Comments on: All-volunteer military the product of a two-tier American society

By: rightsaidfred

rightsaidfred — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:37:34 +0000

Those who two or three generations ago would’ve found well-paying jobs, with good job security, in factories, mills, mines and on farms and ranches now face a future of working in low-paying retail and service-industry jobs. But only between layoffs.

For this we can thank Ted Kennedy et al who pushed for the massive illegal immigration that put a discount into lower level blue collar work. Take away illegal immigration and wages for the lower two quintiles of wage earners keep pace since 1970.

This is another example of how the Left is unable to face the costs of illegal immigration. Liberal elites have made a deal with the devil: allow illegal immigration for the political gain at the expense of low level wages.

a brave, determined few do the fighting and dying for the rest of us.

It has always been such, and the elites have done their share. I think you are buying into a fallacy here, S.W. Despite popular sentiment, every study I’ve seen on this issue shows that the military has largely drawn on a cross section of society. I recall during the Vietnam War Henry Cabot Lodge once said something to the effect of: “People claim the elites are avoiding the war. If this is true, how come I have to write so many letters of condolence to my friends?”

By: Tom Harper

Tom Harper — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:54:10 +0000

I’m of two minds about bringing back the draft. I was in the Navy during the Vietnam war. Without the draft I probably wouldn’t have enlisted. I hated being in the military, but it was a broadening experience that changed my life and worldview.

I think some kind of universal service should be mandatory — not necessarily joining the military, but some kind of service. I think it would bring millions of people out of their sheltered lives (like it did me), and it would be hated by College Republican types who might have to interrupt their quest for an MBA.

By: S.W. Anderson

S.W. Anderson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:03:29 +0000

Exactly right, JR.

Jeff, I know the precedent goes back to Revolutionary War. Almost as disturbing, through the Civil War, at least, many officers bought their commissions and proceeded to lead troops, whether or not they had any training or aptitude.

Holte, I knew there were quite a few, but had no idea just how many. That's remarkable. Thanks for the link.

Demeur, corporations always make big profits off of our wars. The only question is how big.

By: Demeur

Demeur — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:13:40 +0000

You missed the whole republican game plan here guys. That was to outsource all future wars there by making a profit for their corporations. You can’t do that if all the bucks go to the pentagon and the troops.

By: holte ender

holte ender — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:32:29 +0000

Non-citizens in the military HERE.

By: holte ender

holte ender — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:13:37 +0000

The colonists that fought in the War of Independence were very much a minority.

In the current military what amazes me is number of non-citizens, last I read it was 50,000 in all branches, they are being promised fast-track citizenships, ceremonies are being held on board warships coming home, and on bases. The Romans did a similar thing.

By: Jeff Shaumeyer

Jeff Shaumeyer — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:23:24 +0000

I think you’ll find that the stratification of society is nothing new. Military service has been deferrable–by those who can pay someone to take their place–for most of the history of warfare. The practice came to America with the founding fathers, and has persisted, albeit in different forms. As a nod to the ideal of equality and democracy rich families now no longer directly pay poor people to take their places; instead, they pay for the legislation to take care of it. The sense of entitlement that goes with being “from a better class of family” certainly hasn’t receded since the days when Bush, Cheney, and their ilk all arranged for avoidance of icky military service.

By: JollyRoger

JollyRoger — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:56:38 +0000

The current situation amounts to a de facto draft of kids from less fortunate circumstances, and it’s totally wrong.
I’d love to see a draft reinstated. Millions of war loving chickenhawk Rushpubliscums would become peaceniks overnight.