Sarah Palin vs Ron Paul vs Tea Party on foreign policy. And "culturism".

[pampango]

"Culturism is the opposite of multiculturalism. Culturism is defined as “the philosophy which holds that majority cultures have a right to define, protect, and promote themselves domestically.” This philosophy supports sovereignty."

In a nutshell, Ron Paul thinks non intervention in foreign affairs is the best policy, and Sarah Palin is a strong advocate of spreading Democracy and freedom around the globe. Each position has merit in it's own way.

Wars are expensive. Spreading Democracy is even more expensive. Especially when it comes on the heals of a war and the mission becomes State Building (building a government) and Nation Building (building an infrastructure). In Iraq and Afghanistan we have spent nearly a trillion dollars building both State and Nation with tenuous results at best. From the viewpoint of Sarah Palin, spreading Democracy is worth the steep price. But there is some truth in the mindset that a free country will prevent future wars and improve the condition of it's citizens. And that all Democratic countries will naturally become allies of the United States.

Ron Paul, on the other hand, would simply stay out of international issues altogether. The Paul supporters like to deny that they are isolationists, preferring the label non-interventionist "like the founding fathers", but the truth is Paul favors closing US Military bases around the world where our presence is more of a deterrent than an intervention. That moves the Paul supporters solidly in the isolationist camp. ... Having soldiers and equipment pre-positioned around the world might come in handy, but these days, we usually drop bombs first, and Aircraft Carriers and in flight refueling negate much of this advantage. But the Paul followers believe that if only America didn't stick their nose in everyone's business, the world would love us.

Press points out that the Tea Party movement's call for "smaller, limited government" is at odds with Palin's views of spreading Democracy. (Note: Dr. Press is President of the Brooklyn Tea Party.) You really can't have a small government that is also tasked with expansion of Democracy.

Thus the culturist point of view combines the hawk message of protecting the US with the anti-expansionist view of the doves by including cultural information. If a nation harbors terrorists that hurt us, we must inflict serious pain on them and then leave. This policy is fiscally conservative. This policy protects us from terrorism. This policy is compatible with smaller government. This culturist foreign policy should be the Tea Party position.

http://www.examiner.com/x-46265-Richmond-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m5d2-Sarah-Palin-vs-Ron-Paul-vs-Tea-Party-on-foreign-policy

I'm not sure Palin has a foreign policy, much less on of "spreading democracy". While conservatives, let alone Tea Baggers, hate multiculturalism I had not heard the term "culturalism" to describe the alternative as “the philosophy which holds that majority cultures have a right to define, protect, and promote themselves domestically.” Certainly seems consistent with a conservative point of view of the role and rights of minority cultures.

[Scuba]

1. Sarah could write everything she knows about foreign policy on the back of a postage stamp...

...with a large-tip felt marker.

[Xipe Totec]

2. Foreign Policy is a concept foreign to Sarah nt

[pinboy3niner]

3. I share your concerns about Palin

The cited article makes a grave mistake in treating Palin as if she represents some political philosophy. She doesn't. She culls random issues and delivers soundbites, with no underlying substance. To treat her mouthings seriously is ludicrous. Thus, an otherwise thoughtful article undermines itself.

The use of the term, "culturalism", is as new to me as it is to you. I don't think it works, but it is a nice try.

Still, it's an interesting take on things--thanks for bringing it here.

[NNN0LHI]

4. Aren't the wars the only think that kept Palin's son out of the slammer?

Wasn't it a case of he either enlists or go away for a while?

I can see why she is pro-war.

Don

[KharmaTrain]

5. Mooselini Is Clueless...A Walking Word Salad...

To stand for something, you need to have some knowledge of the issue first. Grifterella is the example of a "lost generation" who grew up being fed right wing and fundie talking points...words hammered into her pretty little head that she never understood but has turned into a talking points machine. She's part of the "rushbo generation" of not only "konw nothings" but blissfully ignorance with a strong amount of arrogance to cover up the thin veneer.

There is no Palin "foreign policy"...hell that woman can't tell that Africa is a continent not a country. Her current talking points come right out of the demented cranium of Billy "The Bloody" Kristol and his coven...she's now a "Neo-Con with lipstick". You don't write talking points on your hand unless someone's trying to burn it into her brainstem. And she makes a great cover for the neo-cons...while Kristol and his ilk have been discredited, even among rushpublicans, using a puppet like Bible Spice seems to be fooling the great unhinged...Kristol can't wink like La Diva Sarah can.

You betcha!