Didn't Heinlein have a great idea in Starship Troopers?

Question

Wanna vote, have kids or go to college for free. Serve your time in the Military. Service guarantees citizenship. Of course then liberals would never win squat in elections again. SWEET

Answer 1

Heinlein is one of my fave authors. Just finished rereading Farnham's Freehold. It certainly would be sweet.

Answer 2

Heinlein had some interesting ideas, but that is exactly what they are: ideas.

When you tie military service to such incentives as education and citizenship, that is a reward for good service to the nation. When you make military service an absolute requirement for such a fundamental right as voting, you stratify the society and crush the very inclusiveness that marks a functioning democracy.

National service is a great and noble calling, but modern nation-states are far too large and complex to duplicate the Greek city-state model where all adult males served as hoplites (they also provided for their own fighting gear as well. Try seeing that happen nowadays).

If Heinlein's world was made flesh, then disabled people would not stand a chance in life. These societies would end up being run exclusively by veterans, a very, very narrow demographic. Such societies end up veering towards Fascism very quickly, as they impose military values onto the civilian population.

Of course, when you have a Fascist society, being conservative or liberal in a one-party state is immaterial, since dissent equals death and everyone gets crushed under the same boot. No more whining from neo-conservatives, pseudo-libertarians, borderline anarchists, eco-terrorist types, one and all. That may not be such a bad thing after all.

Answer 3

I read it, mostly thought it was crypto-fascist nonsense.

Obviously there are people who are responsible citizens who aren't cut out for military service, either because of temperament or because they wouldn't make it physically. In Heinlein's character's infantry basic training, they ran an attrition rate of over 80%, including fatalities.

The idea of some kind of mandatory federal service isn't bad, but I wouldn't tie it to the vote - that has bad connotations in our country, reminiscent of poll taxes or Jim Crow laws. And there would have to be programs beyond the military. If folks could sign up for 4-years in something like the CCC, and get similar benefits like job training and GI bill, I'd write my rep to vote for that legislation. But only vets get the vote? Nope.

And oh by the way, how many conservatives running for office have military service records? That's right, almost none. The last several ex-service members I saw running for office were running on the Democratic ticket, tough guy.

Interesting sidenote: Heinlein's Starship Troopers used to be on the Marine Corps Commandant's reading list for Marines. Not sure if it's still on there.

Answer 4

Heinlein wasn't necessarily arguing that we should actually adopt the form of government found in his book. I think that his true intent was to point out that people in the United States take their right to vote for granted. The US asks very little of its citizens but most eligible voters don't bother to vote. However, they sure do gripe when people they don't like get elected. Can you remember an election in which more than 50% of voters turned out to the polls? Personally I have voted in every election that has occurred since I became eligible to vote.

Answer 5

I prefer Neville Shute's multi-vote democracy from his novel "In the Wet"

It allows for rewarding forms of civic service and experience other than just the military, everyone having anything from one to seven votes, depending on their involvement/achievements.

The idea that everyone's opinion carries equal weight is a legal fiction, maintained for certain purposes. It's not a truth outside of that.

Answer 6

In that book the reason the government did that was to ensure that those who voted, or ran for office had proven that they would put the good of the society over what is best for themselves.

Its a good idea, making people prove themselves prior to getting the right to run for office, or vote.

However such a system would never go down in the US.

Answer 7

Sounds good to me. But if you can't get into the Military, I guess you are screwed.

Answer 8

I like the alien's system of government better. Hive mind.