Key takeaways from this chapter

In some circumstances, We The People would be the best choice for developing governing solutions over foreign policy and military spending. In others, the Defense and State Department personnel would be the best. And in others, their Federal Councils would be the best. I propose each would have authority over foreign policy decisions in our Collaborative Democracy as described below. However, We The People could always change this through an issue posted to the appropriate Citizen Governance Website.

Foreign aid

The people would develop solutions to each foreign policy issue and to each foreign aid issue separately through the Citizen Governance Website of the Department of State. Thoughtful solutions could be developed by the people that ensure that aid goes to those in need, not to buy mansions and military hardware to benefit corrupt governments.

Government-to-government military sales would be arranged by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and authorized by the Council of State over the State Department. Direct commercial sales to foreign governments would be authorized by the Council of State. This could be changed by the people if desired.

Defense solutions and spending

In the Department of Defense, issues affecting policy, programs, the development and purchase of military hardware and software, and their related costs would be solved by the citizens.

In keeping with our goal of transparency, classified issues, programs, and potential solutions would be described generically, allowing citizens to participate conceptually without the need to know classified information. In extreme cases, where the Council of Defense deemed it necessary due to the classified nature of a project, legislative sessions would be held with the combined Council of Defense, Presidential Council, and Legislative Council to approve classified projects and costs up to a combined maximum amount set by the people.

All military officer appointments would be an administrative matter for the Council of Defense.

Deploying troops

The combined Council of Defense, Presidential Council, and Legislative Council would be responsible for responding to an immediate threat. All such military actions would be reported and approved through the Citizen Governance Website of the Council of Defense to comply with the War Powers Resolution.

All other military actions that commit troops to conflict situations are known in advance, whether to defend our country, to defend another county, or to influence their politics. These are all critical, complex decisions that should be made by the people. Declaring war is only one solution to a complex issue that should be decided by and supported by the people.