A Modest Proposal
Today is Friday, 7 July 2006.
I once speculated that a war fought on American soil might cure the American people of waging imperial wars against others. I now think that would probably not be the case.
Instead, I have a modest proposal for a Constitutional amendment. It would relieve Congress of the power of declaring war, and put it in the hands of American citizens. The president would propose a war, and all citizens 18 years and older would be required to vote “yes” or “no”. The ballot would not be secret.
Each vote would be publicly recorded, and, if the vote were favorable, all those who had voted “yes” would thereupon and summarily become members of the armed forces for the duration, and subject to military law.
The required number would be trained for combat and dispatched abroad; the remainder would be occupied in support roles. Those not needed for direct support would remain in their previous occupations, but would be paid at the rate of a sergeant with 10 years service; their regular income would be drafted into the treasury to defray the costs of the war. Naturally, they could not quit their jobs, change residence, etc. without permission of their commanding officers. Infractions would be treated as desertion, punishable by life imprisonment or death.
Of course, such an amendment has no chance of success, since the majority of the people of the USA/USE/USSA are too cowardly and obsessed with material gain to take up full responsibility for their actions. They much prefer that fighting be done by marginalized groups, while they enjoy the spoils.
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On this day in history:
1846 – U.S. Army begins conquest of California
1898 – McKinley formally annexes Hawaii
1937 – Japanese army begins conquest of China
1957 – Althea Gibson (1927-2003) becomes the first Black to win the single’s championship at Wimbledon; the previous year she had become the first Black champion in doubles; she had broken the racist barrier in tennis in 1950
I once speculated that a war fought on American soil might cure the American people of waging imperial wars against others. I now think that would probably not be the case.
Instead, I have a modest proposal for a Constitutional amendment. It would relieve Congress of the power of declaring war, and put it in the hands of American citizens. The president would propose a war, and all citizens 18 years and older would be required to vote “yes” or “no”. The ballot would not be secret.
Each vote would be publicly recorded, and, if the vote were favorable, all those who had voted “yes” would thereupon and summarily become members of the armed forces for the duration, and subject to military law.
The required number would be trained for combat and dispatched abroad; the remainder would be occupied in support roles. Those not needed for direct support would remain in their previous occupations, but would be paid at the rate of a sergeant with 10 years service; their regular income would be drafted into the treasury to defray the costs of the war. Naturally, they could not quit their jobs, change residence, etc. without permission of their commanding officers. Infractions would be treated as desertion, punishable by life imprisonment or death.
Of course, such an amendment has no chance of success, since the majority of the people of the USA/USE/USSA are too cowardly and obsessed with material gain to take up full responsibility for their actions. They much prefer that fighting be done by marginalized groups, while they enjoy the spoils.
________________________________
On this day in history:
1846 – U.S. Army begins conquest of California
1898 – McKinley formally annexes Hawaii
1937 – Japanese army begins conquest of China
1957 – Althea Gibson (1927-2003) becomes the first Black to win the single’s championship at Wimbledon; the previous year she had become the first Black champion in doubles; she had broken the racist barrier in tennis in 1950
posted by HH at 11:58 AM
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