It occured to me this morning that many may not have seen the definition of "license". If not, you may find this to be very interesting. Jesse Enloe

What is a license?

From Bouvier’s Law Dictionary (1856)

LICENSE, contracts. A right given by some competent authority to do an act, which without such authority would be illegal. The instrument or writing which secures this right, is called a license.

LICENSE, International law. An authority given by one of two belligerent parties, to the citizens or subjects of the other, to carry on a specified trade.

  2. The effects of the license are to suspend or relax the rules of war to the extent of the authority given. It is the assumption of a state of peace to the extent of the license.

This should put into perspective all the arguments regarding the People of America being the enemy of the Government of the U.S. When FDR amended the 1917 "Trading With the Enemy Act" in 1933, that's exactly what was done, the "Government" declared the American People to be their enemy and began licensing them. At first only a few "privileges" had to be licensed, but obviously the number of activities "licensed" (controlled) by the "Government" has increased to the point to where now almost everything one does requires a license. I guess that means that the rules of war are relaxed more now since everything is licensed. Or would it mean the opposite? You decide.