Discussion thread for FR poll question regarding calling up the militia to defend the borders

Free Republic Poll Question ^ | June 3, 2005 | By YOUGOTIT

[Jim Robinson]

The Constitution says in Article I, Section 8, "The Congress shall have the power.... To provide for the calling forth the Militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and Repel Invasions;..." Since we are being invaded and the laws of the Union are being violated should the Militia be called up and placed on the borders to protect the laws and the American people?

Yes

No

Undecided

Pass

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/poll?poll=102

[eastforker]

That is the point of the gun-grabbers today, do we want to go there?

[rdb3]

Could you please be more specific. Make your argument either for or against. Looking at a map of Afganistan doesn't tell me anything.

Are you looking at it and the surrounding nations?

[raybbr]

Are you looking at it and the surrounding nations?

Yes I am Captian Obtuse.

Do you mean the threat of radical Islam O' wise and cryptic one? :)

[gulfcoast6]

Did you see the night scope images of the illegals coming across the border the other day? Heck. it looked like the entire population of Mexico was coming across the border and each one was a future drag on our health care, food stamps, education and all kind of USA programs WE are going to have to pay for with OUR taxes. There are not enough jobs here to take care of all those coming across.

[Iwo Jima]

In Texas we have something called the State Guard which is our militia. It is only called out by the Governor and only for duty in the State or with some narrow exceptions (like chasing Indians across the border or answering a neighboring state's call of distress).

I would like to see the State Guard used for homeland defense purposes including border patrol. But it would have to be built up first. It currently is primarily made up of dough-nut eating old men whose most challenging assignment is traffic control at air-shows.

But the legal structure, framework, and historical usage is all there.

[rdb3]

Do you mean the threat of radical Islam O' wise and cryptic one?

Partially.

Troop numbers are significant. Right now we are on Iran's east and west flanks isolating them. That's important, but it's not the only thing.

If a large enough number of Reserve or NG soldiers are placed on our southern border, do you think China will fail to take notice and then snatch Taiwan?

Afghanistan also borders China.

[gulfcoast6]

The politicians can only see 'potential voters' coming across, they won't do anything about it and that is where we come in, no action by them, no vote for them. A message has got to be sent to those politicians somehow and one that they will listen too.

[eastforker]

Well then maybe Mr. King should lobby congress for a chartered civilian militia, being an all volunteer force with guidelines set forth by congress, with no compensation from the government, a true militia. Something along the lines that our VFW and American legion groups are set up.

[gulfcoast6]

ALSO, we have federal police, state police and, local police. All three enforce the federal laws. Why can't the border states get federal monies to establish a border patrol. These officers would be very will trained as our officers are in other areas. Why can't homeland security fund such agencies.

It all boil down to the politicians seeing nothing but potential voters coming across our borders, nothing more, nothing less.

[CrawDaddyCA]

When our president labels true Patriots such as the Minutemen 'vigilanties', I can't see our elected leaders doing anything to stop this invasion of our country.

It's a sad day when our elected leader sides with illegal aliens over his own citizens, those he gave an oath to protect.

Flame me if ya'll want, it needs to be said.

[Peach]

I saw the night scope images on FNC that you referred to, gulfcoast, and in that same report there was mention that not all the illegals were Mexicans but there was a large group from Iran coming through Mexico.

[gulfcoast6]

2 plus 2 equals 4, those jerks in Washington, the so-called elected officials who look ofter out, the voters welfare does not see it this way.

[FreeRadical]

It is risky business to ask the Government to follow one passage of the Constitution for one specific problem when we don't ask it to follow it all.

As others have better said: "The Constitution poses no threat to the present US Government."

For a border solution I like the Minutemen, private citizen's approach.

Asking the govt to call up the militia is like asking the government to obey the 4th amendment or the 9th amendment or etc etc.

And, the truth is, few are consistent with their desires to follow the Constitution. Asking to follow the Constitution in one instance only exposes the millions among "conservatives" that would never actually consider living with the limited govt reality mandated by the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

I like the spirit of the poll question, I just don't like the reality it is up against. No need to call Washington, better to call your neighbors.

[Trteamer]

No flames from me. I agree with you, "W" has turned a blind eye and deaf ear to this. There are many people in the government that make their living by providing services to the illegals. It is corrupt.

Only Tom Tancredo has the guts to stand up, the rest are hiding form the issue.

[Peach]

What has never been explained to me is just WHY so few politicians actually care about protecting our borders. Especially post 9/11.

And why they are permitting tax payers to be turned away from hospitals in their own communities in favor of caring for illegals. And why the federal government is now paying medical providers for the healthcare of illegals.

[Irish_Thatcherite]

Just curious, what do you all think of the Swiss model?

http://www.ssaa.org.au/un/swiss.html

[Nataku X]

The solution to the problem is to stop the handouts. It's not to raise or lower the minimum wage. It's not to build walls.

Let me explain: I remember a Freeper's story in particular from last summer: apparently, a lot of people in that town were laid off. Meanwhile, the construction industry was booming. This Freeper saw all these people walk in the unemployment office, ignoring all the signs pleading for help. America is a de facto welfare state, because they are entitled to a minimum standard of living.

The free market abhors a vacuum. You risk cutting off the free market from filling that vacuum at its peril. If it's not illegals, it will be free trade, reducing hours, even more welfare, and pretty soon you're looking like France.

Americans won't do these jobs, because they have no reason to do them. Give them a reason to do so. Stopping illegal immigration will only cause a bigger and worse unbalance somewhere else.

*trots off to vote NO*

[gulfcoast6]

Please don't get me started on the politicians and 'why' they do this and that. It is unexplainable., only for getting that potential vote I suppose, they don't breath if they don't think a vote is in it for them.

[KeyWest]

The problem is not more people on the border. First, there is too much border and the numbers of people you would need is prohibitive.

The problem is the law and the way it is enforced. Check Brownsville, Tx, where they are no longer "catch and release' but imprisoning illegals, at least some. Just extend that and all you will need is to contract out the imprisonment to somewhere like Chad and let them find there way back from there.

[Peach]

That must be it. Make the illegals legal and then get their vote. There isn't any other reason I can think of.