The State loves war

Dear Emeritus: We need to set up new rules. Whoever contrives to go to war must be the first one to ride into battle or cross the Straits in a canoe. We must restrain the old, war-lusty men from sending our young daughters and sons to die in their wars. "Voting is the highest duty and privilege!" and "The Fatherland needs your service!" are the government's two most lethal lies. The first one impoverishes you, the second kills you. Any politician who votes for war should be arrested and tried for war crimes. My second favored leftist, Noam Chomsky, on the matter: "If the Nürnberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged." Including, of course, Barry Obama, King of Kings, ruler by the divine grace, befuddled nincompoop.