Excerpt:
According to a poll released on Dec. 3 by The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, almost half of Americans believe that the U.S. should “mind its own business internationally” and step out of other countries’ affairs.
In 1964, the institute found that only 18 percent of Americans supported such an isolationist approach. For the first time in more than 40 years of polling, a plurality (49%) says the United States should let other countries get along the best they can on their own and not interfere in their affairs. In December 2002, just 30% agreed with this statement.
If President Obama is looking for something that transcends the left/right, conservative/liberal divisions over health care reform and Afghanistan policy, he might try isolationism. This finding marks the first time in four decades that such a large number of Americans oppose US foreign policies.
Back in 1935, a Marine who won the Congressional Medal of Honor twice, Gen. Smedley Butler said, “We must take the profit out of war. We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war. We must limit our military to home defense purposes.”
Perhaps spending billions on rebuilding the American economy instead of bombing, occupying and rebuilding countries on the other side of the globe would generate higher approval ratings for Obama, save lives, help restore our image among the international community, and help Americans.