Should the U.S. re-adopt the Monroe doctrine, where we stay out of foreign affairs?

Question

Do you think the U.S. would be better off staying out of foreign affairs? People like Monroe thought that we should leave other people alone, and warned that they should leave us alone.

Do you think this would work in today's world? Would it benefit or harm the U.S.? Just curious here as to what you think...

Answer 1

In 1823, in his his 7th annual State of the Union Address, President John Monroe stated that the U.S. no longer recognized the right of any European Power to colonize in the Americas. He further stated that the U.S. would remain neutral in any conflict between European Powers, or between a European Power and it's colonies, unless the latter was in the Americas, in which case the U.S. would consider the war an attack on itself. We started ignoring that one in WW1 and have never looked back, the Falklands Conflict between Britain and Argentina was a clear violation, we didn't bat an eye. Given the technology available even as far back as WW2, that kind of isolationism simply isn't an option any more. Be nice if it was, I agree, but it ain't.

Answer 2

How about the first thing we do is keep all the foreign aid packages here at home?
If we didn't have to feed the world and give money to every under privileged soul on the planet we wouldn't be so far in debt.

That's not selfish - just common sense.
Help the American people at home first.

Answer 3

The idea behind the Monroe Doctrine was not as much to remain neutral but it was mainly our way of telling the Europeans that we would defend all of North and South America

Answer 4

Had we stayed out of foreign affairs we would all have swastikas on our foreheads...everyone except the Jewish people, black people, light brown nations, let's see...everyone who is German and blonde and blue eyed.

Answer 5

I don't think that would work in today's world.

It would be great if it would though.