380: Is isolationism a bad thing?

P&C drink and review "Oaked Vanilla Porter" by Sam Adams, then discuss isolationism (starting at 3:57). They start off with a general definition, then talk about the history of isolationism in American politics -- from the earliest days. Americans don't like "entangling alliances." Or at least they say they don't. There's been a strong current of isolationism in American politics since the beginning. Washington, Jefferson, and Monroe created the three pillars of American policy: neutrality, unilateralism, and non-intervention. Also, even though we are a "nation of immigrants," we've had extended periods where we didn't allow almost any immigration. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor pretty much ended isolationism in the United States. Now, the term "isolationist" is used as a slur, but it's become more popular because we're sick of sending our boys to die for other people's problems. As with Pearl Harbor, the attack on the World Trade Center put an end to growing American isolationism. But it's coming back. Trump was somewhat isolationist, and modern Republicans complain that we care more about Ukraine's borders than our own. Why does the United States bear most of the burden of keeping the shipping lanes open? Is it "isolationist" to say that the United States has taken on too much of these burdens?