“Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty, ought to have it ever before his eyes, that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America, and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it.”
James Madison Federalists 41
Several days I ago, I stirred the pot, by expressing my discontent with the hollow thanks of many Americans to those in uniform.
I thought I would expand upon those remarks by responding to some of the comments to that blog.
First, I don’t appreciate those who must use vile and filthy language in responding to my comments. There is no reason we can’t be civil, that is one of the problems in this nation is we have lost our ability to conduct affairs with civility.
Second, I make it a practice when I respond to blogs, to leave not only my name, but also my email address, those who choose not to are in my mind cowards and lurkers.
Several commented that I did not mention Sarah Palin, who has/had a son serving, I went back and added her name along with the names of Senators John McCain and Senator Jim Webb whose sons served with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq.
Some who commented wanted to know why I singled out the republicans and not democrats. I added democrats in, however I am really piqued with the chicken hawks who seem to dominate the republican party. . .you know the ones, like Phil Graham who had college deferments during Vietnam, or Newt Gingrich.
While I don’t always agree with the democrats, I do have to admire those who served in the military, who understand the hardships and vote for our nation to commit our forces to combat operations. I will agree that the democrats more often than republicans display no reluctance to ask those in uniform hard questions regarding the spending of the taxpayer’s money.
So if you want to know who politically I admire today are: John McCain, John Warner, Bob Dole, Richard Lugar, Jim Webb, John Kerry, Bob Kerry, Daniel Inouye, Duke Cunningham, Steven Buyer, John Murtha; not because I agree with them politically, but because they served in the military. Two won the Medal of Honor, Bob Kerry as a SEAL in Vietnam and Daniel Inouye as part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Italy in World War II.
USMC Steve you said the list of Democrats who I provided him were all REMFs, I don’t think so, and to denigrate the service of any because you don’t like their politics is just plain wrong. The fact that both Bob Kerry and Daniel Inouye were on that list I doubt if anyone wearing the Medal of Honor is a REMF.
Something my father taught me a long time ago, no political party has a monopoly on patriotism.
My father, a WWII vet, could not stand politicians who wrapped themselves in the flag—he was suspicious—and with good cause. I am reminded of the line written by Thomas Paine, a small d democrat:
These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.
So why do I favor a draft. I do so because, when a nation makes a decision to commit its armed forces, it requires that the whole nation, not just those who serve and their families feel the hardships. The quote I have at the beginning of this piece is from James Madison. Mr. Madison, is least well known of our founding father, but perhaps was the wisest. A gifted historian and political philosopher, I am convinced that Madison, above all the other founding fathers, had a better understanding of the essence of the behavior of people but also governments.
Today, by continuing the volunteer military, we ensure that less than 5% of the American public knows anyone who is connected with the military, or even worse knows the hardships they endure. I am willing to accept some of the drawbacks of a conscript military for the benefit it would provide the ethos of this nation. For the fiscal conservatives, there would be another benefit of a conscript military—lower cost initially for initial entry soldiers, though career soldiers would still be as expensive as today. The largest cost in the annual military budget is the personnel cost. The volunteer army has been successful because we have been willing to pay the price.
If we are going to reconstitute the draft, then it should be universal military service, where all regardless of sex or background should be required to serve. I am not naive enough to believe that all can or should serve in the military. Many will give their period of service in non-military functions. I am not alone in this belief; in the past Senator John McCain and former Senator Chuck Robb have introduced legislation for universal service. Conservative columnist Ross Mackenzie of the Richmond Times-Dispatch has long advocated universal service.
Is this the perfect solution, no, with a draft the discipline problems are greater, instead of instant obedience you get soldiers, sailors, airman, and marines who sometime question authority. The real solution is for out politicians to follow constitution and having the President as the Commander in Chief request and Congress in its role of overseeing the foreign and military policy of the United States declare war. That would ensure that as a nation all go to war not just those doing the fighting and dying.
In my original article I indicated my displeasure with those who give hollow thanks. Some of suggested that I am an ungrateful, (I will let you fill in the word here!). I may be miffed at the hollow thanks I have received, but my parents taught me to always be a gentleman. I have never been anything but a gentleman in my responses to them. Some may consider me a hypocrite, I am not, I am a product of my upbringing that is a southerner.
This has been a great discussion. I will try to find another topic to upset and spur discussion. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
