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Home > Videos | 🏛️🇺🇸📖 Heather Cox Richardson

😵‍💫❓🤯🤦‍♂️ What the Heck Just Happened?

🤖 AI Summary

The 📺 video, titled “What the Heck Just Happened?”, discusses the historical context and modern-day relevance of standing armies in the United States.

  • 🏛️ The Founding Fathers were wary of standing armies, defining them as a permanent military force that could be used to suppress the populace [01:48:58].
  • 💂 They argue that the British had used soldiers in the colonies to enforce acts passed by Parliament, which made the colonists distrustful of such forces [02:15:31].
  • 💰 The speakers also touch upon the idea that standing armies could become a self-perpetuating cycle, as leaders might keep them active to justify collecting taxes to fund them [06:26:54].
  • 🚨 The conversation shifts to contemporary events, expressing concern about the federalization of the California National Guard and the deployment of Marines in Los Angeles [07:35:10].
  • 👮 They also mention the President taking control of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police and calling out the D.C. National Guard [07:42:37].
  • 😠 The speakers argue that these actions are not about fighting crime but are a “show of force” meant to intimidate and monopolize politics [09:05:43].
  • ⚖️ The 1878 Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the U.S. Army from being used as a police force against U.S. citizens, is discussed [17:00:36].
  • 🛡️ The National Guard was developed in part because of this law, as it was believed that state-based troops would be less likely to turn against their own citizens [17:19:10].
  • 😄 The video also explores the use of humor against authoritarians, noting that they often cannot stand being laughed at [16:05:46].
  • 🤝 As the video concludes, the speakers emphasize the importance of community as a way to stay grounded amidst political turmoil [20:56:56].

🤔 Evaluation

The 🎥 video’s perspective is critical of recent domestic military deployments, viewing them as a potential overreach of power and a violation of the spirit of the Posse Comitatus Act. However, other viewpoints, such as those from the Brennan Center for Justice, argue that the act has significant exceptions and loopholes, and that a lack of enforcement mechanisms undermines its purpose. The Posse Comitatus Act - GEORGE T. CLARK book also suggests the law is often misunderstood, and that the military is already used in a “plethora of domestic activities” that are within its legal bounds.

For a more comprehensive understanding, topics to explore include:

  • 📜 The original legislative history of the Posse Comitatus Act and its subsequent amendments, which have expanded its application to other branches of the military and created specific exemptions.
  • 🕊️ The historical context of the Insurrection Act, which provides a pathway for the President to use the military to put down uprisings and enforce federal authority, and how it relates to the Posse Comitatus Act.
  • ⚖️ The legal and ethical arguments for and against the use of the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, considering the unique dual-state and federal role of the Guard.

📚 Book Recommendations

  • 📖 American Military History: The United States Army and the Forging of a Nation, 1775–1917, edited by Richard W. Stewart, provides a historical overview of the U.S. Army and its role in the nation’s development.
  • 📜 Posse Comitatus Act by Ray A Zuniga, offers a contrasting perspective, arguing that the act has been misinterpreted and should be repealed to allow for a more effective “whole of government approach” to domestic crises.
  • 😂 Animal Farm by George Orwell is a satirical fable that allegorically critiques totalitarianism and the corrupting nature of power, a theme creatively related to the video’s discussion of humor as a tool against authoritarians.
  • 🎳🏘️📉📈 Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam explores the decline of civic engagement and community life in America, which relates to the video’s final point about the importance of community.
  • 👑🚫📜2️⃣0️⃣ On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder, provides historical lessons on how to resist the rise of authoritarianism, a topic that resonates with the video’s concerns about the potential for government overreach.

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