The GOP's turn to isolationism is worse than a turn to isolationism. It is a conditional turn, because at the same time the party is undermining support for Ukraine, they are openly lusting for an armed invasion of Mexico -- hardly the stuff of a true isolationist party. No, what they are for is might makes right, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Fascist State."
The GOP's turn to isolationism is worse than a turn to isolationism. It is a conditional turn, because at the same time the party is undermining support for Ukraine, they are openly lusting for an armed invasion of Mexico -- hardly the stuff of a true isolationist party. No, what they are for is might makes right, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Fascist State."
I think what they are for is stupidity. The idea of the US pulling back globally and no longer underpinning global security to the extent that we have is one that can bear some discussion. Hanging Ukraine out to dry and invading one of our most important strategic partners over the next century would be two moves calculated to cause us the most problems.
There's growing evidence that we're poised for another American Century, and about the only thing that can stop it is shooting ourselves in the foot. Rewarding naked aggression and jumping into a quagmire in Mexico are two such shots.
Knowltok, what is your evidence that we are тАЬpoised for another American Century?тАЭ Not that I disagree; I actually think you may be correct. But I would like to hear your argument and the evidence for it. Thank you.
A lot of it has to do with demographics. China appears to be in for some rough times due to the aging of their population coupled with the covid accelerated on-shoring going on. American net energy independence is helping with that. Russia, in addition to its other problems is also facing a demographic problem as is Europe.
The US is in a great position in large part due to the fact that there's no one to rise up and take our place. Maybe China can still do it, but I don't think they can unless we help them by abandoning global order (dropping Ukraine). If we can maintain the idea that taking things by force is a non-starter for another decade more, China won't be able to make the progress it needs to.
On the other hand, if we green light a Taiwan invasion by abandoning Ukraine, all manner of countries close to China might decide that willing servant to the Chinese order is their best course of action.
All we really have to do is keep from own-goaling as far as China is concerned and not do something stupid like pissing off our perfect source for non-threatening low-cost labor right next door (by invading them). Not to mention, we actually need the immigration we're getting to help with our population levels. We're at 1.64 births per woman. Immigration is what will keep us young and relatively stable compared with much of the developed world (China is at 1.28, think how that's going to work for them). Of course, that might come to a screeching halt if we're at war with Mexico. And no, Mexico isn't the only source, but a major disruption to the south coupled with a militarization of the border and other entry points would certainly cut down on immigration from most of latin America, I would think.
It's not isolationism, although the party caters to that group. As you point out, they are fine with invading Mexico or any other country they felt they could run better or make America more firster by doing so. Supporting that exemplar Christian nation, Russia, is just because they are envious.
MAGAs are downright hostile to a democratic country that's struggling to maintain its independence from the despotic empire trying to subjugate it. And the Tucker Carlson wing of the MAGAs affirmatively favor the Russian model -- even over the American one. The claim that Russia is more "Christian" tells you everything you need to know about how they understand "Christian values."
The GOP's turn to isolationism is worse than a turn to isolationism. It is a conditional turn, because at the same time the party is undermining support for Ukraine, they are openly lusting for an armed invasion of Mexico -- hardly the stuff of a true isolationist party. No, what they are for is might makes right, or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Fascist State."
I think what they are for is stupidity. The idea of the US pulling back globally and no longer underpinning global security to the extent that we have is one that can bear some discussion. Hanging Ukraine out to dry and invading one of our most important strategic partners over the next century would be two moves calculated to cause us the most problems.
There's growing evidence that we're poised for another American Century, and about the only thing that can stop it is shooting ourselves in the foot. Rewarding naked aggression and jumping into a quagmire in Mexico are two such shots.
Knowltok, what is your evidence that we are тАЬpoised for another American Century?тАЭ Not that I disagree; I actually think you may be correct. But I would like to hear your argument and the evidence for it. Thank you.
A lot of it has to do with demographics. China appears to be in for some rough times due to the aging of their population coupled with the covid accelerated on-shoring going on. American net energy independence is helping with that. Russia, in addition to its other problems is also facing a demographic problem as is Europe.
The US is in a great position in large part due to the fact that there's no one to rise up and take our place. Maybe China can still do it, but I don't think they can unless we help them by abandoning global order (dropping Ukraine). If we can maintain the idea that taking things by force is a non-starter for another decade more, China won't be able to make the progress it needs to.
On the other hand, if we green light a Taiwan invasion by abandoning Ukraine, all manner of countries close to China might decide that willing servant to the Chinese order is their best course of action.
All we really have to do is keep from own-goaling as far as China is concerned and not do something stupid like pissing off our perfect source for non-threatening low-cost labor right next door (by invading them). Not to mention, we actually need the immigration we're getting to help with our population levels. We're at 1.64 births per woman. Immigration is what will keep us young and relatively stable compared with much of the developed world (China is at 1.28, think how that's going to work for them). Of course, that might come to a screeching halt if we're at war with Mexico. And no, Mexico isn't the only source, but a major disruption to the south coupled with a militarization of the border and other entry points would certainly cut down on immigration from most of latin America, I would think.
Thanks knowltok for this thoughtful reply! I appreciate it.
Maybe we could just give Texas back to Mexico.
It's not isolationism, although the party caters to that group. As you point out, they are fine with invading Mexico or any other country they felt they could run better or make America more firster by doing so. Supporting that exemplar Christian nation, Russia, is just because they are envious.
They might be envious of RussiaтАЩs strong authoritarian structure, but would they trust getting on an airplane ever again?
MAGAs are downright hostile to a democratic country that's struggling to maintain its independence from the despotic empire trying to subjugate it. And the Tucker Carlson wing of the MAGAs affirmatively favor the Russian model -- even over the American one. The claim that Russia is more "Christian" tells you everything you need to know about how they understand "Christian values."
As has been posted on a few of these comment sections, the cruelty is the point.
Religion exists to serve hypocrisy.
Invading Mexico is stupid but it was also called the Mexican-American War, 1846=1848.
Happened again after the Villa raid, but we didnтАЩt keep any territory at that time.
And we got Texas. WhoтАЩs laughing now?
No problem, just intern them all. /s