Nietzsche observed that every country claim to have a military in order to prevent invasion by another country's military. — darthbarracuda
If you want to stop wars I say that we should just shoot all of the politicians so that there will be no one to start them. — Sir2u
If a nation's social contract includes a clause about providing and maintaining security then I think it's completely moral and in right business for the nation to have a military in that interest. And having a military doesn't necessarily imply the country ever intends to use force. Switzerland, for example, has mandatory military conscription for its citizens but has not really ever engaged in any combative exercise since the 19th century. I think irresponsible or excessive use of military force has more to do with the governing administration rather than the fact of there being a military.Nietzsche observed that every country claim to have a military in order to prevent invasion by another country's military. Is this a vicious circular logic, or are militaries a "necessary evil"? Is this not akin to the prisoner's dilemma?
Except the military. You would then have a military state. Good luck with that. — Bitter Crank
I think irresponsible or excessive use of military force has more to do with the governing administration rather than the fact of there being a military. — aporiap
For one, military power is sometimes needed to quell internal dissent. — Bitter Crank
For two, the military is an on-call personnel pool in times of emergency. — Bitter Crank
For three, many individual countries could find themselves with dysfunctional states on next door. In order to defend themselves from disorder, if not military attack, a functioning military is required. — Bitter Crank
Yes but... they got guns too -- big ones, and they practice. — Bitter Crank
For one, military power is sometimes needed to quell internal dissent. Were a home-grown fascist terrorist organization attack from within, the military (army, marines, or state national guard) would probably be needed to destroy such a group. — Bitter Crank
For two, the military is an on-call personnel pool in times of emergency. Should the Really Big Quake happen in California or off the coast of WA, OR, and CA, the resulting severe and widespread damage would exhaust local emergency resources almost immediately. The Army/National Guard would need to be deployed as rescue and recovery workers, in addition to FEMA (for whatever they are worth). — Bitter Crank
For three, many individual countries could find themselves with dysfunctional states on next door. In order to defend themselves from disorder, if not military attack, a functioning military is required. We have problems now with people crossing our border illegally; what if Mexico became even more dysfunctional. The military would be needed to help manage the situation (however you care to define "manage"). — Bitter Crank
Fascism breeds in certain environments which may not exist in an anarchistic society.
This is similar to why is does not make sense to argue that the state is necessary in order to quell crime. — darthbarracuda
Just remember, some people are sons of bitches and just don't play nice with others. — Bitter Crank
States -or politicians- are not, and never were, necessary for military or wars. If tomorrow all militaries and states ceased to be, there would be a bloodshed on a global scale (a bloodshed bigger than the one that is taking place right now). — Πετροκότσυφας
If you don't have one then the other sides that do take you out. — yatagarasu
But why do they have a military? It is a prisoner's dilemma, a rat race, a constant fight to one-up each other out of fear and masculine pride.
How do we stop this? How do we convince the members of the militaries of the world to stop listening to their superiors and lay down their arms? — darthbarracuda
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