Politicians and Rich Families...why their kids don't go to war?

Question

More often than not, you see politicians families dodge serving in the armed forces. I'm not saying they don't have any in the armed forces, but the majority doesnt. It seems to me, that since they have money, they send their kids to expensive schools to become lawyers, scientists, doctors, etc...whereas the poorer or middle class child is encouraged to go to enlist in the armed forces. Is it because the rich kid isnt easily swayed by the publics view on fighting or is the middle class child naive and ignorant to what their being told by the public and/or media? (ignorant as in unaware, not stupid)

I believe, given the chance, if the people in the armed forces were rich before hand, they wouldnt have enlisted. Frankly, why would you risk your life for a political agenda, when you can make 6 to 7 figures and have a nice family life. Yes I know some will say without the army, we wouldnt have a nice family life, however, that isnt entirely accurate.

What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

Yeah, I'd have to say it's pretty unequal. Why should the kids of poor people be cannon fodder for the wars of the rich and powerful? Also, many poor youth have not had a good opportunity to get an education and therefore see the military as an chance to receive one and get ahead in life.

Answer 2

I believe it is the incentive. The Armed forces offers people the chance to have their Education payed for. I highly suspect that most of the people that enlist don't care much about the political agenda, but in serving their term so that they will get their reward.

Alot of the richer people have their futures written out for them, or at least encouraged to be successfull and have some sort of direction. This seems logical sense most of the rich people did not become rich by mere luck. They have something that the other classes do not, so usually the richer kids obtain that "secret" as well.

This is not necessarily true with the "less privileged". So once they are out of high school. They may lack direction, purpose, and not know what they want to do in life. They may try college, but because they don't have any worthwhile goals, the probability of them failing is rather high. So the armed forces gives them a chance to get away and have some time to think about what they want in life. They have their immidiate needs taken care of, so their enviroment is less threatened. They also have a chance to become disiplined and mature.


I will now conclude:

The Rich kids have certain qualities that the other "classes" do not, because it was a part of their upbringing. They think differently. The poor and middle class kids lack these qualites that make them successfull, because it was not really a part of their upbringing. They often have to figue out how to survive in life by themselves. Fact is they often lack the maturity to get what they want out of life. The Armed Forces offers a solution. First they take care of their immidiate needs, they make them develop essencial characteristics the will make them successfull in life (such as disipline, doing what you say you are going to do, responsibility, ect...). Secondly, they offer someone a chance to have their college tuition payed. Thirdly, it gives them an adventure and gives them a chance to see places that most people don't get to see.

There are many other variables to consider, but those are the bigger ones. Tempation and propaganda are also big ones.

Then the people enlisted in the army that want to leave are often drawed back by enlistment bonuses, raises, being stationed in a favorable locations,ect...

Answer 3

We haven't had the draft in a long time. NO ONE has to go to war. It is however a condition one agrees to when signing up with the armed forces to get free money for college. It is kind of like when people apply for assistance for anything.. food, housing, medical care, etc. They have to disclose their personal finances to qualify whereas people who pay for thier own stuff don't have to. The answer to the problem is for poor people to not enlist in the armed forces, get a regular job and save for college or don't go. If there weren't any poor people enlisting they would have to have a draft at wartime and rich and poor alone would have to go. The point of signing up for the armed forces is to serve your country and the college tuition is just a perk. My dad served many years during WW2 and didn't get any college tuition. If you don't want to serve the country, don't join the armed forces, it's that simple.

Answer 4

i don't know if your premise is accurate. proportionally, there are far fewer people in the US who are either rich families, politician families, or rich politician families. so proportionally, there will be fewer children from them who would enlist. i personally know only one or two people who have enlisted in the military, and i'm middle class. i think it's a misconception that the rich/politician's kids don't enlist. politicians - generally - have a sense of duty to their country, and a sense of obligation to serve their country. a high proportion of politicians served in the military, and the children of those who served in the military tend to have higher rates of service themselves.

i found an interesting paper online that examines the issue - not directly, but in terms of current enlistment trends - which might be worth a read.

as far as the rich - well, the kennedy dynasty was certainly rich, and the kennedy boys all served, and in the case of JFK, served with distinction and valor.

Answer 5

No. you're quite incorrect. you would be shocked what proportion wealthy and better classification youngsters volunteered for Nam. you would be shocked what proportion bigger center classification youngsters are in Iraq. Canada would not choose a draft in the U. S.. the american Draft Dodging Liberals, from the 60's & 70's are nevertheless up there, drawing Welfare. Canada can no longer handle to pay for from now on Democrats.

Answer 6

Many people who serve in the armed forces do so because it's great experience and you can earn money for college. I imagine many of them do so because they cannot afford schooling themselves, and don't have networking connections to get a great job.

I wonder if some of them hope that they will be able to earn enough money so that their own children won't have to serve in the armed forces to earn money for school.

Money doesn't buy happiness, but it does buy options. Welcome to America, where anyone can make their life (pretty much) what they want if they only work hard enough.

Answer 7

Joining the military is still a choice, my answer may not be what your looking for but I would like to take the opportunity to say Thank you to anybody who has volunteered to serve in some capacity of military service, What would happen if nobody volunteered? We would have to draft, I believe we would all have no choice but to fight, rich or poor. Thank you to youVeterans who were drafted without a choice and served and God bless you and those who volunteer without regret.

Answer 8

I think that no matter your class in life is there should be that commitment to your country to defend and honor it no matter. I don't think money has anything to do with why those that enlisted and reenlisted do so, it's a feeling of pride that you've accomplished something for the good of your country!

Answer 9

I think that the politicians children aren't enlisting because their parents who have a massive heartattack if they did. Their parents don't want their children overseas fighting for their country and take a chance on never coming back home. They would rather leave that job to the poor and middle class. I can't recall any of their children being sent overseas to defend our country and never coming back home. There's no way they would let that happen. It pisses me off that politicians can put a value on someone's head because of their name or family history. I bet the recruiter's don't even go to the school's that their children attend, that way they won't accidentally persuade them into enlisting.

Answer 10

If that's the case, then that's not cool. But I don't think ANYONE wants to go off to war. By the way, I like that someone's avatar was called "sharp dressed man." Very cool.