September 14, 2011 · 9:43 am

This seems scary to me, too

Glenn Reynolds: when the country trusts its military more than its politicians, it’s probably not good. Frankly, I’m with the majority – can you pols please get your act together while I’m away?

3 Comments

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3 Responses to This seems scary to me, too

  1. Pinzgauer
    September 14, 2011 at 10:30 am

    True under normal circumstances. Not sure if it’s true with this current bunch. By the way, I include both sides ofthe Isle in my statement.

  2. CatoRenasci
    September 14, 2011 at 11:02 am

    Let’s see, the military operates on trust – trust your buddies, trust your noncoms and officers, trust among equals, reciprocal trust between subordinates and superiors. Otherwise, a military fails. The military retains the quaint notion of honor, something forgotten among the general population. It also largely reflects traditional gender roles where physical differences make that sensible, and more modern flexibility where that makes sense. Oh, and the military makes a point to killing those who wish our country harm. What’s not to like?

    Politicians operate on fear, sew fear in order to win votes, extort money based on the fear if you don’t give you will get screwed by politicians who win office. Trust? One can count the number of trustworthy politicians (other than the sort ‘trust’ of Fred Schwarz’s old book You Can Trust the Communists (to be Communists)) on one hand with (several) fingers left over. Honor? Not even the sort you’d find among thieves. And, instead of killing those who wish our country harm, they’re busy harming those who wish our country well, those who create jobs, and busy harming the country themselves. What’s to like?

    The military has its faults, and it’s not the model one would wish for civil society, but the old-fashioned values the military has retained that were once American values have much to be said for them.

    Perhaps we would all be better off taking a leaf from Bob Heinlein’s Starship Troopers and limiting the franchise to those who have served in the military for a least a hitch.

  3. Libertarian Advocate
    September 14, 2011 at 7:25 pm

    At Cato: Well that was interesting commentary until you suggested the Starship Troopers model