Most people have never heard of the Ludlow Amendment. In December of 1937, the amendment gained popular support thanks to the Panay Incident. This proposed amendment to the Constitution read:
SEC. 1. Except in the event of an invasion of the United States or its Territorial possessions and attack upon its citizens residing therein, the authority of Congress to declare war shall not become effective until confirmed by a majority of all votes cast thereon in a nationwide referendum. Congress, when it deems a national crisis to exist, may by concurrent resolution refer the question of war or peace to the citizens of the States, the question to be voted on being, Shall the United States declare war on __? Congress may otherwise by law provide for the enforcement of this section.
SEC. 2. Whenever war is declared the President shall immediately conscript and take for use by the Government all the public and private war properties, yards, factories, and supplies, together with employees necessary for their operation, fixing the compensation for private properties temporarily employed for the war period at a rate not in excess of 4 percent per annum based on tax values assessed in the year preceding the war.
I would add a third section:
SEC. 3. Anyone who voted in favor of declaring war shall therefore be deemed as having volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces in support of the war effort, being conscripted in service of the Government in whatever capacity the Department of Defense deems appropriate for the duration of the war and up to six months after. Compensation shall be made to such persons at the rates of pay set by Congress for members of the Armed Forces.
Now you have skin in the game. Vote accordingly. This will make war as personal as a punch in the nose. Want to defend Ukraine? Hamas? Israel? Sure, vote yes. Thanks for volunteering, now report to Basic Training.
If you don’t believe in a cause enough to fight for it, then you shouldn’t get to vote and send others to fight in your stead.
6 Comments
Wild, wild west · December 1, 2023 at 7:27 am
How’s this: Congress shall pass no law or resolution authorizing or approving military force without being immediately formed into an infantry battalion and being the first unit sent into combat. No exemptions for age, infirmity, family situations or anything else. No training either, because they’re such military geniuses they shouldn’t need any. No pay or allowances and costs of transportation, supply and equipment to come from each member’s personal assets. Speaker of the House to be the commanding orificer with committee chairmen being appointed to all other leadership positions. VP as presiding over the Senate be assigned to permanent shit-burning detail behind the latrine. Members shall serve for the duration of the conflict without leave and shall permanently return to private life upon end of hostilities with any speaking fees, book royalties, etc. from that point on being remitted to the Treasury.
As if.
Don W Curton · December 1, 2023 at 8:04 am
Yeah, but how many times has the govt sent our soldiers into action without any declaration of war? Declaring war is so passe. Apparently (according to http://www.senate.gov) they’ve only declared war 11 times in the course of our nation. The last time was June 4th, 1942. Given that every single military action since then has occurred without any declaration of war, this proposed amendment is basically worthless.
Divemedic · December 1, 2023 at 8:17 am
That’s because we have ignored parts of the COTUS by having a standing army. It used to be that to go to war, the President had to ask the states to provide troops.
Andrew · December 1, 2023 at 11:50 am
Imagine how different a world we’d have if we’d let the Powers slug it out in Europe, instead of “getting conned into joining The Great War”.
Get Freight · December 2, 2023 at 12:03 am
Qhere can we sign up or volunteer to push this legislation and the changes suggested?
Aesop · December 5, 2023 at 1:25 am
Sauce for The Goose Is Good For The Gander
Sec. 4 Anyone who voted against declaring a given war under the preceding sections shall, if within five years time or less the party or parties war was not declared against shall belligerently attack the United States, including its possessions, forces, or citizens, in any way, be either drafted into military service within 7 days of the initiation of such hostilities, and/or be offered up to that belligerent as payment of ameliorative tribute to such adversary, the which depending solely upon the subsequent vote upon a new declaration of war passing or failing the same plebiscite.
That way, the chickenshits have as much skin in the game as the chickenhawks, and guessing wrong has consequences too. Which takes all the fun out of being Pollyana all the time.
What goes around, comes around.
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