Fortress America

My way or the highway! No compromise!

   The U.S. jobless rate fell again last month to 5.1 percent as the nation added 173,000 jobs, the Labor Department said, another sign that the economy continues to recover.
   Earlier, the Federal Reserve cited more good signals. Meanwhile, other major nations continue to struggle. The economy in China, a major U.S. trading partner, is slowing. The Ukraine economy may be close to collapse, and could drag down Eastern Europe. The migrant crisis in the rest of Europe, coupled with financial woes among members of the European Union, may threaten the unity of the group, beginning with the failure of the common currency.
   Along with other issues, as the U.S. strengthens and the rest of the world suffers, this may prompt conservative candidates to call for closing off America from the rest of the world. Feelings of isolationism have been strong before, most notably during the inter-war years and the Great Depression, when many Americans were strongly against involvement in problems plaguing the rest of the world.
   Since World War II, however, America has steadily built stronger ties worldwide through economic and international trade ties. No surprise. Economists have known since Adam Smith published "The Wealth of Nations" in 1776 that international trade benefits both sides.
   Nevertheless, there remains a vocal minority who insist that there can be only one victor, and their version of the art of the deal stipulates a winner-take-all strategy.
   So watch for more calls for an isolated America, especially from the Radical Right who believe their way is the only way, with no compromise, and any who disagree should be compelled to submit.