Ethical Question: Bad Lieutenant. What do you do?

President Thomas Jefferson, who also authored the Declaration of Independence, did not trust the public to make the best decisions. He understood that human nature, being what it is, would see the Constitutional Republic that they sacrificed their livelihoods and lives to give birth to, steadily implode once the public figured out that they could vote for politicians that promised them the most from the public treasury.

Sir, if you have the time, I recommend you read the Constitution and as you do it, try to get in the heads of the framers and see why they did what they did. What was their vision? Why did they not want power centralized in the Federal Gov't but rather concentrated at the State level? Ask yourself, "Why did they give us Separation of Powers?" What were they attempting to achieve with it as well as prevent?

They were geniuses. They knew we would be having these discussions. Jefferson even remarked that we would from time to time have rebellions and he saw them as a good thing. He did not want to see revolution... just a rebellion to keep Washington on its toes and our politicians honest.

While in Paris, Jefferson wrote: "The people can not be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. We have had 13. states independant 11. years. There has been one rebellion. That comes to one rebellion in a century and a half for each state. What country ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it's natural manure." -- Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, Paris, 13 Nov. 1787

"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

I am not advocating revolution. I am simply saying we have departed from the Constitution and vision of our founding fathers and we need to return to it. This is not crazy; it is not radical.

There are ways to do this, but do YOU have the stomach to sacrifice to preserve our liberties and ensure America remains a free country? [rhetorical] When you are given orders to fire on American citizens exercising their Consitutional rights, will you obey? [rhetorical].

My take on the whole debacle is the first amendment. Part 5 of the first amendment is the right "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." The birth issue is a legitimate grievance in my opinion.

Secondly, Capt Jeff S. is correct regarding the approval of a Security clearance in that the C&C is a known associate of William Ayers a founder of the Weather Underground, which is a huge red flag.

Lastly, by birth to a father who was a British subject, since Kenya was a British Commonwealth until October 1963, makes BO a British subject under the British Nationality Act of 1948. I believe the question needs to be answered.

How did this conversation venture so far from what the author inquired?

Don't know, but I find CPT Schwager to be arrogant and a bit unprofessional. And before you jump on me, yes I have read the constitution..about three times. Still that's not enough. If you want to find the deeper intent behind the Constitution, you need the Federalist papers which contain the debate as our framers wrote the Constitution. As far as whether or not the POTUS should be required t pass a background check, well, that a matter of law and the collective opinions mean nothing.

I was in the Army during that time, there were many Lieutenants who weren't ready for leading (Hence Fragging), when you are an OCS wonder and they put you in charge of people who have been in country for 2-3 years, and the Lieutenant shows up with the I have all the answers attitude, I went to Ranger School! Well whoopty do. You have to earn respect, the fact you are wearing a gold bar says nothing

CW2 Ernest Krutzsch. Amen!!! Gold/Silver Bars do not make a leader . . . must be molded by experience . . . regrettably experience is acquired at tremendous cost . . . and the best leaders tend to be those who have far more experience in country. Warmest Regards, Sandy

Ah, as a Warrant, I have many more examples, and we should not just pick on Lieutenants, I have seen Captains, Majors, LTC, and Colonels with the same attitude. When I was a young E5, I had some Lieutenants that were furious at the political and personal decisions that were being made by higher headquarters, they swore they would never do that... Fast forward 20 years, they are Colonels, making the same stupid decisions they swore they would never make. It's a system! I had some great Officer's I worked for, most of them did not get promoted, because they did not toe the line. I would have followed them anywhere, those who did get promoted forgot where they came from

Gold/Silver Bar; Train Tracks, or Oak Leaves don't make Leaders, just the same for the NCO Corps.
But to answer the original question, I would rat him out to CID even if anonymously.

Now THAT is playing the "House of Cards" game. Lol.

SSgt Justyn Amick I like to think of it as creative problem solving. Adapt, improvise, over come.

Then have him drive home. With any luck, he'll get the DUI as well.

Not sure that would help. He admitted he smoked weed. BLUF: you can buy votes with government give-away programs.