The Essential Rothbard - Ludwig von Mises Institute

96 The Essential Rothbard
fatal objection? “But, I [Rothbard] will hear from every side, everyone
knows that isolationism is obsolete and dead, in this age of Hbombs,
guided missiles, etc.” 249 How can America shun involvement
in European power politics if Russia has the ability to destroy
us? No longer can we retreat to Fortress America.
To this Rothbard has a simple response: “a program of world disarmament
up to the point where isolationism again becomes militarily
practical.” 250 If this policy were carried out, America would be safe
from foreign attack: no longer would we need to involve ourselves
in foreign quarrels. Mutual disarmament was in Russia’s interest as
well, so a disarmament agreement was entirely feasible.
Ever alert for objections, Rothbard anticipates that critics will
charge that a Fortress America would have crushing military
expenses and be cut off from world trade. Not at all, he responds:
this argument, never very sensible, is absurd today when we
are groaning under the fantastic budgets imposed by our
nuclear arms race. Certainly . . . our arms budget will be less
than it is now. . . . The basis of all trade is benefit to both parties.
251
Even if a hostile power controlled the rest of the world, why would
it not be willing to trade with us? Unfortunately, Rothbard’s arguments
did not have any effect on his bellicose antagonists.
He followed a pragmatic policy of temporary alliances with
whatever groups were, at a given time, opposed to militarism and
foreign adventures. He set forward the basis for his political stance
in a key essay, “Left and Right: The Prospects for Liberty.” 252 This
249
Ibid.
250
Ibid.; emphasis in the original.
251
Ibid.; emphasis in the original.
252
“Left and Right: The Prospects for Liberty,” Left and Right 1, no.
1 (Spring, 1965). Reprinted in Egalitarianism as a Revolt Against Nature
and Other Essays, 2nd ed. (1974; Auburn, Ala.: Ludwig von Mises
Institute, 2000).