There's a reason I tend not to read "Victory" Hanson, one of the main cheerleaders behind our adventures in Araby. The military is a branch of the same federal government that each day inches more and more toward tyranny. The fact that a new political candidate is ex-military does not in itself commend him to me as a friend.
But to Hanson, military = goodness and light, and this seems to be his entire argument. He doesn't go into any detail about what these "warrior-citizens" (I guess even medics and supply clerks are "warriors" now) stand for, other than to say that they are "civic-minded." He even lists the number of Iraq tours one candidate has under his belt, as if that were a valid recommendation.
A lot of liberty-minded Americans are veterans (myself included), but not all veterans are liberty-minded. When the SHTF there will be quite a few veterans helping the other side.
Witchwood, Granted, not all vets are liberty, freedom and Constitutionally-minded. But they, in this era of the voulnteer (as opposed to conscripted) military have done SOMETHING to show that they are civic-minded, and place a higher value of society over self.
(Read R Heinlein's "Starship Troopers", with special attention to the background society of the story and (Ret) Col DuBois' lectures).
At least give them a try. And if they should prove to be poor performers, vote them out on the next election cycle. You never know, you may be pleasently surprised.
It is the nature of the job of politics that it does not tend to attract good people. Usually they have their own agenda and little regard for the citizens. The citizens are crying out for help; save our country, we see it circling the drain while all our politicians are divvying up the spoils. Secure our borders!! Cut taxes and make the tax burden more equitable, i.e. everyone pays. Cut federal spending, not by a few millions but about in half would be good. Improve defense! Review and eliminate federal laws which offend our constitution and our citizens. Get off our back!!! -- I don't see any of our politicians pushing for these things. They want more taxes, more spending and amensty for law breakers.
¨Hell Yes¨as a group these guys Have to be better than what we have in Offices now. Might be a couple Ass Wipes but the Odd´s are in favor of improvement. Even with the officers included in the bunch.snicker snicker
Jokes aside, the overwhelming majority of enlisted men, especially once you get up to the senior sergeant ranks, are the sort of copland/abusive authority/I AM THE LAW/I deserve everything even if I am a moron types, literally no different than their counterparts in any other public sector job.
That's also not counting "economic draftees."
Not that the officers are much better, as the only way to get above, say, Captain nowadays is to be a spineless, unthinking yes-man.
But they, in this era of the voulnteer (as opposed to conscripted) military have done SOMETHING to show that they are civic-minded, and place a higher value of society over self.
That remains to be seen. Many enlist with no other thought than paying for college or getting free housing and healthcare. A retired Officer/NCO was once a Lifer, and that is a species that does not inspire confidence to the liberty-minded.
(Read R Heinlein's "Starship Troopers", with special attention to the background society of the story and (Ret) Col DuBois' lectures).
With respect, the modern military has precious little in common with the service depicted in Heinlein's (excellent) novel.
And if they should prove to be poor performers, vote them out on the next election cycle.
My friend, how many more election cycles do you think we have?
8 comments:
There's a reason I tend not to read "Victory" Hanson, one of the main cheerleaders behind our adventures in Araby. The military is a branch of the same federal government that each day inches more and more toward tyranny. The fact that a new political candidate is ex-military does not in itself commend him to me as a friend.
But to Hanson, military = goodness and light, and this seems to be his entire argument. He doesn't go into any detail about what these "warrior-citizens" (I guess even medics and supply clerks are "warriors" now) stand for, other than to say that they are "civic-minded." He even lists the number of Iraq tours one candidate has under his belt, as if that were a valid recommendation.
A lot of liberty-minded Americans are veterans (myself included), but not all veterans are liberty-minded. When the SHTF there will be quite a few veterans helping the other side.
Witchwood,
Granted, not all vets are liberty, freedom and Constitutionally-minded. But they, in this era of the voulnteer (as opposed to conscripted) military have done SOMETHING to show that they are civic-minded, and place a higher value of society over self.
(Read R Heinlein's "Starship Troopers", with special attention to the background society of the story and (Ret) Col DuBois' lectures).
At least give them a try. And if they should prove to be poor performers, vote them out on the next election cycle. You never know, you may be pleasently surprised.
B Woodman
III-per
It is the nature of the job of politics that it does not tend to attract good people. Usually they have their own agenda and little regard for the citizens. The citizens are crying out for help; save our country, we see it circling the drain while all our politicians are divvying up the spoils. Secure our borders!! Cut taxes and make the tax burden more equitable, i.e. everyone pays. Cut federal spending, not by a few millions but about in half would be good. Improve defense! Review and eliminate federal laws which offend our constitution and our citizens. Get off our back!!! -- I don't see any of our politicians pushing for these things. They want more taxes, more spending and amensty for law breakers.
¨Hell Yes¨as a group these guys Have to be better than what we have in Offices now. Might be a couple Ass Wipes but the Odd´s are in favor of improvement.
Even with the officers included in the bunch.snicker snicker
Dennis
III
Texas
For those who might be interested:
http://www.iraqvetsforcongress.com/
Even with the officers included in the bunch.
Jokes aside, the overwhelming majority of enlisted men, especially once you get up to the senior sergeant ranks, are the sort of copland/abusive authority/I AM THE LAW/I deserve everything even if I am a moron types, literally no different than their counterparts in any other public sector job.
That's also not counting "economic draftees."
Not that the officers are much better, as the only way to get above, say, Captain nowadays is to be a spineless, unthinking yes-man.
But they, in this era of the voulnteer (as opposed to conscripted) military have done SOMETHING to show that they are civic-minded, and place a higher value of society over self.
That remains to be seen. Many enlist with no other thought than paying for college or getting free housing and healthcare. A retired Officer/NCO was once a Lifer, and that is a species that does not inspire confidence to the liberty-minded.
(Read R Heinlein's "Starship Troopers", with special attention to the background society of the story and (Ret) Col DuBois' lectures).
With respect, the modern military has precious little in common with the service depicted in Heinlein's (excellent) novel.
And if they should prove to be poor performers, vote them out on the next election cycle.
My friend, how many more election cycles do you think we have?
I'll take a chance on the worst of these folks over the best of the current political class.
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