A standing army is one of the greatest mischief that can possibly happen. Without standing armies liberty can never be in danger, nor with large ones safe. The means of defense against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.
– James Madison (“The Father of the United States Constitution”)
Madison would be greatly concerned if not alarmed at -
Obama's (and now perhaps Biden's) Civilian National Security Force that was "just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded as (the military)".
There seems good reason to hope Obama doesn't have a fourth term in the WH.