Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
In so far as the military bankrupting the country. No, the social welfare/entitlement programs in this country is what is bringing it to a downfall. You can end all military spending in the world and still not touch social security/medicare.
Can you give us some raw numbers, from an unbiased source, that prove that social security/welfare costs us more than military operations?
Today a veteran gets little to no respect in the USA. Republicans love war and our military men and women in uniform until the was is over. Then those same people become financial liabilities. Veterans returning to civilian life have a difficult time finding work. The unemployment rate for veterans is 30%. The homeless rate of our vets is 50%. This is what America thinks of the men and women who fight and die for their country. It is an absolute disgrace. I would not blame any person for not wanting to serve the USA anymore.
Also consider the heros at ground zero on 9/11 and afterwards who were refused insurance payments and medical treatment. Look at the republican attack on seniors many who served their country in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. This is Americas greatest shame.
Really? I've met a lot of vets through the shared experience of disability and it seemed to me that a lot of people really respected them. When I hung out with vets, people would come up to them and thank them for their service. Sometimes people would mistake me for a vet (no idea how, doubt I meet the minimum weight requirement) and would consequently shower me with (undue) respect (undue because I'm not a vet).
I get that. Not a problem. Hell, I'm basically a lib-tard and I've often thought it might not be a bad thing for everyone to do some sort of national compulsory service of some kind. People can learn some good things from military training, and it doesn't mean that everyone who serves is some sort of nationalistic blowhard, either. I know plenty of people who are left of center and also served in the US military. My pops was one of them. Served two branches - USAF and US Army - and was an FDR New Dealer through and through. He hated Reagan with a passion that even now makes me uncomfortable. Then again, he did his time in a combat zone. Reagan never did. Neither did GWB or Dick Cheney.
I get that. This is why I don't flip out when people show YouTube videos of the soldiers blowing something up. They're just trying to make it back to the base camp alive, with their comrades. They don't kill for shyts and giggles. I do, however, share the OP's view about the right wing government sending troops off to some foreign war for illegitimate reasons. But I'll go one step further. I don't blame the politicians all that much....I blame the American voter. We're our own worst enemy.
I don't think we really vote anyone in these days. I feel like the polls are a all a setup but whatever candidate they want in is who gets in.
That said, OP, I think you make an excellent point. And that is one of the reasons I would never serve in the military as well. Even with a president I voted into office, I think there is too much other stuff going on that we don't know about in the administration. The president really seems like a pawn who just sits there and talks the talk while the administration around him decides what they want to do next. I think both Bush and Obama went in thinking they would have more power than they do and now they realize they are just puppets while the government around them controls their puppet strings.
Interesting how the Iraq War is the only example you cited. Could it be that your distaste for the military is actually more of a disguise for your hatred of George W. Bush and the GOP?
I understand where you're coming from, but I have a hunch that you have not read Decision Points by G.W. Bush. Most reviews of the book, even from ardent liberals, is that his prosecution of the Iraq War was not as simple or as disasterous as the media would have you believe. Don't believe me? Then do some research. You'd be amazed at the liberal response. It's not what you think it is.
For that reason, I can't help but to believe that your opinion is more unfounded angst towards GWB and Republicans, instead of the care and sympathy that you purport to have for the military "pawns."
China and Japan have absolutely no troops in the Middle East. Yet they are able to secure oil.
We occupy entire countries in the Middle East, yet oil has become more expensive since the occupation.
Also, please don't be naive. Our involvement and constant hostility towards the Arabs in the Middle East has a lot more to do with pandering to Israel than oil. China simply trades and befriends everybody in that region and they have access to markets and oil and no one hates them. We keep making enemies with people who actually admire us because we like to stick our nose into other peoples' businesses and we have a special interest group in our government that keeps making us fight another country's wars!
What is that oil traded in? US dollars. What does every country hold in reserve to purchase that black gold? US dollars. No it's our war. It's our war in Iraq, Libya and Afghan to ensure oil is traded in the dollar. All the howls about stealing their oil and empire building that some bellow are ludicrous. Any US citizens popped up in culdesacs over there? Have we taken over their oil? NO we just make sure its traded in dollars. You think the economy is bad now...........
When and if you have children, you may discover that you are not able to control the career choices or job paths which they choose. Many human beings, but not all, have a stubbornly strong sense of independence and will reject the mandates of their parents, especially ideologically driven ones.
When I told my family I was joining the Army told me I wasn't allowed to. LOL I was 21 at the time. Yeah...like they could have stopped me!
I would never serve in the military. Especially not in the US military.
If I had children, I would never allow them to serve in the military either.
I have nothing but the greatest respect for soldiers and veterans. However, I have nothing but contempt and hatred for our politicians and government.
How many good soldiers have given their lives in service of bad leaders? Countless. I would say the majority of soldiers in human history.
There is only one exception I would make. If the American homeland was truly being invaded by a foreign power, then I would not hesitate to take up arms and die for my country. But as long as the same cynical, manipulative scumbag politicians run this country, I would never want to serve in the military and be used as a pawn for their political games.
Take for instance the Iraq War. A completely fabricated war of aggression that was sold to the public by manipulative and truly evil (and I do believe they are evil) chickenhawk armchair generals such as Rumsfled, Cheney, Wolfowitz and that whole cabal under the nose of a intellectually barren and inferior president who wouldn't even know better. Good soldiers, real people with family back home, people who just wanted something better in their lives, wanted to serve their country, GAVE THEIR LIVES in the service of a political game for these evil manipulative individuals and their family will never be able to heal the void of their lives because their loved ones were used as a chesspiece in a political game.
What I hate most is when I express my views against our government's incessant militarism and gangsterism, that soldiers would smugly reply with "Well, we'll keep fighting so you'll have your freedom to state your views." 90% of the wars we are involved in have absolutely NOTHING to do with protecting our freedom, they are political games and nothing more. People in Canada, in Switzerland, in Sweden have the same or more freedoms that we have and they aren't constantly asked to give up their lives in cynical wars.
Being a good soldier doesn't make a stupid war a wise one.
Believing that you are fighting for our freedoms, doesn't change the fact that you are being used by cynical and selfish politicians for their own ends.
Wake up everyone. Our militarism is destroying this country and pushing us into bankruptcy.
But it is about far more than our country. Throughout history, good soldiers have always been used by selfish leaders for their own ends. Today is no different than two thousand years ago, except today's soldiers may have better benefits. But human nature never changes.
I would suggest you look at the personal story of Drew Carey if you would like some examples of what the military can do FOR you. I'd rather have my son join and die in some pointless war than squeek out a 50 year lifespan doing drugs in my basement and being a waste of a life.
I don't disagree with some of your assessments, I do think it's sad that you seem to think this is some sort of republican only thing. Frankly, I hate to say it but you sound like one of the anti-war crowd that packed up after the 2008 election because it was no longer a big party and no one wants to be unpopular like the pariah Cindy Sheehan.
Today a veteran gets little to no respect in the USA. Republicans love war and our military men and women in uniform until the was is over. Then those same people become financial liabilities. Veterans returning to civilian life have a difficult time finding work. The unemployment rate for veterans is 30%. The homeless rate of our vets is 50%. This is what America thinks of the men and women who fight and die for their country. It is an absolute disgrace. I would not blame any person for not wanting to serve the USA anymore.
Also consider the heros at ground zero on 9/11 and afterwards who were refused insurance payments and medical treatment. Look at the republican attack on seniors many who served their country in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. This is Americas greatest shame.
I know that. I have dealt with it...My fiance also has dealt with it.
After almost 10 years in the service (in the Aviation Field) he works for a little over minimum wage. I am lucky I found a semi-decent job (with no paid time off, no health insurance, no nothing) but we have to put food on the table. We cannot pick and choose.
Nevermind I went from being an Intelligence Analyst with a Top Secret clearance to working as a Sales Associate at JC Penney's when I got out in 09 because I could not find anything else and I had bills to pay.
I am not asking to be treated like a queen but a little bit of respect sometimes goes a long way. All I hear is "you brought that upon yourself because you made the CHOICE to join". Yes, I made the choice to join. I quit a job that paid 2 times more than what I made in the Army just so I could serve my country. That was all I wanted to do. Period. I didn't do it for anything else than wanting to wear that uniform and fight for my country if needed....yet VETS get sh*t on by SOME people who have never served. It makes me blood boil sometimes. Have a little respect at least!
A lot of employers don't seem to like hiring vets and it is a pity. If you are qualified, you should be able to compete with other candidates without any issues. My fiance spent a long time looking for a job when he got out. Some places wouldn't even call him back for an interview because it was too difficult for them to check for references since he had only held one job in his life (Army)...even though he was qualified for the job and had a lot of experience.
I joined the military because I was poor as heck. I don't even think there's one person in my close family that makes over 50k a year.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
