Liberty Maven

Let’s make the case for Ron Paul being a wacko isolationist first…

First let’s define what an isolationist is:

isolationist: one who practices a foreign policy which combines a non-interventionist military policy and a political policy of economic nationalism (protectionism). More specifically, a non-interventionist foreign policy is where heads of state avoid entangling alliances with other nations and avoid all wars not related to direct territorial self-defense. Protectionism is the belief that there should be legal barriers to prevent trade and cultural exchange with people in other states. (According to Wikipedia)

So is Ron Paul both a non-interventionist and a protectionist? Let’s do some research…

He certainly is a self proclaimed non-interventionist. From one of the debates (transcribed here) he stated:

“I think the party has lost its way, because the conservative wing of the Republican Party always advocated a noninterventionist foreign policy.

Senator Robert Taft didn’t even want to be in NATO. George Bush won the election in the year 2000 campaigning on a humble foreign policy — no nation-building, no policing of the world. Republicans were elected to end the Korean War. The Republicans were elected to end the Vietnam War. There’s a strong tradition of being anti-war in the Republican party. It is the constitutional position. It is the advice of the Founders to follow a non-interventionist foreign policy, stay out of entangling alliances, be friends with countries, negotiate and talk with them and trade with them.”

So, I’d say Ron Paul is a non-interventionist, for sure. What about a protectionist? If he’s a protectonist then he is certainly an isolationist by definition. But…

Unfortunately for those who wish to label him as an isolationist, as much as he is a non-interventionist, he is not a protectionist. From the recent somewhat infamous George Stephanopoulus interview on ABC’s “This Week…” Ron Paul was asked “Aren’t you proud of being isolationist?” Paul replied with the following (transcribed here):

“I don’t like the word…

I want to trade with people. We have more enemies today and more enemies and less friends than we have ever had in our country.”

So he simply stated he is not a protectionist by saying, “I want to trade with people.” He’s denounced isolationism in several other interviews as well.

Ron Paul is no isolationist. He sees the danger of isolationism, much like he foresaw the danger of our involvement in Iraq when most of the country (including myself) thought going into Iraq was justified. He opposed going into Iraq from the beginning. I’m ashamed to admit that I was sucked in to believing the notion that we had to stop Iraq and Saddam Hussein from manufacturing WMDs. What a crock that turned out to be.

To me Ron Paul seems like a grandfather his grandchildren would make fun of, but look up to and love him just the same. They would make fun of him because he is unassuming and apologetic, but passionate about his beliefs. There are times when I listen to him speak and I well up with American pride: not the pride for power, waging wars, and empire building, rather the pride for true patriotism, less government, and individual responsibility.

Granted he is not the best statesman when it comes to debating, charisma, and speech delivery. However, there are moments when his message and his sincerity hit me like magic.

Yes, he is somewhat of an extremist, especially for those that have only been exposed to the status quo. I believe a perceived extremist would be a good fit in the White House these days. There are 2 other branches of government that provide checks and balances to the executive branch. This setup would probably make Ron Paul a bit frustrated because he may not be able to accomplish all that he wants, but at least we’d have someone pushing us in the right direction.

If, by some long odds, he actually wins the presidency we’d have a modest non-violent revolution on our hands. The following message would be sent to the other branches of government:

We just want some liberty, is that too much to ask?