Omens?

Looking back on history, it's interesting to review our founding father's thoughts on America and it's involvement in the rest of the world. We are uniquely constructed, blessed with an unfathomable store of resources, and isolated from other armies and conflicts surrounded by water. We actually had the option to remain aloof from the rest of the world. To the north and to the south there are empty quarters. Back in the founding of our country, Canada and Mexico were vast expanses of lands that were sparsely populated, and posed no threat. While Europe and Asia had centuries of battles with their neighbors, we were removed from those conflicts, and didn't have to participate. With our detached and distant situation we could be a fortress of independence, with no armies or conflicts to threaten our peace.

Initially our foreign trade revolved around the export of furs and tobacco to Europe. As our country reached it's puberty the rich fertile plains became the food source for the world and a foreign policy became more vital. America's foreign policy fell into four categories...

The Hamiltonians believed we must make the world safe for commerce.

The Jeffersonians preached any involvement might undermine liberty at home

The Wilsonians saw our role as making the world safe for liberty.

The Jacksonians demanded we destroy all enemies and defend our sovereignty at all costs, world opinion be damned.

Quite a mix of contrasts, no? It seems we've adopted a compromise and combined them, well at least three of the four. The Jeffersonians vision of isolationism has basically been lost. We've become the world's policeman, not unlike England was before it contracted after World War 1 and 2. Prior to it's retraction England was known as the Empire where the sun never set. We used to be the main exporter in the world, but now China has taken our place. It seems we've lost our manufacturing base, and become consumers, not producers. Sounds like Europe when we used to supply them, and now their economies have been in a steady decline. Could history have already taught us the outcome of the path we are following?

Great question!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill