BATRMost people associate the term America First with foreign policy. While the implication speaks loudly for a pro national stand, most ignore the tradition that Populism is at the core of the movement. In order to understand the heritage, one should examine the most overt aspects of this tradition. Professor Ralph Raico, states the case for an American First foreign policy in his book – The Failure of America’s Foreign Wars. He refers to the following motto used by Richard Cobden, the libertarian theorist of international relations:
“The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is — in extending our commercial relations — to have with them as little political connection as possible.”
While the sordid history of mindless interventionism is widely available, most detractors want to rely upon the canard that isolationism from world affairs is the goal for advocates of the America First philosophy. How insincere, such a reproach is and disingenuous are these critics. Clearly those who accept the wisdom of Washington and Adams, understand that it applies today and has the same validity as when the nation embarked on its unique journey in self governance.
So what is the nature of the fear within the internationalist camp, that requires them to deny our own history, distort the facts and often falsify the significance about our heritage? Their dread stems from an aversion toward LIBERTY, especially when it is practiced by individuals of integrity. The populist movement of the late nineteenth century had a strong alignment with rural interests. If Thomas Jefferson championed the populace, William Jennings Bryan spoke for the populist. When Alexander Hamilton advanced the elites, Woodrow Wilson served the masters of internationalism. This conflict in mindset and orientation is at the core of the uninterrupted political struggle.
The domestic character in the America First movement, is largely unsung because the shapers of the political culture have gone to great lengths to dispel the meaning of individual sovereignty. Populism is the embodiment of rightful authority. Legitimacy of political institutions rests in the consent of citizens, and has as its only purpose, the benefit and advancement of their interests. Elites and their minions need not apply for positions of privilege. Special treatment, corporate domination and coercive compliance all promote cronyism of the few, over the prosperity of the many. While the control and creation of money was fraudulently expropriated through the Federal Reserve swindle, the convergence of people control was extended with the perpetual war for global domination strategy.
For the underlying objective in all internationalism policy is not just the expansion of an empire, but ultimately is the enslavement of each individual. Individual Liberty is the preeminent archenemy of the mattoid elite. Populism represents the pro active political underpinnings that recognizes that the Statist is the supreme enemy of the Republic. Those who lust after power for no other reason than to enrich and protect their own narrow appetites, are the unfeigned problem. The reason that the people must be shielded from the common sense of Populism, is reducible to the fear that elites have, that the regular folk will wake up to the fraud of the two party, one NWO voice, political system.
America First is the sensible and honest alternative to the continuous failures of the last century. The reason is simple. More of your friends, neighbors and family would become empowered to attain the fruits of the national dream, when they are able to live their lives as free and responsible citizens. Yes, an America First mindset, invokes obligations. But our mutual duty is directed towards people, not government. Only individuals possess rights. The State exists to serve the real master of government; namely the people.
Don’t be confused that genuine Populism promotes any form of “collectivism”. The emphasis is always on what will enhance the interests of the individual. Society never has the authority to claim they can establish subjugation for the ‘common good’. The test of validity for domestic policies will accept the standard that government must be controlled and not be the controller. That is why the definition within the name of America First is so appropriate.
The point that the government is NOT the nation, has been made repeatedly. It is time to put that theme into practice. The Corporate/State axis is the evil twin. The solution is restoring a real free enterprise economy and scale back and severely limit the role of central government. That is the goal for Populism. It is the American tradition and it deserves to be put FIRST, whenever public policy is considered.
So when you hear the smears against the only sane and prudent course, ask who benefits from those cat calls and who profits from that policy? The Republic is now dead with the enactment of the Patriot Act and now the Homeland Defense Act. Nothing illustrates more animus towards the prospects of freedom than these domestic draconian dictates of the elites. Populism is the political answer, American First is the correct policy, and Liberty is its eternal reward. Laugh in the face of the toadies for the elites. Virtuous and honest citizens know better. America First is your legacy! Can you count yourself among their ranks? Will you defend it or will you continue to pay trubute to the illicit betrayers of our Constitutional Republic?
SARTRE – November 21, 2002
“The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is — in extending our commercial relations — to have with them as little political connection as possible.”
The only thing I don’t like about that is that commercial relations, one way or another, eventually lead to political relations when those people in the trade industry seek to gain a competitive edge and more control.