[Question_Assumptions]

What I mean is that there shouldn't be a modern standing army if you follow the intent of the Founders, which was opposed to a standing army (the Virginia Declaration of Rights from 1776 reads ("That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power."). I do not personally think it's practical in the modern world to not have a standing army.

[vincentfreeman]

"What I mean is that there shouldn't be a modern standing army if you follow the intent of the Founders, which was opposed to a standing army"

Correct. The plan was to have well regulated state Militias -- they were deemed "necessary to the security of a free state".

But that changed after the War of 1812 when is was found that the concept was a failure -- most militia members showed up unarmed and untrained.