Do you believe that all able men and women in the United States..?

Question

should serve in the military? Do you also believe that since the majority of our military is Conservative, that if all were to serve our country would end up with one major political party? Please be respectful and explain your position. Thank you!

I meant that if all were to be required to serve in the military, would that eliminate our political parties? I accidently hit the wrong button:0)

Kid... what part of the question had my opinion in it? I do not give my opinion when asking questions; this is the easiest way to avoid trolls.

I will say again, that I have NOT POSTED MY OPINION, so please do not tell me what I think! Also, for those who are questioning whether or not our military primarily votes Repulican, here are some sources (which I thought was understood, but I am happy to provide):
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-10-03-bush-troops_x.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5725572/

luckything...I am not getting snippy about the military/Conservative issue. I don't get upset about being proven wrong. Maybe you should realize that you are not the only one with experience with the military. Being proud of having a family in the military is a great thing. But not everyone feels the same as your husband. Re-read the whole question and you will know what I am getting snippy about.

luckything...you weren't afraid to get into a "pissing match" when you started this conversation. So I am sorry that you feel that you can no longer participate. But I am going to say what I think....

I do not believe that a mandatory military would be a positive idea. I am not in favor of everyone serving, I believe that those who serve do so with honor, and to make it manditory would eliminate that sense of honor. I would like to thank those who answered this question respectfully, and say that there are many points that I haven't thought of on this subject listed here. Thank you!

Answer 1

Question is kind of complicated because the American Nation is comprised of different ethnic groups, who have different ideas about our foreign policy. How would you feel being an american born, naturalized in a different country fighting against America.
Secondly, it should not be mandatory. Everything mandatory is called a regime. And under any regime people are not free. Their forced to do things that they dont necessarily like, or do things that are against their principles and/or morals.
Freedom of choise is what sets America apart from the rest of the World.
Yes, and I do believe that if all were to serve our country would end up with one major political party. We would become a totalitarian regime, which is not the idea and philosophy that this country was based upon.

Answer 2

After having served more than 28 years in the USAF, I believe strongly that all men and women should be required to serve in some capacity. Military service offers everyone an opportunity to experience first hand what it means to be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and earn the right to vote and help determine who best should lead our country. I was never conservative before or while serving in the military, but I do agree that most members of the military are conservative. Most people serving in the military come from relatively poor educational backgrounds and lower socioeconomic status groups (very few Harvard graduates) lower social status groups are generally more conservative in my opinion. Serving in the military didn't make them conservative. They were conservative when they joined or were drafted. Nationally most conservatives are older white men and they are a dying breed. The country as a whole is once again becoming more liberal. This is primarily because the conservative movement has been in charge for the past few decades and most people aren't too happy with the world-wide political results. The swing from left to right politically is a recurring theme that can be expected to play out over and over again. For this reason, there is almost no chance that universal military service would result in creation of a single dominate political party over the long term.

Answer 3

I think over time the art of war is evolving and as a result more wars are being fought with technology and diplomacy making manpower demands lessen over time. There are still trenches and we still need soldiers, but I do not believe that there is a demand that requires that we no longer use the volunteer system for the armed forces. I also do not think that the national budget could support managing and employing an army that grew dramatically because of mandatory service.

I do not believe that every able bodied person be required to serve - but I do believe that we all have a financial obligation to support this nation's defenses through our tax dollars. We also have an obligation to vote so we can choose representatives that reflect our own opinions because those elected officials are deciding how our tax dollars are spent and how we are taxed for those dollars.

I also do not believe that the army is made up of conservatives. I know many liberals who are veterans and many conservatives that would not serve for various reasons. Human nature being what it is - I do not believe that the nation would merge into one party simply because of serving in the military. Human opinion is too diverse.

I do believe that more and more people are becoming "middle of the road independents" meaning they stradle party lines and the voting majority is neither strongly conservative or strongly liberal. Therefore, major candidates are choosing middle of the road politics to earn the most votes. I don't think the country will ever merge into "one party" but I think the lines continously blur between the parties and one candidate often looks just like the other.

To summarize: we should maintain a volunteer army, support our government financially through our tax dollars, but research our candidates and vote responsibly so that our tax dollars are spent by someone who best represents our opinions. Since major political candidates seek the votes of the majority - a strong liberal or conservative candidate is unlikely to be elected. Rather, we are most likely to see people in office who stradle the middle.

Answer 4

Studies have shown that the majority of our military is NOT conservative. This is a myth that the uneducated continue to perpetuate. If you consider that most in the military are young, and members join from across the country, it would make sense that the demographic is about 50/50 in the military for both parties. Many of the younger ones don't concern themselves with politics either, as is typical.

No, I don't think mandatory service is a good idea nor is it needed in the US at this time. The volunteer military model works great. Boot camp, however, would be a nice requirement for everyone.

Answer 5

With the current state of the military, particularly when they return home, I would have to say no. You would think that these brave people (and their families) would live like kings and queens when they return home. I mean, given their sacrifice (having limbs blown off, being away from spouses, children, and parents for months at a time, mental stress of war), you would think the government would do better by them. And I'm not just talking about the current administration either. Historically, the government has never fully taken care of our folks in uniform. If they do, there should be no way anyone (no matter how rich and influential) can get out of serving, including the children of congressmen/women and the president.

Answer 6

No, I think that the all volunteer force is the best thing for both the military and the citizenry.

The military wouldn't want me. The regimented, do-as-your-told, rule-bound atmosphere is not for me. We'd just end up at each others throats. Plus, not everyone is suited for or competent at military tasks. It would be better for qualified people to be serving, not bad fits.

People of a certain political bent are naturally drawn to the military. It's not necessarily that the military makes everyone accept their political/cultural opinions for life. (If anything, oftentimes military service changes some people to being against their former political/cultural positions.)

If everyone had to serve in the military, I think that there'd be a whole lot more liberal/Democratic voice in the military that's presently very conservative/Republican. It'd be more of a mix.

Answer 7

I really don't believe that the majority of our military is conservative... I'd like to see some facts backing that up. And I don't lump all conservatives and Republicans into the same group... since it is the Republicans who are the political party and the phrase conservative is more of an ideology, I'd also have to disagree with the one leftover political party theory, should all of the other one supposedly go off to fight in a war.

I'm also not entirely sure if by "ending up", as you put it, with one major political party, you're saying that every troop, who is supposedly conservative, who goes off to war is expected to get killed in battle?

People who go to war are still within a certain age group, and I don't see the elderly changing their political views as much as I see younger generations doing so. If an elderly person with strong political views is a Republican, they will continue to be so, most likely. And I don't think that Republicans are a dying breed, so to speak... meaning, I don't believe that all of the younger ones go off to war and get killed, while the older ones die off of illness or old age.

I like that there is still a choice as to whether to join the military or other services. It gives the people who don't like the idea of war a chance to go, if they want to. I'd hate to think of a government which sends each kid a draft card as soon as they turned 18, and I hope that never happens.

I'm not trying to put you down at all with my reasoning above... I do enjoy reading your views. But I personally can't stand stereotyping, from either side, and I'm sure you didn't intentionally mean to do it in your question.

Answer 8

No. Political parties would still exist. The military may be considered conservative, but that doesn't mean 100% of those brave souls who serve are.

Not everyone would be an asset to the military, so all should not be required to serve in combat. We each have different gifts and can (and should) support our country's defenders and a wide variety of ways. Their lives are precious and they are willingly sacrificing so that we have freedoms that (unfortunately) most of us take for granted. They have chosen to stand by our country and I, for one, will be eternally grateful for their strong commitment and willingness to serve and defend my rights as an American.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!

Answer 9

Mandatory service in the military would not kill the political process, nor would it turn all liberals into conservatives. That said, the bill which is currently wending its way through the political process decrees that every able-bodied person under the age of 40 [or maybe only 35] be required to spend 2 years in the military. I find this highly objectionable, as there are several religions, including Society of Friends / Quaker and 7th Day Adventist which support peace and pacifism.

When do my kids get to go to college? My son is pre-med, does he have to join the military before he can become a doctor? Sorry, but several of his friends from high school went to Iraq in that first wave, and the only one who came home in one piece is seriously emotionally damaged and with NO help from the US govt. Another of his friends came home as a quadriplegic, and don't even get me started on how that boy was treated!!! And what about the cop who was deployed, got severely injured in Iraq, was sent home and got evicted while he was trying to get himself re-trained / qualified to do something else, again with no help from the government.

How many kids will be left at home with Grandma while their parents are conscripted? And since most Grandmas work, how are they supposed to cope with the added expense of daycare? and the frustration of having cared for their own kids, then cared for their parents, and now they get to care for their grandkids...just when does a woman finally get to take a vacation?

I could see this forced conscription leading to a mutiny or rebellion by the citizens of this country. Certain of the training tactics used in "boot camp" smack of mind control / brain washing, but even that doesn't get some folks down - my uncle spent several months in the brig during Word War II for refusing to salute certain officers who had gotten college degrees in English or Liberal Arts and lorded it over country kids who knew how to work, fix things, etc but couldn't afford the time and money to go to school in the big city ...

You want to volunteer, fine. If they go for this forced service, then I want to see Prez Bush's little debs on the front line, and all the kids related to anyone in government office...if my kid has to go, then their kids should go FIRST. Some folks can make a bigger / better contribution by NOT joining the military.

Answer 10

No we should let it be an all volunteer army, the military is not cut out for everyone, having political parties show that even though we are one country and one nation we are different people and we all have the right to disagree. one political party sounds kind of scary because everyone would have to do what the party wants.