[extropy-chat] 70% oppose resumption of military conscription

[Samantha Atkins]

On Jun 25, 2005, at 5:38 PM, Mike Lorrey wrote:

>
>
> --- c c <beb_cc at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>> If a draft isn't necessary why does the government need a Selective
>> Service system? Oughtn't
>> ALL libertarians be opposed to Selective Service? Draft registration
>> or any other preparation for military conscription is diametrically
>> opposed to the entire foundation of libertarianism.
>>
>
> Depends. What is the militia? It is the whole of the people, as the
> founding fathers said. How does one mobilize the militia?

Who says that "one", e.g., government is not charged with mobilizing  
the militia by force at all.  If the people believe war is necessarly  
then ample volunteers will come forth.  If not then either you are in  
over your head or the war is not the will of the people.  The Us has  
no business forcing some of the people to risk their lives in a cause  
they do not believe in.  This is slavery of the worse sort

> Militia is a
> libertarian concept. What is improper is using the militia, i.e. a
> draft, to forcibly mobilize the militia for foreign adventures against
> forces that did not attack the US or its citizens, or violate its laws
> (including treaties).
>

It is against the principles of freedom to attempt to force people to  
act against their own self interest and preservation even IF some  
force did attack the US.  We are free people if we dare to be.  We  
aren't free provisionally.   Violate whose laws?  What kind of laws?   
There are a lot of our laws than any sane person will violate and  
even more laws that are evil and pernicious.   Should we enforce some  
of the people to enforce laws lke the one that says the government  
has the right to seize your property if they believe some other  
occupier may pay them more in taxes?   Is it proper to enslave part  
of the people to enforce these laws?  How about the ruling against  
medical marijuana?

No, it is never ever by definition proper for a government  
established to safeguard the rights of a free people to deny those  
rights and enslave any of us for any purpose whatsoever.

> Enforcement of the laws is a time honored use of the militia, going
> back to the days prior to William the Conqueror, when the English
> system of constables and shire reeves was all that was needed to
> mobilize the people for either law enforcement or military defense.

Ever hear of Posse Comitatus?    It is not an American or libertarian  
honored idea that it is fine to use the military for law enforcement.

>
> We don't live in the middle ages any more, though, we are not a simple
> agrarian feudal society. Society is complex and our laws are complex,
> and our Constitution, our highest law, recognises the legal weight of
> treaty with foreign nations as law, subject only to judicial
> interpretation in cases where they conflict with other law.

Are you sure you are a libertarian?  The freedom of the people shall  
not be abridged by a legitimate government.  An illegitimate  
government should not be supported and should be opposed.   The Bill  
Of Rights is part of the highest law.  It was expressly designed to  
keep the newly formed  government in check.   If any treaty or  
domestic law violates any of these or their intent it must to the  
maximum extent possible be treated as  null and void by free  
persons.  Complexity is no excuse for condoning enslavement.

- samantha