"What, sir, is the use of militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. . . Whenever Government means to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise a standing army upon its ruins."
Elbridge Gerry
Looking at the Constitution as it was written, is a standing army unconstitutional?
Certainly we need to defend our borders and protect our people from invaders, I do not dispute that. We currently live in a world that is full of unrest and there are those who wish us harm, I do not dispute that.
In a practice that has been ongoing for years, we have spent an enormous amount of money on National Defense with a standing Army. We still have troops in Japan, Germany, Korea, Saudi Arabia and our Naval vessels are scattered throughout the world - strategically.
Why?
Is Japan such a threat we have to keep the boot at their throat? Why are we still in Europe? Is it our responsibility to provide military security for South Korea?
This is a serious debate that needs to be going on now. What is the future of our Military? Do we need to have a new Constitutional Convention and adjust it?
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