The US currently does not have to fight any large wars, has a very good strategic position being bordered by two large oceans that can be defended by a navy and two weak allies that are not strong enough to take the US on. Making the US Army significantly smaller and having militias become more prominent would save billions of wasted dollars and limit the power of the military to wage war against its own government(military coup).

Couldn't agree more. Too bad the US government is infested and run by war-hawks who demand war everywhere and at any time and at any cost to the American people. We are a republic nor more. The US with the creation of a permanent military-industrial complex has fallen prey to the innate desire of a superpower to expand into an Empire, the exact fate the founders feared and resisted at all costs. America's historical values dictate a non-interventionist foreign policy, a small federal government, and a nation protected by its own people (small militias).

All empires collapse under their sheer weight...the only question is when will America's hegemonic expansionist dream die.

This thread has so much ignorance in it, it's funny.

For one, the military supports militias.

Two, America is one of the LEAST LIKELY nations for a coup. Unless, of course, the democrats win the next 2-3 more elections, in which case it's quite possible.

Edited 1/6/2016 02:08:13

Yes it's not likely, but the weaker chance is just a side boost. Secondly there's no reason for a large army. Provide a few reasons, please.

Two, America is one of the LEAST LIKELY nations for a coup.

What metrics are you using to declare this? To the degree to which one can quantitatively determine the likelihood for a coup is ridiculous...its called a coup for a reason (hint...usually no one expected it)!!

Compared to many other countries I would say America is pretty stable. Coup ain't happening anytime soon.

The military doesn't need to considering any time it needs money it can get it and wars are easy to come by. But as I said, it's a added bonus.

Edited 1/6/2016 02:42:27

Sigh

I say we just shrink the military and screw the militias because why

The militias are cheap and provide a good mass of men ready for fighting while the military mobilizes.

If I may reference Federalist No. 29 written by Alexander Hamilton:

"THE power of regulating the militia, and of commanding its services in times of insurrection and invasion are natural incidents to the duties of superintending the common defense, and of watching over the internal peace of the Confederacy."

"By thus circumscribing the plan, it will be possible to have an excellent body of well-trained militia, ready to take the field whenever the defense of the State shall require it. This will not only lessen the call for military establishments, but if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens. This appears to me the only substitute that can be devised for a standing army, and the best possible security against it, if it should exist."

Edited 1/6/2016 03:10:54

> 2016
> not privately policing your own streets and shooting up any Muslims

what happened to you, Murica?

Who said the militia would be police? They're just civilians who train once a month and have guns in some building , and only act when a war starts against the US. I'm honestly surprised I haven't gotten any flak from republicans, they should be especially mad that this would call for the military getting less funding.

Yep, because you can totally constrain militias that way.

The reason that people tolerate the risk/loss of liberty that comes with states is because they protect us from the worse alternative- losing our liberty to our fellow citizens.

Yeah national guard is a very useful organization across America. Honestly it should have lots more members there are so many benefits.

What loss of liberties to the militias? They can't just go out and start taking parts of the country. Do you expect a bunch of militias to organize into a single army then attack the US? The army isn't non-existent just smaller. And the militias don't have a Air Force.

And the National Guard is apart of the army Genghis. Though sarcasm is half of your personality so I'll let it pass.

^^ National Guard is pretty sweet, although it's basically an extension of the military come wartime

^ There's a very fine line between a militia and a terrorist organization; it doesn't matter if they're a single army if they attract ideologically motivated individuals (like the Oathkeepers do) who're likely to impose their own vision of which laws matter and which don't; the government is a lot easier to deal with (and I honestly don't buy into the paranoia about the military suddenly taking over- yes, they have a large amount of power, but there's a very functional system of checks and balances + power splits that keeps them in check anyway) through legal, well-established means. Bureaucracies are not the most common source of nightmares.

These militias would not be able to effectively combat the military traditionally and if some radicals wanted to fight a guerrilla war against the US, they could already.

And again, the reduced coup chance thing is just a minor side benefit.

I'm not worried for the military. I'm worried for myself. The police isn't the group threatening to shoot me because I disagree with its views on abortion.

The police isn't the group threatening to shoot me because I disagree with its views on abortion.

That seemed random?! It seems your presupposing any militia would be made up of social conservatives?? You know you would have an equal right to join a militia Knyte as anyone else...its not like a militia would discriminate on ideological, racial, or ethnic lines. That's like saying I would fear getting shot up by a left-wing militia group because I disagree with its views on affirmative action. The militia was the main form of military protection in this country for more than 150 years (about)

Edited 1/6/2016 13:33:31