War

Many believe that wars have been fought over all kinds of things, by government master’s reluctant to put their people in harm’s way, but "forced" by reluctant necessity to do so. Nothing could be more false. I’ve no doubt that here and there, now and then, some fool of a King or President felt that way, but was tricked by his evil counselors or cabinet men. But I doubt they had to work hard to trick him. I also think that that is a telling point about governments, that the whole of it can engage us in these disasters, even if a random master is indisposed.

Others believe that wars have been fought for reasons of population pressure. I would suggest reading books on economics by any free market oriented author. For we have never been over-populated, rather, our resources have been under-utilized - principally by our practice of letting the unproductive masters squander them. Anyway, to the extent that population pressure has been a factor, it is one previously caused by the government.

Keep in mind also, that until 1776, even a supposed "defensive" war was mostly unjustified. For what did it matter to the individual peasant whether he was gouged for King A or King B? It didn’t. Keep in mind that even after 1776, when there was one government in existence that was better to be under then the rest - that a defensive war would not have been necessary, had we taken the final step and given up all government!

For what does an invading army do? Does it take over each house, farm and shop, and force each person to give a percent to the invading army’s master? No. It couldn’t. No army could ever be large enough to do that. What the invaders do instead is to head straight for the invaded nation’s master! The capitol! They take that over, and then tell the rest of the people, keep sending in the money you were already sending in!

Ever note in history, that 99% of the nation can lie in ruins, but so long as the master is safe, he will gallantly insist on us fighting to the last man? But if 1% of the nation is taken, and that just being his palace or office, then he regretfully surrenders so that we might have an end to bloodshed?

What a reversal of the "Big Man" concept! That concept wherein the tribal leader leaps out in front of the tribe at the first sign of danger, and fights, laying down his life if need be, that the tribe might live! There is nothing of such leadership among our supertribal government masters, sitting in pampered ease, golfing in secluded retreats, cowering in their bunkers, or soaring high above and far away from the carnage.

But how often do Voluntarists (anarchists) hear, "We have to have a government for in case we get invaded." No one would care to invade us if it weren’t for our government bothering everyone. They couldn’t invade us if our government didn’t exist, for they’d have too much to take over. And our government, supposedly our protectors, really are just those who hide in luxurious bunkers while sending our children off to die, that they might lead us longer. Let 50,000 die in Vietnam, and that is fine. Let public sentiment become angry enough to threaten a chance for re-election, and it’s time to withdraw!

Does our government hate war and love peace? Not hardly. Do you know how many years of peace America has had since 1783? 36 years! That’s all. And only that many if you don’t count our fights against slaves and Native Americans.

Let me be careful here. I define peace as a time when we do not have armed agents of our government, out abroad in other lands, fighting, killing, or assisting others in doing so. When we do have such men doing such things, I call it war, though you may call it hostilities, another "actions", etc. None may call it peace, though.

Gathering figures from "For the Common Defense" by Allan Mellet and Peter Maslowski and from "Killing Hope" by William Blum, I find that we have been in a state of continual war since 1897. Let me be clear. Since the year One Eight Nine Seven our government has had armed men engaging in hostilities abroad in every single year.

The record for peace in our nation was from 1783 to 1797 - 13 years. In the entire 19th century we had peace at scattered intervals adding up to 23 years. If we count our governments use of force against it’s own…then there has never been any peace. At all. For being creative in defining, "others", our masters have used the Army against Native Americans, religious groups, strikers, union men, political groups, revolting slaves, students, marchers, protesters, bootleggers, smugglers, Japanese-Americans, German-Americans, German and Italian immigrants and visitors, and so on.

One day we’ll learn that all this fighting is not because there are truly so many dangerous people for us to be protected from. For if people were really bad enough to justify all the above, you’d not be able to go to the store without being killed. Funny how people are so good and peaceful near you, and so dangerous far away. Or so our masters claim.

Do you believe them?

Dean