Why are the Iraq casualties mostly from small, poor U.S. towns?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070219/ap_on_re_us/iraq_small_town_burden

"You don't see anyone who has money putting their children into the military," she said. "I'm all for our soldiers. Without them our country wouldn't be where we are today, but this war just doesn't seem right. Like the Vietnam one. It's not right."

Answer 1

Same reason why only one senator has a child in the military.

Answer 2

They're not all poor. Most of the killing is going on in Baghdad and has been for some time. It's not the U.S. Military that is killing them, but their terrorists within Baghdad, and outside of the borders.

Take some time and watch this video. It is an interview with 3 former, now tolerant terrorist who have turned against that way of thinking. This interview was part of the AM Morning program on CN8 in New Jersey. It tells it like it is and will surprise you as to where al Queada is breeding terrorists and where their money is coming from.

http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=LK07B70&f=PW07B04&t=e

Answer 3

Because as Sen. Kerry said, most of the troops are men and women who can not afford to to on to college so they joined the service. I spent 25 years in the Marine Corps and never had the pleasure of meeting a millionaire. Some were from the big city but most were from small rural towns.

Answer 4

Of course there *are* people from well-off families joining the military. People will name some of them as if that changes things, but it actually doesn't. The truth is that a majority (though by no means all) of soldiers join because it's one of the only ways they can find to earn a living or get an education. Now, more and more young people convicted of crimes are being given the option of joining the military instead of serving time, as well.

Most of the well-off soldiers (and they do exist, and they join largely from patriotism) join as officers.

Answer 5

Most kids from poor and rural America are brought up with a sense of patriotism not found in the big cities thus they enlist to serve our country and defend it against threats and to assist other countries in times of need. The have strong moral beliefs that go un-noticed in today's society.

Answer 6

Because rich people can afford to go to college. They don't need the army.

It's better for them financially to stay a civilian, and they don't need the GI Bill. Most of the people I knew when I was in the military were in there because it was a better career option than working on an assembly line, and for the GI BIll - not because of patriotism.

Why would anyone take some job where he makes $300 a week and potentially risks his life, when they have good prospects elsewhere?

Answer 7

They are officers because of the college they recieved. There is more Phd's Masters, and Bachalors degrees in the military ,then 89% of all the companies in the US.

Answer 8

It is not that they join to go to war thats just where we need the army. For most kids it is a way of getting up and out of the poverty level and a chance at college.

Answer 9

And most of them are also males. Thats not fair too. Lets have conscription for males and females. Poor or rich. And make a socialist state. And call it Tenochitlan.

Answer 10

If the more wealthy join the military, it's usually as educated officers. But, yes, they do go to war.

Answer 11

It's not pretty, but the military is (at the moment) still voluntary. Those poor people are not conscripted -- they choose to join, knowing full well they will be sent to Iraq.