America: A Standing Army or Armed Militia, Pick One!

Written by Frank Li

There are two big problems in today’s America:

1. A huge standing army that constantly requires enemies to justify its existence.
2. Gun violence, thanks to the gun culture, largely as a result of a notion called “armed militia”.

They are related and contradicting each other. For example, today, no armed militia can possibly resist a tyrannical government with a standing army, domestic or international!

To understand the problems and resolve the contradiction, we must go all the way back to the Founding Fathers 

1. The Founding Fathers

The image below shows America’s five most prominent Founding Fathers.

Five informative readings:

1. What Did Thomas Jefferson Mean?
2. What Did George Washington Mean?
3. What Did Alexander Hamilton Mean?
4. What Did Benjamin Franklin Mean?
5. What Did John Adams Mean?

Among them, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were arguably most outstanding intellectually …

2. Alexander Hamilton vs. Thomas Jefferson

Both had a vision for America, but they were diametrically different.

Hamilton’s vision could be highlighted in three points as follows:

1. Government: A tight union with a strong Federal government.
2. Economy: A strong economy with industry, commerce, and finance (e.g. money, banking, and debt control).
3. Military: A standing army.

Jefferson’s vision could be highlighted in three points as follows:

1. Government: A loose union with a small Federal government, leaving the people, including state and local governments, alone (i.e. liberty).
2. Economy: A strong economy with agriculture.
3. Military: No standing army, but armed militia all over the country.

Let’s focus only on issue #3: a standing army vs. armed militia.

3. America yesterday

The need for keeping armed militia, argued by Jefferson, was easy for many reasons, not the least of which was the fact that we won independence from Britain, thanks to armed militia all over the 13 “ungrateful” colonies!

The need for having a standing army, argued by Hamilton, was much more difficult for many reasons, not the least of which was America’s desire to be very different from Britain.

Understandably, America took the easy path at the time: keeping armed militia, without developing a standing army. Moreover, the notion of armed militia was further strengthened with the addition of the Second Amendment.

4. America today

Not only have we ended up with both armed militia and a standing army, but also each to its uttermost extreme – What a nightmare for both Jefferson and Hamilton! Specifically,

1. There are more guns in America than Americans! Largely because of that, our government has simply failed in its job #1: protecting the lives of its citizens. For more, read: America: Gun Massacres and Beyond.
2. Our military is so big now that it constantly requires enemies to justify its existence. For more, read: The Evil Military-Industrial Complex.

5. America tomorrow

Cut down on both, if not ending one! Otherwise, we may soon have no country left to defend! Two informative readings:

1. The United States Military Should Be Abolished.
2. The Second Amendment and More.

In my humble opinion, we should end armed militia and cut down the standing army. Two main reasons:

1. Armed militia: It no longer serves its originally intended purpose, as no armed militia can possibly resist a tyrannical government with a standing army, domestic or international!
2. A standing army: It has proven to be necessary (e.g. WWII), although ours is too big.

In other words, I am with Hamilton, who has proven to be more visionary than Jefferson, in this aspect at least! For more, read: Vision for America: Alexander Hamilton vs. Thomas Jefferson.

6. Discussion

We do not need them both: a standing army and armed militia, nor can we afford to have both. So, let’s cut out one of them.

The need for armed militia is long gone! Unfortunately, getting rid of it won’t be easy, thanks to our gun culture. For more, read: America: Guns vs. Slavery.

We need a standing army, which has been far too big since WWII though. So, cut it down!

Here is a more profound message:

Jeffersonian America has run its course!

Two informative readings:

1. Not All Men Are Created Equal!
2. The Second American Revolution under Way?

In other words, it’s time for big changes, starting with reforming our failing political system, as I have suggested in my last book: American Democracy – Why is it failing & how to fix it?

7. Closing

End the gun culture by ending armed militia!

The standing army is too big – Cut it down!

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