politics
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The military is a machine, not a person. You point, click, and tell them what to shoot. That’s it. They don’t do political policy.
And really, that’s a good thing if you think about it. Like it or not, Trump and his flunkies are in the White House because the majority of voters put them there, so when you get down to it, it’s the majority’s job to get rid of him if they don’t like him.
I mean, do you really want the military to go, ‘hey, we know y’all elected this guy, but we don’t like him, so we’re going to just get rid of him’? Just because they’d be getting rid of a guy we don’t like this time doesn’t make it a good thing.
No, but I do want them to refuse to follow illegal orders.
You can't have your cake and eat it too my guy.
What does that even mean?
To tell the Sec Def "No, I won't be showing up" is deny a lawful order. Your boss can tell you to be somewhere.
If the US Military starts to play political games, like denying an otherwise lawful order because it came from an asshole, they're breaking different parts of their own internal rules.
That said, if the civilian arm in charge of the military, e.g. the executive branch, decides to say that the Army can, and should, unilaterally bomb unidentified boats in their region for 'defence purposes', that's now a lawful order so you can't deny that one.
And as an average joe, you can beat the rap (in thirty years when they pardon you) but you can't beat the ride. Enjoy your DD.
I mean yes. Just because the president says something doesn't make it legal. Now everything he says might be legal but who knows.
Irrelevant comment.
All those other countries who have had military coups should have told their militaries that they don't do political policy.
So you want to make the US even more like North Korea? Wtf
No, I'm saying "the military doesn't do politics" is a dumb statement. Every military doesn't do politics, until they do.
Also North Korea didn't have a military coup and they'd almost certainly be better off if they did, so not the best choice for comparison.
Military personnel swear on oath to the constitution, not to the president.
Read the entire oath. You are also sworn to obey the orders of the President and the officers appointed over you.
Their first loyalty is to the constitution. If they are given orders that violate the constitution then they are obligated to not obey them. If the president is abusing his power to destroy the constitution then they are obligated to protect it.
Whatever orders they're given come after this first responsibility.
Incorrect. A majority of voters selected other candidates. Trump received 49.8% of the vote.
Don't you love having a voting system where the majority doesn't win?
About as much as I love having 9 people appointed for life that can overrule that voting system in case it does actually let the majority win.
I want to jump on the pedantry train. Around 36% of eligible voters didn't cast a ballot for president, so if Trump received 49.8% of the vote, then - in the original terms of "x% of voters out Trump in the White House" - .498 * (1-0.36) = about 32% of voters. Meaning more eligible voters didn't vote than selected Trump.
The highest voter share went to "abstain".
If you really think the US military is just a machine then I would like you to do a little research and find out what all the recent 3 and 4 star generals are doing after they retire. I can tell you they are not sippin pina coladas on Coronado.
Are you for real here? It is not a secret what this admin is. Cannot be denied. And that invalidates your point.
I’m just staying that the military won’t depose Trump.
Yes. When they tell thr military "hey were throwing out the rukes you kill who we tell you no matter what"
I expect them to immediately kill the threat in front of them. Not dance with them and try to negotiate.