I like hobbits, but I certainly wouldn't elect one president.

To be completely honest, isolationism appeals to me. It would be nice if America did not have to send troops out into the world to deal problems that are not immediate threats. If we could just quietly mind our own business and not meddle in the affairs of other countries, I think many people would be much happier. This seems to be largely the attitude of the hobbits in the Lord of the Rings. They are able to enjoy the beauty of the Shire, live their lives in peace, and eschew anything going on in the outside world. This is also the attitude beautifully presented by the Rat at the beginning of the Wind in the Willows. Currently, this view is also being put forward by Rep. Ron Paul.

The problem is that America is certainly not the Shire and never can be. After the World Wars, we became one of the dominant world powers and there really is no easy way of going back. In an era of increased globalisation, problems in one part of the globe quickly become everyone's problems. We need to intervene when our interests and the interests of international tranquility are at risk. The relative peace that the US and Europe have enjoyed over the past 50 years are the direct result of Western powers choosing to fight battles before we have to fight wars. If America were to retreat into her own borders life would probably be very agreeable...for ten or twenty years. But eventually we would be dragged back into the thick of things. Our nation is more in the position of Gondor and the Rangers, needing to fight other people's battles so they don't become our battles. After all, the only reason the hobbits can afford to be isolationist is because they have the Rangers defending their borders. If you want to be isolationist and have your foreign policy taken care of by others, move to New Zealand.

Therefore, I'm proposing that Ron Paul run for mayor of Michel Delving. The only foreign policy decisions one need make there are what should and shouldn't go in the Mathom House.