The Minuteman: Returning to an Army of the People (Hardcover)

by Gary Hart (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
The role of the military in American society and the related questions of the nature of the military the public wants and needs have been central to U.S. politics and national security since before the Revolution. Hart, the former senator from Colorado and one-time contender for the presidency, offers this extended essay on a future army as an argument for a greatly reduced professional force supported by a larger civilian-based reserve in line with the militia traditions of 18th- and 19th-century America. While those new to the discussion may view his work with skepticism, the author clearly demonstrates that the "expansible" army concept is firmly based on longstanding American ideas on citizenship and defense. Hart enjoyed wide respect for his national security efforts in the Senate, and the present work clearly demonstrates that he has a keen appreciation for critiquing contemporary military issues. An engaging and lively book, it should be considered for public libraries with strong collections in current events and by academic libraries with collection strengths in American military history.AJohn R. Vallely, Siena Coll. Lib., NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Hart returns to a subject on which he made a concrete impact, military reform. As a senator, he inveighed against gold-plated weaponry, and here he criticizes the present military for being too professionalized and separated from society. He would rather it be reduced to a smaller nucleus of military expertise that in emergencies could draw on a much-expanded pool of reserves. The concomitant benefit of such a structure, Hart plainly hopes, will be increased citizen influence on strictly military matters such as budgeting as well as on, more remotely, foreign affairs. Citizen soldiers, he thinks, might be less eager to intervene to keep Persian Gulf oil spigots open. However, Hart does not propose reviving the draft; instead, he would expand National Guard reserves. But the relationship between reserve and regular forces is inherently complicated (and condescending on the part of the regulars), as Hart illustrates in his mining of history and military authors going back to 1776. This work advances interesting proposals to enmesh reserves with regulars and enables libraries to discharge their duty to advance debate. Gilbert Taylor

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Free Press (May 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684838095
• ISBN-13: 978-0684838090
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,790,924 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Citizenship, militia and the consequences of a standing army, February 1, 2001

By A Customer

Clear and thought provoking. Grounded in American and European history of armed defense in relation to healthy citizenship. Looks at what has worked to strengthen democracies (small standing army, large trained militia), and what has not (large standing armies or military-industrial complex and a distanced citizenry) from ancient Greece through the Persian Gulf war.

I was surpised that a Democrat congressman would feel so strongly about issues of individual freedom, citizenship, and a sound military for the true health and safety of America. Gary Hart speaks with respect and passion.

Too many commentators jump to the conclusion that the citizen soldier approach will not work in today's world. Yet history if packed with appropriate examples. Gary Hart only addresses this concept in terms of America. But if we want a safe world that we don't have to engage in every firefight, then we have to go beyond America and encourage and support all countries to develop similar strong, part-time citizen based militias.

Mr. Hart states a clear case that a large standing army invites foreign adventurism and political subterfuge. A citizen based militia is more truly defense oriented, reluctant to fight unless given clear and sound reasons, eager to disperse when the mission is completed, and appreciative of the sacrifice that wars require in life and funding.

The only reason I did not give it five stars is because it did not extend the logic fully to that of supporting other nations in a similar endeavor for a truly strong alliance; and to the individual citizen for armed self-defense and the positive effect a large number of armed, law-abiding citizens has on public safety. Gary Hart's book, "The Minuteman" is very good within its scope of America's military policy and accountability to its citizens.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Restoring an Army of the People, November 1, 2000

By	No Name (Perth Amboy NJ) - See all my reviews

When you read this book you'll know why the Military Industrial Complex did everything to sabotage and destroy his political career.

Why is our military budget as high as during the Cold War? Why do we have 1,500,000 sailors and soldiers with no major threat to our country? This book tries to answer these questions.

The US historically had two armies: a Regular Army of professional soldiers, and a citizen army variously known as militia, National Guard, Organized Reserves, selectees. Each represents a political outlook: centralized national government for the first, a decentralized popular government for the latter.

A permanent standing military seeks causes for its continued existence, and resources to maintain itself. An army of the people would debate its purpose and use; and will be anxious to return to civilian life.

Historically, standing armies have resulted in military coups, civil wars, and oppression of the common people. You can read about this in the history books, or in today's newspapers that carry foreign news.

In 1783 Congress requested Washington's views for a peacetime military establishment. Washington relied on the advice of Von Steuben, who advocated a Swiss system of citizen soldiers as most appropriate to democracies. J.M. Palmer also recommended that the national defense force should be well-trained citizens rather than standing army professionals in keeping the military establishment democratic.

A quote from J.M. Palmer is important. "A free state cannot continue to be democratic in peace and autocratic in war. Standing armies threaten government by the people, not because they consciously seek to pervert liberty, but because they relieve the people themselves of the duty of self-defense. A people accustomed to let a special class defend them must sooner of later become unfit for liberty."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Timely,an important book for Americans to read., May 20, 1998

By A Customer

Sen Hart has written an important book dealing with one of the most important, yet least talked about issues this nation will face in the next century. I enjoyed his historical analysis of citizen-soldiers and how they relate to our republic. His closing chapter "A Modest Proposal" has the beginning of a good idea how to manage our defense machine into the 21st century, however there are key elements he did not address. The most important of these is the volunteers. The "dirty little secret" of the American military today is that it is very diffcult to find young people who want to serve in the military, active or reserve. Unitl we solve the recruiting crisis restructing the military will be very difficult.