Hi Gene:

I am deeply torn by the system you suggest.

On one hand, I do favor, a Swiss style system, where every American would have training/weapon training through an initial program of national service and is afterward required to have readily at hand, weapons in his home, should the nation be threatened.

There is the story of Hitler -which I have been unable to track down- giving the Swiss government an ultimatum and the Swiss responding that they would meet him at the border and shoot his officers as they cross the Swiss border.

Additionally, their is a progressive radio talk show fella by the name of Thom Hartmann who says that Jefferson's idea for the 2nd Amendment included a reference to the militia's, was just such an idea as the Swiss; rather than standing armies which could be so easily misused as today.

I don't know the fine points of the Swiss system but what I do know -which is what bothers me about the system you are repeating, as some varient of that system has been on and off the table for many years here- is that the US leadership, unlike the Swiss, does have ambitions of empire.

And given I believe our government beyond repair, and further, that our criminal element, not unlike Hitler or Goebbels and their ilk, would send every last available American to their death for their estimation of glory.

respects