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L. Neil Smith at The Libertarian Enterprise –
You Go First: The Peace Amendment – note to old men who would send
young men to die: “You go first!” The Peace Amendment would implement
this nicely. [tle]
bq.
Beyond anything else it may be remembered for a thousand years from
now, the 20th century was a century of war–unprecedentedly
widespread and brutal–brought about by a century of the most
swollen and powerful governments this battered world’s six or eight
thousand years of bloodsoaked history have ever witnessed. If we are
determined to prevent another century of war, it’s time to take more
seriously this idea that for millennia has only been half-dream and
half-joke.
It is time to ratify the Peace Amendment.
Here’s how it would work: the first clause would repeal the War Powers
Act and any other law, regulation, or directive that allows a
president to send troops overseas (or do very much of anything else
militarily) without a formal declaration of war passed by majority of
congress.
Maybe even a super-majority.
The second clause would reinstate the 1878 Posse Comitatus in full,
forbidding the government to use the military to enforce its will
anywhere within the United States. Perhaps this idea belongs in
another piece of legislation, but my belief is that politicians feel
an irresistible urge every waking minute to use the military to beat
somebody up and kill them. Prevent them from doing it overseas, and
things could get worse here, unless we prevent that with the same
stroke.
The third clause is the meat of the amendment. Having voted to declare
war, every Congressman who voted “aye” will immediately get up from
his seat and march right out the door, where he will be handed a
uniform and a weapon and be conveyed directly to the front, defined as
that area of military activity that is producing the highest number of
casualties.
No excuses. Practicing politicians will be denied Conscientious
Objectorhood. As long as they voted to subject yet another generation
of Americans to war, their age, sex, prior service, or state of health
won’t keep our valiant congressional warriors from going with the
“boys”. If they can’t march, they’ll be given knobby tires for their
wheelchairs.
In the case of another 20th century-style undeclared war, where all
Congress does is contribute our money and our children to the
conflagration and give the President the go-ahead, everybody
goes, whether they voted affirmative or not. Voting “no” is not
enough. They should have gotten up and walked out, in protest of the
rape of the Constitution.
The fourth clause winds it up. Immediately upon notification that the
Congress has declared war, the President will put on a uniform of his
own, pick up his rifle, and march into the sunset as a common
soldier. The Vice President replacing him will do the same thing in 30
days if the war isn’t over. War is hell for everyone else, but heaven
for politicians. If we desire to survive the 21st century, that has to
change.
[End the War on Freedom]
I think it’s a great idea, but it will never happen. Both factions of the Boot On Your Neck Party are firm believers in starting wars and sticking American soldiers in harm’s way, so there’s no chance that any member of Congress (except Ron Paul) would ever vote for this.
On the other hand, it would be nice if Ron Paul did propose it in the House of Representatives, and made a big deal about it for the media. The Democratic faction of the Boot On Your Neck Party would certainly vote against it, but in doing so they’d be forced to give up their facade of opposition to the conquest of Iraq.