Forget Atlas Shrugged, Hello Starship Troopers

[irwincur]

I have always thought that this would be a great idea.

In addition to this, I think that offering non-violent criminal offenders the option of the military or jail (say to replace less than 2 year terms with a 4 year committment) would also work. This way they could gain relevant skills, self resepect, and potential for a future - something most young people stuck in the criminal system have none of. After the completion of the term, if satisfied, purge their records. If they qualify, offer them the option for re-enlistment.

 

[dawp]

I prefer the more fleshed out characters and the cutting cultural satire of Stranger but to each, his own.

out of the Heinlein books that I have read, I prefer The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to both of those and it has some interesting takes on a society too.

 

[soulcougher73]

I fail to see the outrage in this. Sounds reasonable to me.

 

[RedChief]

out of the Heinlein books that I have read, I prefer The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to both of those and it has some interesting takes on a society too.

I'm in the The Moon is a Harsh Mistress category also. I've read just about everything Heinlein wrote and Stranger in a Strange Land is way down my list of favorites. For some reason Job:A Comedy of Justice is one of my favorite Heinlein books.

Oh, and while I'd be excluded from citizenship, I'm all in on the service guarantees citizenship side.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

out of the Heinlein books that I have read, I prefer The Moon is a Harsh Mistress to both of those and it has some interesting takes on a society too.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is a great book as well but I don't find it as forward thinking for the time in which it was written. Stranger in a Strange Land was ahead of its time. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress was a product/reflection of its time.

 

[OutHouse]

I have always thought that this would be a great idea.

In addition to this, I think that offering non-violent criminal offenders the option of the military or jail (say to replace less than 2 year terms with a 4 year committment) would also work. This way they could gain relevant skills, self resepect, and potential for a future - something most young people stuck in the criminal system have none of. After the completion of the term, if satisfied, purge their records. If they qualify, offer them the option for re-enlistment.

so in other words you want to turn our professional military into a bunch of criminal thugs. sorry but that was a horrible idea during Vietnam it didnt work then and it wont work today.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I have always thought that this would be a great idea.

In addition to this, I think that offering non-violent criminal offenders the option of the military or jail (say to replace less than 2 year terms with a 4 year committment) would also work. This way they could gain relevant skills, self resepect, and potential for a future - something most young people stuck in the criminal system have none of. After the completion of the term, if satisfied, purge their records. If they qualify, offer them the option for re-enlistment.

On my base, they actually have a prison with non-violent criminals. They aren't part of the military though; they just do a lot of the labor on base (mow grass and what not).

 

[Nintendesert]

I have always thought that this would be a great idea.

In addition to this, I think that offering non-violent criminal offenders the option of the military or jail (say to replace less than 2 year terms with a 4 year committment) would also work. This way they could gain relevant skills, self resepect, and potential for a future - something most young people stuck in the criminal system have none of. After the completion of the term, if satisfied, purge their records. If they qualify, offer them the option for re-enlistment.

Sorry, but the military is raising standards and has been since there's no shortage of out of work law-abiding citizens willing to join up in this shitty economy.

The military is for fighting wars not rehabilitating people.

 

[BansheeX]

A soldier must be fed, equipped, transported, and medically tended (sometimes for life) to do anything but create wealth. Combat jobs are an incredible burden for its citizens to bear. It's a drain, not a source of productivity, and it's only worth it when there is an imminent threat. Which we haven't had since WWII. Most of what we do today is police other countries, not defend this one from some imminent invasion.

It's also stupid to have a welfare military system where citizens pay poor people to fight for them. Everyone should vote for or against war knowing that they have as much a chance of being sent as the next voter. Otherwise, there isn't enough resistance to stop pointless wars. And if you're too infirm to be drafted, you can't vote at all. Problem of psychotic constant war solved.