Who Do Our Soldiers Like?

**Seamus Fermanagh** · 10-18-2007, 22:28

The troops on the front lines generally don't want their sacrifices wasted -- not quite the same thing as having been in favor of Iraq from the get go.

I assume McCain's appeal is having "been there/done that/got the scars." It is one of the things I find appealing about him. Other than on immigration, his foreign policy stances haven't been too whacky.

Obama is the preferred candidate of many who simply want the greatest degree of change. His stance and track record do suggest that he would end the Iraq conflict as soon as he felt it were possible -- which must appeal to some in the field.

Ron Paul is the darling of the hyper-constitutionalists and all of those who'd like to tell the world to go away and solve their own malfing problems. Zak, and (at least for a time) GelCube both stand as local .org military types who'd considered Paul the best choice.

**Zaknafien** · 10-18-2007, 22:43

Indeed.. I frankly don't know of anyone in my unit (an infantry battalion, mind you), including fellow officers and commanders, who honestly think us being in Iraq is a good thing, or is doing any good. But we keep quiet and follow orders, since talk like that in public is anathema to your career.

its typically the naive privates and such out of high school who are all "lets go"..they probably got too much Fox news in basic training. :)

**Lemur** · 10-20-2007, 03:56

By way of contrast, the number one recipient of campaign dollars from military contractors is Hillary Clinton. I'm sorry, did I say dollars? I meant free speech.

**Proletariat** · 10-20-2007, 05:10

Soldiers should be the only ones in the US to vote. And celebrities, but they should get two votes each.

**KukriKhan** · 10-20-2007, 13:16

Originally Posted by Proletariat

Soldiers should be the only ones in the US to vote. And celebrities, but they should get two votes each.

Only currently actives, or anybody with a 214?

**Sir Moody** · 10-21-2007, 02:07

Originally Posted by Proletariat

Soldiers should be the only ones in the US to vote. And celebrities, but they should get two votes each.

to quote one of my favourite movies

They're doing their part. Are you? Join the Mobile Infantry and save the world. Service guarantees citizenship.

**Lemur** · 10-21-2007, 02:27

Robert Heinlein wasn't clever enough to come up with the celebrity clause, as our Prole did. I say she's improving on the book.

RASCZAK: Here in History and Moral Philosophy we've explored the decline of Democracy when social scientists brought the world to the brink of chaos, and how the veterans took control and imposed a stability that has lasted for generations since... You know these facts but have I taught you anything of value? You. Why are only citizens allowed to vote?

LANNY: It's a reward... what the Federation gives you for doing Federal Service.

RASCZAK: No. Something given has no value! Haven't I taught you dimwits anything? I guess they ought to revoke my teaching credential... When you vote, you're exercising political authority. You're using force. And force, my friends, is violence, the supreme authority from which all other authority derives.

CARL: Gee, we always thought you were the supreme authority, Mr. Rasczak.

RASCZAK: In my classroom, you bet. Whether it's exerted by ten or ten billion, political authority is violence by degree. The people we call citizens have earned the right to wield it.

**Ironside** · 10-21-2007, 11:08

Originally Posted by Lemur

Robert Heinlein wasn't clever enough to come up with the celebrity clause, as our Prole did. I say she's improving on the book.

It just occured to me how American that is (or rather non-drafting).

I mean for Swedish standards it's just to go back to pre-1995 levels of draft and get a female draft (and that would probably happen if the threat levels goes up to cold war standards) and you're basically there. Only difference is that it would be a citizen duty and not something that gives you citizenship.

**Kralizec** · 10-21-2007, 12:27

Originally Posted by Proletariat

Soldiers should be the only ones in the US to vote. And celebrities, but they should get two votes each.

A tough one...define "celebrity".

**Husar** · 10-21-2007, 12:40

Originally Posted by Kralizec

A tough one...define "celebrity".

Persons of public interest. If you've never been in a newspaper you don't qualify because nobody really cares about you, that's how easy it is.

**CrossLOPER** · 10-21-2007, 14:53

Originally Posted by Husar

Persons of public interest. If you've never been in a newspaper you don't qualify because nobody really cares about you, that's how easy it is.

Serial killers count according to Husar and Prole.

**Kralizec** · 10-21-2007, 16:12

Originally Posted by Husar

Persons of public interest. If you've never been in a newspaper you don't qualify because nobody really cares about you, that's how easy it is.

On the other hands, there are criminals like Crossloper already said, and there are people that get news coverage all the time but for reasons nobody can tell. I can't support a system that gives voting rights to people like Paris Hilton.