LETTER: Think national defense

Dear Editor:

Imagine if the U.S. Constitution did not include national defense as described by Article 1, Section 8.

Now, imagine a country dependent on private military for defense and protecting our interests abroad.  And, it was up to the individual American to purchase protection either through their employer or privately through an agent, such as Halliburton. 

Several levels of protection are offered, from “defense only” all the way up to “threat elimination” plans.  Without the basic “defense only” plan, you would basically be on your own if we were attacked, or would have to depend on some mediocre government protection, which is slow and inefficient.  Whereas, owning the golden plan, you would receive a share of the spoils of war.

Step in the U.S. government, stating that military defense is a right not a privilege, failing to replace the private military with their inefficient facsimile, passing a law requiring everyone to purchase private military protection.  Making matters worse, because of some special interest groups (like Boeing and Halliburton), the government mandates the “threat elimination” plan for all.  They hand out waivers to this mandate to some of their politically connected friends, but not for anti-war groups like Code Pink or even the Jehovah Witnesses.  No, they mandate that the Code Pink include “threat elimination” in their plans for their employees. 

They tell the Jehovah Witnesses that their employees must financially support going to war, so they too may share in the spoils of war, all for social justice.  Defenders of the mandate argue that the mandate does not force employees to actually pick up a gun and go to war, just that they should support those who decide to.  Opponents say war-making goes against their core beliefs, and that the federal government has no right to impose their will onto them.  The New York Times and others call these opponents, fanatics and religious zealots.

Finally, under pressure from anti-war groups and some who believe the Constitution protects religious organizations from government mandates, the federal government simply tells companies like Halliburton that they must provide “threat elimination” to all, for free.  Of course, Halliburton, et. al., raise their premiums which are still paid by Code Pink and the Jehovah Witnesses.  But now everyone is getting it, for “free.”

I am not equating contraception with waging war.  I am equating the government’s mandates if the shoe were on the other foot.

JOE BUBEL

Saugerties

jbubel@hvc.rr.com