Mandatory Military Service

[Emos]

I believe that our military should remain an all-volunteer force....after all I want the soldiers who are protecting our country to do so of their own FREE WILL. That said, I think that most people in this country would benefit from military service...I know that I did!

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Our overabundance of government regulation and red tape from the environmental lunatics in government, and lack of any clear energy strategy is why we had to fight the gulf war, and why we are still over there today doing live fire excercises in the kuwaiti dessert that killed 5 us servicemen.

Thank you, someone has finally said it! For fvck sake, old GBush and the new one will pump money and military into the Middle East Gulf because of the US intersts. Not to mention US oil companies interests. Nuclear warheads, MY ASS!!!

 

[datalink7]

Drilling "every nook and crany" for oil in the US won't assurge the problem of oil dependence. We need to develope a sustainable source of energy (such as solar and wind power). Oil is a finite resource, and drilling more will just delay the inevitable day when we run out. People need to look more into the future instead of being so short sighted.

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

datalink7,

Yeah, we all know the problem and we continue to justify building the Military through funding and bombing the fvck out of Middle East countries over the price and supply of Oil!! And we have a President who will stop at nothing to make sure this continues, just like Daddy!!

 

[Hmagnet]

I have spent my time on the line defending this country for worthless idiots, but the truth of the matter is I wasn't concerned with them. What I was concerned about was all those people before me that gave their life so I could have what I have now. It may sound a little cheesy but we have a lot, and if you dont believe that move your sorry ass to Mexico. Sometimes people forget what those guys in green do day in a day out, and just because you pay taxes doesn't mean I am going to protect your sorry ass.

 

Hell no.
I would skip country if I got chosen.

 

[Hamburgerpimp]

Hmagnet,

What you may or may not know is the Military is the biggest money maker in the U.S. Bigger than even Health Care, Oil Industry, Tobacco, and yes the Computer Industry. Nearly a quarter of the Federal Taxes I pay go to the U.S. Military. You bet your ass they are trying to convince me I need to be protected. They instill fear in the U.S people so we are vulnerable. Thus, we support the Military. In turn, you and everyone after you protect even the idiots here in the U.S.

 

[Hmagnet]

Your smoken crack hamburger. Less than 10% of your so called federal taxes got to the millitary. Ohh and by the way those guys in green pay taxes too.

 

[jumblies]

Being a soldier is a step on the path to becoming a citizen. Who can name for me one major conflict that has not been resolved with force?

Razak

 

[konichiwa]

<< Who can name for me one major conflict that has not been resolved with force? >>

Cold War/Cuban Missle Crisis.

 

[Hmagnet]

<< Cold War/Cuban Missle Crisis. >>



I think not... What about the bay of pigs.

 

[Aceman]

Mister T, I joined into this waaaay too late but........



<< As a general rule of thumb, I beleive if you have a college degree and upon graduation you become an active POSITIVE member of society, you should have a military exemption. Those who wish to do nothing with their lives, drop out of school, collect welfare, etc., should be required to partake in military service. It would be the only way to help them become a POSITIVE influence on society. >>



and

&quot;People with 4-year degrees are

1. Likely to have higher paying jobs than high school grads or dropouts.
2. Likely to commit fewer crimes than high school grads or dropouts.
3. NOT as likely to use Social Services (like Welfare, subsidized housing, food stamps) than high school grads or dropouts.
4. Likely to have more &quot;direction&quot; in life.&quot;


Take your prejudicial uninformed a$$ elsewhere. I am certainly glad that I make more money than a majority of high school class, even 15 years later. I know of a couple of my college educated friends that have committed more white collar crime than I care to believe. And how many of those college grads have taken unemployment because they got canned from a job where they were unproductive because they thought that college degree was enough to provide them security in their job? I also have seen many of my college friend just hang out in college not knowing what to do in life. While they were doing that, My a$$ was sitting in a sandbox making sure you frikken gas prices were low enough so that you could fill up Daddy's BMW and still have enough left over to buy some blow for the weekend.

And by the way I'll just sign this,

Sergeant First Class, Dropped out of college after 3yrs of realizing it was a waste of my money, never on a welfare, had direction in my life since I was 18, and making more money than most of my high school classmates, and let's not forget to tell you that I come from an upper middle class family where my father, the college dropout, made more than most in my hometown Aceman

P.S. Oh and I fully support a mandatory 2yr enlistment in the Army. It'll allow me to instill some humility in jackasses like Mister T.

 

[Mister T]

Aceman,

. It'll allow me to instill some humility in jackasses like Mister T

How exactly do you go about instilling humility into people?

 

[Aceman]

A month in Boot Camp and you would understand.

But I forgot, you apparrently are a college grad and are much to good to learn things like that.

And Mister T., Before I went into Active Duty, I made more as a college dropout Hotel Manager at 20yrs old than my mother ever did with a 4yr degree and work on a masters. I now make more than both my parents do combined.

 

[enginjon]

I think that mandatory service definetely has some merit. I am a 19 year old american, and am registered for selective service. I have chosen to go to college and then into the work force rather than join the military. I do feel though that there are many great skills and experiences I could have learned form the military. It really bugs me when people make fun of the military and say how they will never fight for the country. Obviously I don't want to go out in the front lines and run into a slaughter, but it just seems that there is no longer a sense of honor. This country was started by our military. If everyone form then were the honorless wimps that I know today, we'd be running around drinking bloody tea and giving our money to the monarchy. There really is much to be admired from the people that do choose to serve in the military. Again it bugs me when people point the finger and say, send the rednecks in (I am in no way a redneck ) but how cowardly are you to send someone in your place? Loust draft dodgers, should ship em outta the country, if they don't want to protect it, then get the hell out.

 

[glen]

Lets do it, men and women alike. After highschool and before college.

 

[Kosugi]

Thank you Red.


I try to explain that forcing people into service during peace time is unpatriotic, and very well un-american, but it goes right over most of these peoples heads. You, on the other hand, can state it directly and succinctly in your own colorful way, and essentially bring closure to the debate, a closure I failed in bringing.

To be honest, when you people sign up for selective service, you are in effect telling your nation &quot;If you need me, I'll be there.&quot; That is enough to prove patriotism.

For those of you who are so judgemental -- like Bober -- ask yourself why you went in the service... Did you go in because you were a Patriotic Red-Blooded American? Or Because you felt you need direction in life, and the military offered you direction and an income (see my previous post on large peace time armies being a form of federal welfare).

Some people are ready to join the working world and be productive, or go on to higher education. Some people need assistance before entering society.

But that path isn't for everybody, nor was it ever intended to be for everybody. Trying to pass judgement on others just because they didn't wear the uniform is absurd, especially since those that didn't serve did pay your salary.

As it is, we all serve our country, in our own way. This is how it was intended.

 

[iamwiz82]

I dont think i would last in boot camp, cuz i would bitch right back at the drill instructor. I dont care what he thinks. If he kills me, so be it, my family will get a hefty settlement and that guy will be black marked for the rest of his life.

I dont like authority. I have had more than one encounter with cops and have had to get into screaming matches. And i always win.

 

[warcleric]

iamwiz: so, in other words, you are just another Gen Y waste case that has no respect for anyone.

 

[Netopia]

<< I dont think i would last in boot camp, cuz i would bitch right back at the drill instructor. I dont care what he thinks. If he kills me, so be it, my family will get a hefty settlement and that guy will be black marked for the rest of his life. >>



LOL... you have no idea what you are talking about. I'm quite serious when I say that I know plenty of people who could make you pee your pants and cry like a little girly man without ever laying a finger on you. You won't believe that, of course... because you are so big and tough that you are afraid to serve... but you have no way of knowing how you would react in a situation you have never been in.

Aceman... right on!

Joe

 

[Aceman]

<< That said, the Volunteers are doing a great job and to all of you who volunteered, were are proud of you and we appreciate it... that is until you try to throw it in our faces and then we say BS. Most joined to get direction in their life, not out of sense of duty to this Country. While some of you might have joined out of duty, there are more of those who might say they did but it's all Horse Pucky >>



Red, I said it many times before on this board. I didn't go on active duty for patriotic reasons or for direction. I was doing just fine as a Night Manager and Front Desk Manager for a Hotel. I went active duty for a better income and benefits AND I enjoyed being a soldier.




<< For those of you who are so judgemental -- like Bober -- ask yourself why you went in the service... Did you go in because you were a Patriotic Red-Blooded American? Or Because you felt you need direction in life, and the military offered you direction and an income (see my previous post on large peace time armies being a form of federal welfare). >>



I think I just answered that above. Why do you civilians seem to have this judgemental view that anyone in the military needed direction in life and an income and are not ready for society???? I joined for a better income and it was a livelihood I enjoy. As for your view point that the military is a form of a welfare system. It is. So are any jobs connected to the government. A teacher, a school cook, a postal worker, a state employee, a Congressman are all being paid through a &quot;welfare system&quot;.
I know a plenty of corporations and businesses that view hiring a retired serviceman as a good practice. We are more dedicated and respectful than a snotnosed fresh college graduate. We understand and accept working late to get a job done. We are more diciplined. Now it hasn't been said here, but I sense most of you feel that most servicemembers are to stupid to function in society. Sit down and talk with a serviceman and you'll realize we aren't stupid at all. Judge after to collect the facts. Never prejudge.

 

[Mister T]

<<I went active duty for a better income and benefits AND I enjoyed being a soldier.>>

Aceman, Exactly my point. If you are a grammar school drop out and make it big, then good for you. However, it has been shown time and time again that the less formal schooling one has, the less he will make each year in a job. You went into the military because it presented you with a better way of life. Likewise, I think if it was mandatory for people that are living at a standard of living lower than the military can provide, they should do it as well.

BTW, I do not contend that education always equals money. All my relatives are NOT college educated. They are immigrants from Greece. However, if there is one thing I have learned it is that it is much easier for a white-collared worker to make a dollar than it is for a blue-collared one.

As for myself, I would be in the military if we were in a state of war. Joining the military would effectively be stupid since whatever the military could offer me would be LAUGHABLE compared to job offers I have recieved in the past 3 months.

 

[Crashedout]

Isn't one of the greatest features of this coutry is our ability to do what ever we want? Don't we have the some of the world's best dotors, engineers, scientists along with some of the best artists, writers and actors? If we force a specific way of thinking on people wouldn't we loose these advantages? Also would not people forced against their will eventually rebel? What about those who run the miltiary? Cannot Power corrupt?

I was not in the military so I beleive it was not nesessary for me, I can see how it has helped a lot of others. It was my choice. No one forced me one way or the other. Our greatest asset in this country is our variety, forcing people to do things could take that away. Just my $.02

PS. THose of you who think this country is fvcked up, go visit some other coutries....there are a lot of thing you are taking for granted.

 

[iamwiz82]

maybe i am Warcleric, but at least i can say it, not like most of these people. I dont care about alot of people, nor do i care about the planet, crazy, eh?

Net, i would not join because i am not stupid enough. Funny thing is, i dont care what people think of me. I never have. If you knew, you would know i have very little compassion, and i am only concerned with those i care about. I will not serve to protect some european, as i said before. I would only fight in a war if i was protecting my home.

GIs are brainwashed automotons, who are taught that everything they are told must be done. And judging by the amount of military accidents lately, i would say those &quot;leaders&quot; are doing a pretty bad job.

 

[Kosugi]

Aceman,

A teacher, a school cook, a postal worker, a state employee, a Congressman are all being paid through a &quot;welfare system&quot;.
I know a plenty of corporations and businesses that view hiring a retired serviceman as a good practice.

First, a teacher or cook or postal worker, et al, gives something back to society every day they work. They have a function. The money paid them is returned by the work they do and the role they play in society. A soldier's return on investment (ROI) comes at time of war. At time of peace, a large military is a burden on society. Period.

I tried to point out that in earlier posts, but apparently some of you are too dense. This nation, founded on high principles as outlined by the Constitution, does not, nor will not force its citizens into military service in times of peace. This is after all, a land of the &quot;Free&quot;. For those of you who served in the military, that is all well and good, and your country does appreciate it. But don't get all high and mighty on us. Your contribution to this society probably isn't any more important than that of a teacher, or postal worker, or Congressman, et al. Many would argue its less important. And as far as being more &quot;patriotic&quot; than others, that is hogwash. The vast majority of people would rush to the defense of the nation if it was threatened, but in the meantime, they have other things to do, which is as important, if not more, than spending time in the military sucking up federal funds, while producing nothing.

] We are more dedicated and respectful than a snotnosed fresh college graduate.

You have demonstrated your level of respect with that statement. &quot;Snotnosed&quot;... I wonder if you actually believe that...

Oh, and I do hire people. Military service means little to nothing to me, or to my employer. We are instructed *not* to give preferential treatment to anyone applying for any reasons. We let their resume's and background checks do the talking. Personally, In my 30 years with the company, the majority of long time servicemen have a bit of a screw loose. With NCO's being among the loopiest...