University of Virginia Library

Stopping The Structure

We will all logically agree that
these unprincipled, and costly
(both to the physical resources of
Mother Earth, and the Moral and
Spiritual forces of our own people)
exercises in personal
aggrandizement and national
megalomania must be stopped. But
what then do we do to replace this
effete and bloody structure, and at
the same time salve the fears of
those who are prone to believe that
there is a communist under every
bed rather than an FBI agent
behind every Mailbox?

Obviously we begin by reducing
the terror producing functions of
the military. Elimination of all
forms of conscription is a first step;
followed by the closing of all
propaganda (excuse me,
'recruiting') centers. Our major
objective, however, is to return to
the civilian population all control
of the military, that is reduced to
zero all appropriations for the
military.

We're going to find that this is
not easy. The career officers will
cry out those hysterical, salivating
formulae that we've already
discussed and then try to overthrow
the central government with their
military might.

Fortunately the present
military system is ultimately run by
men not unlike ex-PFC
Wintergreen, men who have
"legitimated" the draft by
providing a civilian steam valve.
You remember of course the
argument which says that drafting
unwilling men provides a check on
the military because those men will
refuse to accept illegitimate orders,
refuse to commit War Crimes and
rebel. Most Americans are unaware
that that is in fact the present
situation within the military. PFCs
SPC/5 and many others are showing
their non confidence by refusing to
go into combat; fragging snotty and
otherwise offensive officers; and
gumming up the bureaucracy here
on the home front. No one, of
course, is willing to admit that this
is true (i.e., they play act at reciting
the words, "MUTINY",
"DESERTION", etc.).

An aside if I might be permitted.
While the former argument seems
to have proven the legitimacy of
the draft, it seems to me that in a
free country we shouldn't have to
depend on a few slaves to insure the
prevention of a military coup. In
fact that responsibility should be
shared by all; if we need a military
then those who believe in its
necessity ought to be those who
participate in it, without any
deprecation of those who think its
a tragic and foolish inconsistency.

The next suggestion will sound
absurd; it is completely serious;
particularly in light of my past
few comments. To reestablish
civilian control we must remove all
funds from the hands of the
Pentagon. I would continue to
allocate money for the production
and distribution of Peacoats, Field
Jackets and the rest of the Military
Wardrobe, and generalize their
availability in the public market. Of
all the things that the military does,
this is their shining hour; they
produce some of the finest clothing
in existence.