After seeing the last few episodes of 24, in which the president, spurred on by his VP, declares martial law in Los Angeles. It is made to seem as a drastic move with ominous overtones; there has been no good to come out of increased security so far. Similarly, the installation of martial law in season 3 of Babylon 5 is seen as the product of a totalitarian government.
So, my question is, in a work of fiction, has declaring martial law ever been a Good Thing?
It works all right for President Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy’s “Executive Orders”.
It allows him to quarantine a terrorist-planted outbreak of the Ebola virus by banning city-to-city travel until the disease runs its course in its current victims.
Of course, the whole book is essentially a prolongated essay on the virtues of hardline pragmatism and the evils of attempting to abide by any kind of ideology or individual values or morals, so take from that what you will.
I imagine there have been a few dedicated “disater” movies (with the Volcano/Earthquake/Asteroid/Firecane/whatever Of The Century) where it was declared, to everyone’s benefit.
Do they ever declare Martial Law in Kaiju movies? You think after the first few sequels, you’d basically be running under military law 24/7. (“In a stunning move today, Prime Minister Kobyashi, noting that six months have passed since the last monster destroyed New Tokyo, has recinded Martial Law, stating that he hoped that this will ‘mark the beggining of a new era of peace and—’ …This just in, 'collossal beast sighted off coast, headed inland at fantastic…” Head sigh Okay, ladies and gentlemen, you know the drill. Back to the shelters, everyone…")