Several bloggers have written today about this quote from Thomas Sowell:

When I see the worsening degeneracy in our politicians, our media, our educators, and our intelligentsia, I canâ€™t help wondering if the day may yet come when the only thing that can save this country is a military coup.

I think it’s perfectly clear that this was somewhat of a throw-away line on Sowell’s part; and definitely hyperbole. Nonetheless, it’s set off quite a discussion.

Steven Taylor for one didn’t hold back:

One wonders if Sowell has ever actually studied countries where the assumption was that the military could sweep in and â€œfixâ€ things. Clearly there are people out there, who ought to know better, who prefer democracy only when it produces the outcomes that they like. A military coup as a throw-away suggested cure for what ails us? Quite frankly, that is an obscene suggestion.

Steven Bainbridge suggests that, because of the culture that has developed in the Armed Services over the past 200 years, it’s unlikely that the military would ever overthrow the government in this country. And, finally, James Joyner points out that even if such a coup did succeed, it would take away not only the civilian government, but any notion of individual liberty.

Clearly, if he really is suggesting that a military coup would be the cure for a despotic government, Sowell is completely wrong. Without fail, military coups in other countries have led to repression and a loss of individual freedom. Even when the junta finally cedes control back to civilian authorities, which happens rarely and only after much time has passed, the relationship between the state and the military is forever changed and the threat of another coup hangs over the civilian leadership like the Sword of Damocles. Instead of being an institution under civilian control, the military turns into a power center of it’s own and, since it has the real power in the form of guns, tanks, and airplanes, it quickly becomes the predominant power.

I don’t disagree with Sowell that there is much to be distressed about when it comes to the current state of the United States of America. The question of whether there will come a time when armed rebellion against an oppressive state is justified has been debated here and elsewhere countless times. However, turning the United States, or any other country, into a military dictatorship isn’t going to do anything to stop the erosion of personal freedom.