between committing its troops to Korea or Kuwait since no other nation wants to get involved, chooses Korea since the defending forces are relatively intact. NK forces are rapidly defeated with the added troops and air power, and China gets involved, citing 'human rights abuses'. They send "humanitarian aid" to North Korea in the form of 250,000 troops, toppling what's left of the government. Initial skirmishes between Chinese and South Korean troops turn into full scale war.

British soldiers, caught in the middle, are forced to defend themselves. But, the weight of Chinese infantry and air cover force the defenders back to the DMZ, where an ironic Inchon landing causes a crack in the static defenses. China pours south. South Korea, faced with extermination, detonates tactical nukes stolen from closed U.S. bases in the breach. China retaliates by destroying Daejon in a similar manner, causing the remains of the government to sue for peace, rather than watch their nation be destroyed. Britain pulls out in defeat.

The British populace, tired of foreign wars, nixes any Kuwait invasion. Bolstered by non-intervention, Iraq forms a coalition with Israeli border nations and attacks with the massed force. Israel fights bitterly, with its advanced ex-U.S. military technology holding the edge, but barely. The slumbering E.U. finally wakes and helps the nation fight off the invading forces. The massive losses suffered weakens Iraq to the point that Iran invades from the west, surprising the Saddam. Iran captures the nation, but loses the Iraqi oil wells when the retreating army burns them.

The spike in oil prices is countered by President Gore's Global Warming initiative. Investment in alternative energy for the past five years has produced a super-efficient solar cell and high-capacity batteries, eliminating the dependence on foreign oil for transportation or home heating. Those suffering the price pinch purchase the American made vehicles, shifting from gas burning cars almost overnight. Domestic oil production is more than enough to satisfy industrial needs, causing American demand to plummet. China, copying the American technology due to wikipedia, and Europe, buying the cars and cells, move from oil as well. The spike in oil price is followed by a dizzying plummet, destroying Arab economies in the process. The surviving nations in the Anti-Isreal league sue Iran for peace, seeing the coming disaster.

Alas, it is too late. The Arab League, desperately watching the oil income dry up, adds Pakistan for its opium production. India, taking an active role in the world with China's saber rattling, attacks the drug fields with commando raids, citing Pakistan's selling to India's populace. Pakistan retaliates by capturing Kashmir, bolstered by its new allies. An overzealous Indian response with a sizable military force causes a declaration of war. Pre-emptive Pakistani nukes fall on Indian cities, sparking a response. Both nations are destroyed, along with the remainder of the Arab forces. China, always opportunistic, sweeps all the way to the Mediterranean, with only EU backed Israel stopping it.

China attacks the Suez Canal, finally triggering a response from the EU. A massive combined force sweeps south from Turkey. A Russian-led force slides south from Vladivostock. Facing a war on two fronts, China resorts to tactical nukes. The E.U. responds, and everything quickly goes strategic.

The Western Hemisphere blissfully watches American Idol, apathetic to the burning world. Ironically, Africa is blissfully ignorant as well, embroiled in their multiple permanent civil wars/genocides.

Al Gore solves the Nuclear Winter as well, with giant air filters.

Are you secretly Harry Turtledove? That was some awesome Speculative Fiction. :rolleyes:

The US owes IMMENSE amounts of money, so I don't think that would be possible, without seriously damaging the US economy. Other than that, it's difficult to say. The US helped us after WWII, but I'm not sure that in general the US would come out on the helpfull side (if you did a help-hurt median)

The US owes practically everyone billions, as part as a defence strategy. If the US decides to isolate itself from the world and stops trade, then everyone's basically screwed. Good luck trying to get those billions back without violating US sovereignity and starting an expensive war, possibly destroying entire economies (yeah, the US owes THAT much) and plunging millions, possibly a billion, into, or further into, poverty.

You take the US out and you've just lost half the pie. The pie is only a shadow of its former self.

*snip*

And then in a flash of light Al Gore returns to heaven, for apparently he was the second coming of the messiah. 98% of Earth's population is sent to hell in the Judgment that follows, so really it's a wash for the US. :rolleyes:

See US history, 1921-33.

read: didn't work very well.

America just may take an isolationist path here real soon. If Obama were to win you would see a drastic pull back of American influence around the globe and a focus inward. That can be good or bad depending on how you look at it.

See US history, 1921-33.

I think we are about to repeat this episode real soon.

America just may take an isolationist path here real soon. If Obama were to win you would see a drastic pull back of American influence around the globe and a focus inward.
There's a big difference between withdrawing from an interventionist foreign policy and becoming an isolationist nation.

America just may take an isolationist path here real soon. If Obama were to win you would see a drastic pull back of American influence around the globe and a focus inward. That can be good or bad depending on how you look at it.

FDR "focused inward" and he lead us through most of WWII. They don't have to be mutually exclusive.

The US owes practically everyone billions, as part as a defence strategy. If the US decides to isolate itself from the world and stops trade, then everyone's basically screwed.
Or, more likely, the dollar stops being the world's currency standard and the US is screwed.

There's a big difference between withdrawing from an interventionist foreign policy and becoming an isolationist nation.

Well no kidding....

Wait and see what happens if the Dem's take control of the White House and Congress. Again I am not saying it is a bad thing because I think other nations need to shoulder the burden of their regions. It could be a boon for the US and a bad thing for others. The US policy will shift away from the interventionist policy as of late and really swing the other way. Just maybe to much.

Realistically though, with spending cuts to the military it's possible that the US wouldn't be totally screwed. Nobody would listen to the US anymore, but as soon as the Baby-Boomers aren't around to tax social security/Medicare as much, things could get interesting.

Wait and see what happens if the Dem's take control of the White House and Congress... The US policy will shift away from the interventionist policy as of late and really swing the other way.
What are you basing this on?

There's nothing, IIRC, in the rhetoric of Obama, or was in the rhetoric of Clinton, to suggest an isolationist foreign policy.

The US owes practically everyone billions, as part as a defence strategy. If the US decides to isolate itself from the world and stops trade, then everyone's basically screwed. Good luck trying to get those billions back without violating US sovereignity and starting an expensive war, possibly destroying entire economies (yeah, the US owes THAT much) and plunging millions, possibly a billion, into, or further into, poverty.

You take the US out and you've just lost half the pie. The pie is only a shadow of its former self.

Other nations owe the US billions. It's a big circle jerk. Also before you mention that most of our national debt is owned by other nations think again. The national debt is carried mostly by US citizens and companies. Out of the 9 trillion or so only 25% is owned by persons or governments outside the US or roughly a bit over 2 trillion. The Chinese only own 354 billion of it.

What are you basing this on?

There's nothing, IIRC, in the rhetoric of Obama, or was in the rhetoric of Clinton, to suggest an isolationist foreign policy.

Basing it on dozens of speeches given by Democratic leadership. Obama isn't going to run the show by himself you know. I also for the record state this as a hunch because I do not have a crystal ball.