Posted by The Optimist on February 24, 2011, 7:46 am, in reply to "machine..."
Liberal, I'm not trying to butt into your conversation but read your post and feel compelled to reply...Hope you don't mind.
I like to consider myself a liberal-minded American, proud of the rights that I have and granted by the outdated Constitution and many amendments/laws that have been formed since ratification. However, after working for the government (in a regulatory office) and travelling abroad, I have grown to respect the government and understand its role in our society.
As far as power and liberty, I don't look at them as opposing one another but rather see that they need to be balanced in any reasonable and non-corrupt society (ours is NOT corrupt in this sense, in my opinion). Do I agree that government sometimes has too much power, yes. But I also realize how much structure it provides. Go to a country like India, where they are a "democracy" where people also have "rights". I assure you that those people don't know what "rights" are compared to the US. Be proud that you have all of the rights that you do and look at it as positively as you can because when you look at other countries in the flesh, we're pretty damn lucky when it comes to rights. Likewise, some would argue that we've earned it...I would agree but we also take it for granted and feel entitled to way more that we actually are.
As for the military and its power, I have often thought that we promote the military way more than any other public service jobs, i.e. teachers, doctors, etc. I believe this to still be true. However, I don't think that we understand what all the military does. Look at Katrina, for instance. Mother nature cannot be stopped but who were the first people on the scene helping people...the US Coast Guard! In all the floods, who's there first? The CG, a military agency is first on the scene. Other examples like the Haitain earthquake, where the US sent hundreds if not thousands of reserve troops from the military (regardless of whether you agree with our aide, you must agree that the presence was there). My point is that with power comes responsiblity and our military is challenged time and time again with response and prevention. We as American citizens cannot pick and choose when we give power and resources to the military because we don't have the power of choosing when 9/11's happen or when hurricanes hit. I am confident that our military doesn't overstep its boundaries in a way that takes away my rights. We can easily see how the airforce could fly jets over the protestors in WI to give a scare to the people protesting, but they don't.
Fact of the matter is, you're right, we couldn't stand up against our military...and you're damn right and I'm proud of that. The thing is, the people of the United States don't need to! Our military and government is there to protect our rights and American idealeologies. Also, the people choose the government so it's up to the people whether they want the leaders to rob the people of their liberty. Anarchy or peace and stability?...I choose our system and I challenge you to go live in a Libya or India or North Korea and come back in 5 years and tell GCG how much you appreciate the liberty that you claim is at risk.
on February 24, 2011, 7:46 am, in reply to "