The Wealthy, The Cowards

[JMHX]

As recently as 1956, 400 members of Princeton's graduating class went on to serve in the military. In 2004, nine graduates did so. Harvard, Yale, Brown and other elite universities don't even allow Reserve Officer Training Courses on their campuses.

In the years after World War II, virtually every member of Congress was a veteran of military service. By 1971, three-quarters of the members had worn the uniform. Today, only a third of the 535 members of the Senate and the House of Representatives have served.

Source

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Wealth allows such an easy escape from duty. It will always be the poor who defend a system that enriches those who don't participate and puts those who do in harm's way.

[poxpower]

ooooooooor....

WORLD WAR TWO?
??

And besides, how is it smart to send your intellectual elite on the battlefield? You don't put the president and the generals on the front line.

[bigbluefire4567]

it sucks

[fahrenheit]

Most of them persued their dreams instead of going into the, its not as easy as it was back then.

[JMHX]

At 6/22/06 04:13 PM, -poxpower- wrote:
And besides, how is it smart to send your intellectual elite on the battlefield? You don't put the president and the generals on the front line.

Just because they can afford Ivy doesn't make them "elite" anything, outside of "elite" gold checking account from VISA.

[Athlas]

Serving in the military is a job as well.

What do you think it was that saved America from the great depression?
WWII created a whole lot of jobs, but yes, mainly for poor people.

Besides, in Medievil times, generals fought on the battlefield alongside the troops. Nowadays, they just cower in bunkers (or in the White house...).

The military is a way of getting a scholarship, so I guess it's one of the main reasons rich people don't feel the need to serve.

[poxpower]

At 6/22/06 04:17 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote:

Just because they can afford Ivy doesn't make them "elite" anything, outside of "elite" gold checking account from VISA.

Well its a pretty big gamble that all of them and their generational tree became rich by being simply average citizens.
"A fool and his money are soon parted"

So what if some of them are assholes or not that smart? And last I checked, there isn't a draft going on, why the fuck would they join the army? Why don't you go join the army??

p.s. VIETNAM

[Osire]

Your views I will not argue with. However I will gladly kill your statistics. Keep in mind that there are continued patterns of dislike in military (while back then it was an honor). A few reasons are social but the biggest in my opinion is because there is no concensus on the threat. Not everyone agrees that Muslims are out enemies. However back then the majority of poeple did feel a fear and hatred towards communists and general descenters.

[JMHX]

At 6/22/06 04:33 PM, Osire wrote: Your views I will not argue with. However I will gladly kill your statistics. Keep in mind that there are continued patterns of dislike in military (while back then it was an honor).

I'm searcing for the site right now, but according to several polls over the past few years, the majority of Americans trust and support the soldiers and military over the President, Congress and Courts.

[JMHX]

http://www.strategyp..les/200567155435.asp

[Buffalow]

They don't want to be in the army, it is a job. It's like me saying "I don't want to work in Burger King, I'll go work at JCPenny's instead". It's just another job. Plus, I come from a middle class family and I am very intrested in joining the Military. It's not always the poor.

[Osire]

True let me rephrase that, they dont trust the politics. The military is fine, but its the politics thats attached to them that makes the war unjustified.

Im just viewing this because the US military is and has been dominate in conflicts. It only looses because of diplomatic reasons. Take a look at the casualties in Vietnam in comparison and you will see that froma military perspective we had them. Same with Iraq. However when you add politics and social disagreement with the war itself you get problems.

[JMHX]

The Ivies and people in general, as they get more affluent, feel they have the right to not be bothered by these kinds of nuisances. I've always been of the position that the college deferments were stupid ideas.

The 1% keeps supporting the 99%.

[night-watch-man18]

There's a part in the article which makes me think it's not just the wealthy who are "cowards":

"It's enough of a shame that less than 1 percent of the 300 million Americans are charged with protecting and defending all the rest of us."

So, yes, since 1971, the stats for rich militants has dropped, but I'm sure the same can be said about those who are not wealthy. It seems that overall, the military isn't favorable... surprise surprise.

[fli]

The armed forces provides opportunity for the poor to escape poverty. That's why there's more poor high school or below folks instead of richer upperclass university graduates.

[zendahl]

The college gads join as officers (a BA is required for officer candidacy). People who don't hold a BA, BS or whatever have to join as enlisted. Most grads who join do so to cover the gap of getting started in your field. If you have a degree in Medicine you can join the military as a medic/corpsmen ofiicer to get practical experience. Then when your done you have a degree and experience, a job should be easy to find. Occationaly they get there and find that they like that life and stay in, even though they most likely make less money.

I think we elect career polititions now instead of career soldiers is a shift in the way we think. In the old days strength was seen as being very important. You weren't a man unless you had a strong back and dirt under your nails. So we elected career sodiers. Now we are more confident with educated men. You aren't anything with out an education. So we elect career polititions.

[Guitarmy]

Yeah instead of people who care about america people who enjoy money.

[AngryToaster]

Another reason why the wealthy suck hardcore.

Fuck the rich.

[LegendaryLukus]

At 6/22/06 04:05 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: Wealth allows such an easy escape from duty. It will always be the poor who defend a system that enriches those who don't participate and puts those who do in harm's way.

You seem to suggest that you HAVE to serve in the military to be repsected and privileged. Why?

[Buffalow]

At 6/22/06 04:55 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: The Ivies and people in general, as they get more affluent, feel they have the right to not be bothered by these kinds of nuisances. I've always been of the position that the college deferments were stupid ideas.

The 1% keeps supporting the 99%.

Don't forget that 1/100 = 3million/300million.

It doesn't take more then 2 million to support a major superpower in today's world.

[JMHX]

At 6/22/06 08:34 PM, Dinodoode wrote:

At 6/22/06 04:55 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote:

It doesn't take more then 2 million to support a major superpower in today's world.

I love your signature picture.

[Memorize]

The draft?

Anyway, if the poor were rich, wouldn't they not want to join the military so in turn would they not be cowards?

[JMHX]

At 6/23/06 01:28 AM, AccessCode wrote: The draft?

Anyway, if the poor were rich, wouldn't they not want to join the military so in turn would they not be cowards?

And if pigs could fly we'd have one more reason to own shotguns. I can play hypothetical, too.

[Memorize]

At 6/23/06 01:41 AM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote:

And if pigs could fly we'd have one more reason to own shotguns. I can play hypothetical, too.

Can't we all.

[JakeHero]

At 6/22/06 04:05 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: Harvard, Yale, Brown and other elite universities don't even allow Reserve Officer Training Courses on their campuses.

I think the reason they do not allow military recruiting is because of the radical leftwingers that think the military is evil.

[zendahl]

At 6/23/06 02:18 AM, JadedSoB wrote:

At 6/22/06 04:05 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote: Harvard, Yale, Brown and other elite universities don't even allow Reserve Officer Training Courses on their campuses.

I think the reason they do not allow military recruiting is because of the radical leftwingers that think the military is evil.

Or perhaps they don't want the military taking away students who put an ass ton of money into the school. That would just be bad for buisness.

[BeFell]

It just goes to show the wealthy elite are made up of the left wing despite their claims.

Also I wouldn't criticize them too much, who do you think pays for the military?

[JMHX]

At 6/23/06 03:26 AM, BeFell wrote: It just goes to show the wealthy elite are made up of the left wing despite their claims.

Also I wouldn't criticize them too much, who do you think pays for the military?

There are plenty of wealthy people in both parties, no need to single out the left.

[zendahl]

At 6/23/06 03:26 AM, BeFell wrote: Also I wouldn't criticize them too much, who do you think pays for the military?

I do, so does every one else.

[rockizzy]

At 6/22/06 04:05 PM, JudgeMeHarshX wrote:
Wealth allows such an easy escape from duty. It will always be the poor who defend a system that enriches those who don't participate and puts those who do in harm's way.

what the hell?! you think those poor people youre talking about LIKE to go out and getting shot in a pointless war somewhere overseas?! maybe they just do it cuz they dont have a choice. if THEY were rich and HAD the choice, theyd most likely do the same and rather go to a good university than shoot kids in baghdad. also, who says the system needs defending by an army?! there have been times when the us wasnt engaged in any wars anywhere in this world, and the system worked just fine. nowadays there are big rich countries who dont fight any wars to "defend" their systems and that works just fine as well. what do you mean with "duty", anyway. just because some people define one thing as duty, doesnt mean others do as well.
if you really want to change the fact that mostly poor people join the army cuz they dont have money and cant get a job, then you have to change the way that whole signing up -thing works. in some countries serving in the military for at least a year is mandatory. in germany, for example, you have to choose between serving in the army or doing civil service in some hospital or nursing home. there it doesnt make a difference if youre rich or poor, its the same for everyone.