(05-14-2016, 12:29 PM)Odin Wrote: I may be left-wing, but I am also a geopolitical realist. US isolationism will create a power vacuum that will only lead to horrific wars as various powers try to fill the void. Have we all forgotten what happened when the US refused to accept hegemonic status after WW1? The result was another world war. Isolationism is a idealistic ideology for the geopolitically ignorant.
I am conservative on many issues and try to be a realist. Power vacuums will be filled by something and the results could well be negative, so total withdrawal and isolation looks risky to me.
War should be avoided unless there is no alternative and our survival is at stake( or at least some real vital national interest). I don't think the modern so called 'wars' qualify.
After WWI, all the allies contributed to the causes of WWII, including extremely harsh treatment of Germany. The Great Depression was also a big factor.
There must be some approach that is more balanced than choosing to stay with our recent policies , or total withdrawal from the world.
(05-13-2016, 03:48 PM)Galen Wrote: In the general case you are correct. I must mention that the Silents were always pretty much non-entities after the Boomers started since all they ever did was try to placate everyone.
I think that the Silents as a group tried to make peace with other generations, but would not use the term placate. In any case the Boomers did take the lead and became the dominant force. It appeared to me that the Boomers as a group had a drive to tell everyone else what to do.
… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil 4:8 (ESV)