2008 Obama was right - we couldn't afford 4 more years of Bush

So are you guys just going to make appeals to ridicule, or are you actually going to explain what's wrong with that idea?Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"]So are you guys just going to make appeals to ridicule, or are you actually going to explain what's wrong with that idea?-Sun_Tzu-

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"][QUOTE="Laihendi"]So are you guys just going to make appeals to ridicule, or are you actually going to explain what's wrong with that idea?Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"][QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"] It's not a plausible solution in the least bit. How do you plan on implementing this policy? -Sun_Tzu-

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"][QUOTE="Laihendi"] I wouldn't implement anything, because I think joining a militia to fight a war in the middle east is incredibly stupid. I'd let the people interested in fighting those wars organize that. That way everyone wins. People who want to support a stupid war get to, people who don't want to don't have to, and if the war goes well the world has one less oppressive third-world regime.Laihendi

Not to mention the potential ramifications that would have on international law and relations.Abbeten

[QUOTE="Abbeten"]Not to mention the potential ramifications that would have on international law and relations.Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"]

[QUOTE="-Sun_Tzu-"]And how is this policy suppose to be implemented? Is someone just going to snap their fingers and competently armed militias will appear that have the capability to overthrow these highly militarized regimes on their own? Abbeten

[QUOTE="Abbeten"]

[QUOTE="Laihendi"] How is any policy implemented? You're asking a stupid question. Obviously people would have to organize, train, raise money for equipment, etc. The whole point is that this would be a voluntary coalition of people who figure out solutions to their problems on their own.

Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"]

[QUOTE="Abbeten"] And to whom would these people be accountable? Are you comfortable with setting precedent for non-state militaries?

Abbeten

Christ, I hope I wasn't this bad when I was a hardline libertarian.

[QUOTE="Abbeten"][QUOTE="Laihendi"] I'd say the militias should still need approval from congress before engaging in global interventionism, or some kind of regulation. The militias would still have to be accountable to US law, so it's really just a matter of making funding/participation for these types of things voluntary.Laihendi

[QUOTE="Abbeten"][QUOTE="Laihendi"]Who provides oversight for state-run militaries? Who has jurisdiction over the crimes they commit? The same would apply to a private militia. The only difference between a traditional military and the kind of militia I'm talking about is that the militia would be comprised of individuals who voluntarily choose to participate, and it would be funded by people who voluntarily choose to fund it.Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"][QUOTE="Abbeten"] The military, the executive branch, and Congress. None of whom would have oversight over a privately-run military. Likewise, soldiers who commit crimes are tried by military commissions. The military has no jurisdiction over private soldiers. Neither do stateside courts. That's why private contractors in Bosnia were able to get away with sex trafficking. They were not accountable to American or foreign courts. They essentially had carte blanche. Abbeten

[QUOTE="Abbeten"]

[QUOTE="Laihendi"]So then pass laws so that certain private militias are accountable to american courts.Laihendi

No Sh*t. The man doesn't know how to do anything. Wow. Worst president ever.

capitalism is failing , simple as that ,

i dont care what president we have , we are still going to have this problem

working for 1 bottle of steak sauce an hour is not fun , especally when the government and people around it make things cost more

look at the pump , i just cant imagine my self paying for gas any more if it goes above 5 dollars ,

forget it ,

we all will be back on pedal bikes and horses , pretty soon at this rate

capitalism is failing , simple as that ,

i dont care what president we have , we are still going to have this problem

working for 1 bottle of steak sauce an hour is not fun , especally when the government and people around it make things cost more

look at the pump , i just cant imagine my self paying for gas any more if it goes above 5 dollars ,

forget it ,

we all will be back on pedal bikes and horses , pretty soon at this rate

mariokart64fan

[QUOTE="Abbeten"][QUOTE="mariokart64fan"]

capitalism is failing , simple as that ,

i dont care what president we have , we are still going to have this problem

working for 1 bottle of steak sauce an hour is not fun , especally when the government and people around it make things cost more

look at the pump , i just cant imagine my self paying for gas any more if it goes above 5 dollars ,

forget it ,

we all will be back on pedal bikes and horses , pretty soon at this rate

Vuurk

[QUOTE="Laihendi"][QUOTE="Abbeten"] Yeah our judicial system doesn't work like that.Abbeten

So are you guys just going to make appeals to ridicule, or are you actually going to explain what's wrong with that idea?Laihendi

[QUOTE="Abbeten"][QUOTE="Laihendi"] How does it work?Laihendi

[QUOTE="Laihendi"]

[QUOTE="Abbeten"] It involves international law and jurisdiction. I don't think it's as easy a fix as enacting a congressional statute. Besides, that's only one problem. The profit motive is certainly another. Abbeten

Is there even a law that forbids privately funded (though government regulated, to an extent) militias from functioning internationally?

@HoolaHoopMan - You completely ignored the part where I said they should only be able to carry out campaigns with approval from congress. So basically what you're saying is that privately-funded militias acting only with approval from congress is a terrible idea, but a state-funded (via involuntary taxation, aka theft) military under the direct control of the President is fine. I guess if you ignore every US military conflict since World War 2, the latter option might seem like a good idea.

4 more years of war-mongering and global interventionism, government surveillance of citizens, and trillion dollar deficits have really screwed this country over.

Laihendi

Still Mitt Romney asked Obama why he didn't spend more. Well the answer is very simple, you can't spend more when you are freaking broke you idiot!

[QUOTE="Abbeten"][QUOTE="Laihendi"] Why should this country recognize any law other than its own? How is the profit motive an issue? Who is profiting anyways?

Vuurk

So you don't think that our current war machine is based on the profit motive? Are you aware of the number of private contractors involved and hired by our government/military? Do you realize that they have a huge interest in the United States being at war and spending massive amounts on "defense spending"? These same people are lobbyists who ensure that pro-war politicians remain in office.

[QUOTE="Abbeten"][QUOTE="Laihendi"] Why should this country recognize any law other than its own? How is the profit motive an issue? Who is profiting anyways?

Laihendi

Is there even a law that forbids privately funded (though government regulated, to an extent) militias from functioning internationally?

@HoolaHoopMan - You completely ignored the part where I said they should only be able to carry out campaigns with approval from congress. So basically what you're saying is that privately-funded militias acting only with approval from congress is a terrible idea, but a state-funded (via involuntary taxation, aka theft) military under the direct control of the President is fine. I guess if you ignore every US military conflict since World War 2, the latter option might seem like a good idea.

[QUOTE="Abbeten"][QUOTE="jim_shorts"]

Honestly I don't understand why people think Obama is doing any better. His foreign policy is atrocious and nearly as bad as Bush's. Couple that with irresponsible fiscal policy and you've got yourself a pretty bad administration.

Vuurk