As a Jacksonian Libertarian many of Ron Paul’s positions are the same as mine. However, as a US citizen I have stock in the economic well being of this country, and the world trading system that is dominated by this country, and is responsible for most of our wealth. If we don’t protect the global trading system, the Barbarians will destroy it by making it unsafe, and the US and mankind’s continued advancement will end. The Roman Empire ended when Barbarians made trading unsafe, through piracy, highway men, and sacking of cities. The same thing could happen to the West.
It isn’t a sure thing that mankind will continue to flower under western democracies. It certainly isn’t, if we allow the Barbarians free reign to do as they will. We must learn how to fight them, we can’t do this by taking defensive positions, while the Barbarians destroy air travel, shipping, and global trade. Look at the targets they select for the bombings, The World Trade Towers, Trains, Airplanes, and Markets. They know the West’s strength is trade. And so they attack our center of gravity. Trade and air travel are already being affected with security delays, thereby driving up the cost of doing business.
In conclusion, Ron Paul’s position is short sighted and endangers us and our way of life, while leaving no hope that things might improve if we can just figure out how to win.
Although I’m not a big fan of Old Hickory, what you wrote was damn good.