← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Hamilton
Thread ID: 20364 | Posts: 4 | Started: 2005-09-23
2005-09-23 16:50 | User Profile
I've often wondered: what would it be like if the military took over America? Recently there were rumors of a coup plot by a general. Whether or not these rumors were true, they helped pique my curiosity. In my experience the military rank and file tends to be more conservative, more religious, more traditional, etc. than the general population - all attributes that we normally associate with the Right. Based on what I know so far, we could probably expect the following:
pros:
[list] []In many ways more "rightwing" than our present government, if an authoritarian sort of rightwing []No more activist judges! []A military government could force everyone to fight - including snobby Harvard limousine liberals. Now that would be some sight! []No more pampered draft dodging civilians telling men in uniform what to do. To many, this really would be a major "pro"... []Border patrol and deportations would be easy. []The trains would run on time! :P []"Political correctness" as we know it would die quickly and painfully. []Liberals would wet their undergarments. [/list]cons:
[list] []Byebye Constitution. Military members swear an oath to protect that document. I doubt many military men would support such a coup unless they believed the government had grown rotten beyond redemption, and thus overthrow was the only remaining option. []If the Generalissimo turns out to be a bad apple, there's hardly anything ordinary citizens can do about it. Other than take up arms in rebellion, of course. Then again, how is that much different from now? [*]The sort of "rightwinger" who genuinely prefers small government, and dislikes centralization, would not exactly be happy... * I doubt our policy vis-a-vis Israel would change other than even closer ties. Israel is a garrison state surrounded by hostile powers, which many military men can readily identify with. There are many close ties between the U.S. military/CIA/etc. and their Israeli counterparts. I wouldn't really care though, as Israel isn't really my problem so much as the liberal Jews of Hollywood and New York. Somehow I don't see the Hollywood Left faring well under a military government. Remember who was behind the Vietnam protests, the Yippies, the SDS? I don't think the military has forgotten. [/list]Any thoughts? I doubt anything like this will happen anytime soon, but perhaps decades down the road, depending on the circumstances, it is possible...
2005-09-23 17:02 | User Profile
EDIT: Here it is
[url="http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/parameters/1992/dunlap.htm"]http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usawc/parameters/1992/dunlap.htm[/url]
I will try to find the link to an Army War College article written circa 1992 / 1993 about an internal coup by a charismatic CJCS (modeled after a fused MacArthur-Colin Powell at the time) and post it here. Very interesting stuff.
Somehow I don't see the Hollywood Left faring well under a military government. Remember who was behind the Vietnam protests, the Yippies, the SDS? I don't think the military has forgotten.
[u]Any thoughts?[/u] I doubt anything like this will happen anytime soon, but perhaps decades down the road, depending on the circumstances, it is possible...[/QUOTE]It's a bad idea. As to Hollywood being censored? Nah, I don't see it, but a few treason trials would go to a small group of deserving traitors most likely.
Dear Jane Fonda: you get to stand trial first. Having your face spit into will be the least of your worries. :furious:
The Military has all it can handle to sort out its own internal issues. If you look at the success rate of military governance, starting in the Banana Wars and the Philippines, and then moving to Japan, Germany, and now Iraq and a few other places, the effort put in is not worth the result out.
You raise the key point. The oath to the Constitution and the indoctrination against military control are probably enough to make mass desertion a likelihood should some fool try to pull a coup. The core of the military ahdere to the Scots Irish American political tradition.
Too many officers higher up would balk for any long term prospect at success.
At present, not an issue.
In 20 years' time, who knows?
AE
2005-09-24 12:09 | User Profile
Angeleyes: I appreciate the link. I agree that such a coup isn't imminent, but it's an eventual possibility. If things ever get grim enough, to many, military rule might actually look sweet and safe by comparison.
2005-09-26 19:41 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Hamilton]Angeleyes: I appreciate the link. I agree that such a coup isn't imminent, but it's an eventual possibility. If things ever get grim enough, to many, military rule might actually look sweet and safe by comparison.[/QUOTE] God help us if that day ever arrives.
AE