Meanwhile in Iraq & Syria

[Martin Hash]

Speaker, you sound more-n-more Leftish.

[heydaralon]

This is why I think we should limit enfranchisement to veterans.

If you think firing "warning shots" at Russia makes military sense, then you shouldn't vote.

That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of veterans who support stupid shit, but it's certainly limited compared to what I see in the general population.

The only time "warning shots" makes sense is against a vastly inferior force and you are telling them they are about to get annihilated in short order if they don't surrender or disperse.

If you are going to shoot at Russia, you better make it count.

Smedley Butler kind of hinted at that in his War is a Racket pamphlet. The problem I have with this idea is the formation of an us vs. them mentality among veterans. There is already a huge divide in mentality between civilians and military, but I think that enfranchisement solely on military service would lead to a kind of Praetorian guard. When Claudius took over from Caligula, he put the Guard on his coins because they had killed the previous emperor and he knew that his power came solely from them. Rome as a republic was long gone at this point, but the people took notice of Claudius and knew where the real power rested. It scared the Roman people even more. While all of us owe a large debt of gratitude to our military, I think that giving them extra electoral privileges could lead to some dark things including a fundamental shift in our political institutions. I do agree with you that most of our current conflicts are bad choices though. It kind of sickens me to see liberals and progressives becoming chickenhawks for conflicts they will never fight in. They are cool with some 18 year old they don't know getting 3rd degree burns on 60% of his body from an IED to make sure that Assad doesn't use chemical weapons, as long as they don't have to enlist.

[Speaker to Animals]

How long do you suppose it will last, this situation where the same military families send their sons and daughters to fight and die for the whims of an ungrateful, entitled electorate who openly disdain the idea that they should ever themselves be asked to sacrifice?

Not long, in my estimation. This is how all attempts at popular rule have failed. Every one.

But you can have your absolute liberty in a strong centralized state. You just have to give up self-government. I am sure the future junta will be keen to maximize your personal liberty.

[Alexander PhiAlipson]

Like Poe's narrator in "The Raven," CNN can't help but ask the wrong questions. I wonder if any of this sort of stuff makes its way to Hillary.

[Martin Hash]

Being a soldier is a job. There are many jobs that are much more dangerous.

But no argument with The Left not enlisting but still hungry for conflict.

[Smitty-48]

Dude, you sound more-n-more Leftish.

Nah, because the Lefties are the biggest purveyors of the Special Victim Class doctrine, the only thing that Lefties like about the military, is the fact that they have "veterans" to add to their special victim class populist justifications for big government nanny state intervention, you can add "for the veterans!" to "for the children!" and "for the workers!" and every other Leftist special victim class rubric.

If you're a conservative, you're the last person to be saying "veterans are a special class!", as all special class rubrics are the core of Leftist dogma.

[Speaker to Animals]

It is your duty as a citizen of a republic to serve.

If you are unwilling to actually fight when you decide our nation should fight, then why should I respect your right to decide whether we fight?

An electorate of plebs who don't fight is an anathema to all forms of self-rule.

Hail Caesar, I guess. He's probably better than this anyway..

[Martin Hash]

Dude, you sound more-n-more Leftish.

Nah, because the Lefties are the biggest purveyors of the Special Victim Class doctrine, the only thing that Lefties like about the military, is the fact that they have "veterans" to add to their special victim class populist justifications for big government nanny state intervention, you can add "for the veterans!" to "for the children!" and "for the workers!" and every other Leftist special victim class rubric.

If you're a conservative, you're the last person to be saying "veterans are a special class!", as all special class rubrics are the core of Leftist dogma.

Wrong target, I meant StA. You're no fucking Leftist. I think you hit somewhere around me but with no reverence for liberty, but why should you? You weren't indoctrinated as a kid.

[Smitty-48]

Dude, you sound more-n-more Leftish.

Nah, because the Lefties are the biggest purveyors of the Special Victim Class doctrine, the only thing that Lefties like about the military, is the fact that they have "veterans" to add to their special victim class populist justifications for big government nanny state intervention, you can add "for the veterans!" to "for the children!" and "for the workers!" and every other Leftist special victim class rubric.

If you're a conservative, you're the last person to be saying "veterans are a special class!", as all special class rubrics are the core of Leftist dogma.

Wrong target, I meant StA. You're no fucking Leftist. I think you hit somewhere around me but with no reverence for liberty, but why should you? You weren't indoctrinated as a kid.

Liberty is overrated, I just cut straight to freedom and do what I want, mindful not to harm others, but not asking an external authority for permission as I go, liberty is granted, while freedom, you just take.

[Martin Hash]

Yeah, people been taking freedom throughout history, that's why the concept of liberty, alliances, was so powerful.