Isolationism Redux

"Peace through strength, or failing that, peace through threat." -- Roman Emperor Hadrian (AD 76-138).

   Donald Trump revived the first part of that motto at a political rally in Virginia Saturday, but did not attribute it to Emperor Hadrian or to President Ronald Reagan, who also used the phrase.
   Trump did not mention the second clause, "peace through threat," nor did he note that Hadrian is also famous for building a wall in Britain to keep out the Scots from the rest of the island.
   Trump's speech was heavy on isolationism, emphasizing that his policies would be to "reject globalism" as part of his "America first" campaign.
   Otherwise, the speech contained many of his usual bromides about bringing back manufacturing jobs and increasing wages, while increasing military spending and eliminating the so-called "death tax," especially on family owned farms. His energy program seemed to consist mainly of "putting coal miners and steel back to work," because the increased use of "clean coal" for America's energy needs would somehow also solve the issue of global warming. Check that: He used the phrase "global warming" once, but did not return to it or give any details on how to deal with it.
   Trump did stress the importance of eliminating the "death tax," or estate tax on family owned farms, but did not mention the detail that the tax applied only to family inheritances valued in excess of $10.9 million, and that the tax was levied on only the portion above that level. Few family farms in America would be affected by the cut, since they are not subject to the tax.
   As for idea of putting more people to work mining coal, one wonders how many parents in coal mining towns want their children to do that, rather than seek higher skill, higher education, higher paying jobs in such fields as technology.
   So while the candidate may believe he is echoing President Ronald Reagan with the "Peace through strength" motto, he is really reviving the wall-building, isolationist, militaristic, policies of ancient Rome, which also emphasized the threat of force.
   Another suggestion common to Trump speeches.