I could be wrong, as I am slightly confused by this. However it almost gives this feel as if he is talking down onto others. He is suggesting that others have different views and that is okay, however he then goes on to imply that his are correct, simply becuase of his profession. This is incrediably ignorant, and while I totally understand his point, he may be failing to realize that he lives in a democratic republic, and if everyone just stops paying their highway tax, the funding for the military will stop. While that might make this man feel good in the moment, as one war stops, what happens next is well above this mans research. He has no evidence or reports suggesting that if we did not have a strong, vibrant military, that the masses of America would be safe and protected. There is however evidence everyday, that American's do not see, inteligence reports, and military attacks, happening everyday, that is funded by tax payers and more importantly, real attacks on American soil are stopped this way.

Thoreau is compeltly misunderstanding the men and women who serve in the military. As he describes them as mindless robots, serving the negative government, and state, he fails to realize this is far from the truth. Radical groups based on idealogy are subject to this fault, but larger militaries such as the United States Department of Defense, are not. Infact I think most people would be suprised to learn that most servicemen and women are quite in favor of less government, and question the government's practices more than civilians, which is far more risky compared to a civlian considering according to the UCMJ you can be punished for this.

Thoreau is painting a picture as if a military is not needed. He describes a Marines role as if they are tool to create death and impose their will on others. However, I disagree, ofcourse war and militaries can be used in ill will, there is no question that without them, you will be taken advantage of by someone who has them.