Before Bricker

Before the Bricker Amendment, U.S.M.C. Major General Smedley Butler (7/30/1881-6/21/40) published his own recommendation for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, a Peace Amendment, (among others). Originally in the September 1936 issue of Woman's Home Companion, comprised of three articles as follows:

1. The removal of members of the land armed forces from within the continental limits of the United States and the Panama Canal Zone for any cause whatsoever is prohibited.

2. The vessels of the United State Navy, or of the other branches of the armed service, are hereby prohibited from steaming, for any reason whatsoever except on an errand of mercy, more than five hundred iles from our coast.

3. Aircraft of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps is hereby prohibited from flying, for any reason whatsoever, more than seven hundred and fifty miles beyond the coast of the United States.

Thomas Woods, who has written on the Bricker Amendment said:

Today the treaty power poses as grave a threat to self-government as ever before. The voices that speak for American independence are few and far between. As the twentieth century comes to a close, post-Cold War America awaits its John Bricker.

I prefer its Smedley Butler, who understands that war is a racket.


Just a thought.
Just Ken

cross-posted at Liberty & Power Blog
CLASSical Liberalism