No electoral representation for women without military
representation for women. That is, women should not have the
right to vote unless they, like men, have the duty to
defend, through military service whether voluntary or
involuntary (military draft), as men do including combat
duty.
The "battle cry" of the US American Revolution was "No
Taxation without Representation." However, military service,
especially combat duty in times of war is the ULTIMATE
TAXATION. Thus, the argument that women should not have
electoral representation unless they are subject to the same
military duties and requirements as men is even STRONGER
than the premise upon which the American Revolution was
made.
As men should not be slaves through taxation without
representation they should not be slaves to those (women)
who are not taxed through compulsory military service and
combat duty.
Here is a quote from the beginning paragraph of Thomas
Paines (possibly one of my ancestors) book, "American
Crisis", which is appropriate to this topic:
"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer
soldier and the
sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the
service of their
country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and
thanks of man
and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet
we have
this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the
more
glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem
too lightly:
it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven
knows how
to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be
strange indeed if
so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly
rated. Britain,
with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she
has a right
(not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER,"
and if
being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there
not such a
thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious;
for so
unlimited a power can belong only to God."
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