But…But…But…ANYONE in a MAGA hat, or anyone who knows someone in a MAGA hat, or anyone who knows someone who KNOWS someone in a MAGA hat is supposed to be exempt from serving…just like the Giant Orange Tweeting Yam himself!! It’s just them durn lib’ruls and po’ folks that are supposed to go and DIE for no good reason!
At least it’s a volunteer army these days. I am more worried the moron President will get us into something really bad. I think he is mentally unstable enough to do something really stupid in a moment of anger.
If we had a true citizen army draft again, involvement in foreign wars would plummet. That’s why they stopped the draft, the Vietnam war was unpalatable to the public at large when anyone’s child could get sent off to die. Deferments (such as for being in college or having “bone spurs”) were available, of course, which wasn’t exactly fair. But towards the end of the Vietnam war, the draft lottery was initiated, and nobody with a student deferment was safe, ushering in the all volunteer military so politicians could prosecute potentially unpopular military adventures all over the world.
Now, the military is simply a potentially lethal job. It trains people and pays them to Kill.
It should also be noted the military’s “no discrimination” policy has lifted many out of poverty, which has benefited minorities tremendously—but this outcome has come at a high price. Having an all-voluntary military has the downside that the nasty violence in our current stupid wars is inflicted disproportionately on those who serve, while the vast majority of the population goes on about its business hardly paying attention to the horrors of those wars.
It was a conscious decision by our leaders in the sixties to wage a “guns and butter” war so that the general populace would not be unduly ‘inconvenienced by or flexing of our military might overseas – it was decided that we were a mighty enough country that we could wage ’war’ without disturbing the voters at home, culminating in a military comprised of only those ‘willing to fight and die’ for our country! So what we have is the era of “No Cost” war – ‘our’ children aren’t in danger of dying if they don’t want to, our taxes remain low since the cost of war is deferred to a later date and goods and services are maintained since there is no rationing for ‘the war effort’! We’re loving in a “Fool’s Paradise” but life is good, for the moment and while some of us realize the Piper must be ultimately be paid, for now, the music is pleasant and the Dance is fun – to hell with tomorrow- if you just keep drinking, there is no hangover!
After Daddy Bush pulled strings to get Dubya into the National Guard during Vietnam, Dubya ruined the National Guard by sending them into Iraq and Afghanistan. So much for “One weekend a month, two weeks a year”; many families struggled a great deal because the NG member expected to be at home most of the year. The NG should have been in the US to handle things like Katrina and other floods and disasters.
.Rumsfeld disgusted me with his “go to war with the army you have” when we did NOT need to go to war at all.
Masterskrain Premium Member over 6 years ago
But…But…But…ANYONE in a MAGA hat, or anyone who knows someone in a MAGA hat, or anyone who knows someone who KNOWS someone in a MAGA hat is supposed to be exempt from serving…just like the Giant Orange Tweeting Yam himself!! It’s just them durn lib’ruls and po’ folks that are supposed to go and DIE for no good reason!
Theodore E. Lind Premium Member over 6 years ago
At least it’s a volunteer army these days. I am more worried the moron President will get us into something really bad. I think he is mentally unstable enough to do something really stupid in a moment of anger.
phredturner over 6 years ago
This country needs mandatory two year public service…military or some other service
magicwalnut Premium Member over 6 years ago
I won’t feel safe until he has an escort of two large men in white coats….
twclix over 6 years ago
If we had a true citizen army draft again, involvement in foreign wars would plummet. That’s why they stopped the draft, the Vietnam war was unpalatable to the public at large when anyone’s child could get sent off to die. Deferments (such as for being in college or having “bone spurs”) were available, of course, which wasn’t exactly fair. But towards the end of the Vietnam war, the draft lottery was initiated, and nobody with a student deferment was safe, ushering in the all volunteer military so politicians could prosecute potentially unpopular military adventures all over the world.
Now, the military is simply a potentially lethal job. It trains people and pays them to Kill.
It should also be noted the military’s “no discrimination” policy has lifted many out of poverty, which has benefited minorities tremendously—but this outcome has come at a high price. Having an all-voluntary military has the downside that the nasty violence in our current stupid wars is inflicted disproportionately on those who serve, while the vast majority of the population goes on about its business hardly paying attention to the horrors of those wars.
montessoriteacher over 6 years ago
Many got out of the draft, such as trump. Vietnam was a class war.
Radish the wordsmith over 6 years ago
That’s why we need to sell our murderous stupid pointless war to a private contractor with friends in the White House like Blackwater.
Mr. Blawt over 6 years ago
I’m sure Trump’s war will almost affect the rich people he is making America great for.
Sadandconfused9 over 6 years ago
It’ll bankrupt the country just like it bankrupted Russia!
wellis1947 Premium Member over 6 years ago
It was a conscious decision by our leaders in the sixties to wage a “guns and butter” war so that the general populace would not be unduly ‘inconvenienced by or flexing of our military might overseas – it was decided that we were a mighty enough country that we could wage ’war’ without disturbing the voters at home, culminating in a military comprised of only those ‘willing to fight and die’ for our country! So what we have is the era of “No Cost” war – ‘our’ children aren’t in danger of dying if they don’t want to, our taxes remain low since the cost of war is deferred to a later date and goods and services are maintained since there is no rationing for ‘the war effort’! We’re loving in a “Fool’s Paradise” but life is good, for the moment and while some of us realize the Piper must be ultimately be paid, for now, the music is pleasant and the Dance is fun – to hell with tomorrow- if you just keep drinking, there is no hangover!
Nantucket Premium Member over 6 years ago
After Daddy Bush pulled strings to get Dubya into the National Guard during Vietnam, Dubya ruined the National Guard by sending them into Iraq and Afghanistan. So much for “One weekend a month, two weeks a year”; many families struggled a great deal because the NG member expected to be at home most of the year. The NG should have been in the US to handle things like Katrina and other floods and disasters.
.Rumsfeld disgusted me with his “go to war with the army you have” when we did NOT need to go to war at all.