. . . by espousing the opiate of nationalism, the opposite of patriotism, say the Kennedy brothers. Being the world’s central planner, policeman, and hypocritical moral scold (“nationalism”) is the opposite of the George Washington/Thomas Jefferson vision of a nation that would engage in commerce with all nations but entangling alliances with none. ( The Kennedy brothers take on a New Orleans neocon radio show talking head who mindlessly equates Ron Paul’s foreign policy with “isolationism.”)
The late Joe Sobran made a similar point about the wholesomeness of patriotism versus the evils of nationalism in this article that was published shortly after 9/11. Ludwig von Mises discussed the evils of “aggressive nationalism” in his classic 1944 book, Omnipotent Government. Neocons are today’s version of Mises’ “aggressive nationalists,” which is why they are so apoplectic about Ron Paul’s traditional American foreign policy position.
If you’d like to learn more about the evils of aggressive nationalism, socialism, fascism, and othe forms of tyranny (and what to do about them), consider taking my five-week online course entitled “The Road to Serfdom: Despotism, Then and Now” under the auspices of the Mises Academy beginning on June 21. The core readings will be F.A. Hayek’s famous book, The Road to Serfdom, and Omnipotent Government.
8:32 pm on May 17, 2011
