>>When that happens, the rest of world will never take american seriously anymore. You'll be living in the western version of Zimbabwe.
>>That is ridiculous.
>
>Have you visited (say) Europe or anywhere outside the USA, or what qualifies you to label Walter's experience "ridiculous" and substitute your own parochial version?
>
>Bottom line is that the US was isolationist more than once in history and can shrug off what others think if you decide to be that way again- but then there won't be anybody to take, take, take from. Decisions, decisions. ;-)

Becoming isolationist now days is a tad different than being an isolationist 100 years ago too. Can't really be an isolationist country these days and do very well, we're too intertwined with other countries. North Korea has been on their isolationist kick for a while - sure not working out too well for them hahahaha. Obviously very different example - but you get the point.