Thanks professor for this topic, it is timely and important. And thanks too for your service. Like you, this soldier (1968-1971 active) went to college on the GI Bill and it allowed me opportunities I otherwise would not have had.

I support the current bill if it is the best we can do. I would like to see a sliding scale of benefit that encourages reenlistment, especially in a era of a volunteer military, but would not veto the bill if that were not in it.

While I will vote for Senator McCain, I think his shot at Senator Obama was cheap - not everyone was a war hero.

I do take issue with your "shot" at Haliburton and Blackwater. Both are necessary and both are the only companies of their kind with the size, expertise and infrastructure to do what we need. Perhaps we failed in our oversight of them...but that is a different issue.

I also take issue with your former student and Marine (thanks for his service too) remarking about being tired of no clear mission or purpose. I suspect this Marine did not see a clear mission or purpose but he had one every day - do your duty, serve with honor and integrity, remember your training, and take care of your fellows.

I in no way question that this Marine did those things - but sometimes we look too hard for mission and purpose and it is right in front of us....sorta like purple fingers of people who voted.

Again, great topic, I look forward to seeing what others think.

The real problem is that the US has a voluntary military. There are so many “hot-button” issues in this country that can be seriously solved if the US had compulsory military service:

1.)2nd Amendment and Gun Control

If every American were required to be in the military (except for objectors, pacifists, etc.), then every American will be an arm-bearing citizen. We would squabble a whole lot less about our “right” to bear arms. Indeed, if we were all soldiers, then the most adamant 2nd Amendment defenders would probable be pushed to the fringe of American politics and be far less influential.

2.)War

If every American were a soldier in the military (of course there will be some career soldiers and some citizen soldiers), then the country will be much more weary in the war-making process. If the military is to be truly in civilian control, then each citizen must have a vested interest in the military. As of now, only a handful of representatives in Congress actually have children in the military and fewer of those are in active service. Just think of the kind of political climate we would have had in America if our civil military discovered that there were no WMD's in Iraq back in 2003. Would we still have the same administration putting Americans in harms way? I believe that the US as a whole will make better decisions about her leaders if the leaders were actually accountable to the public in times of war.

3.)Education

The GI bill is a wonderful way for members of the armed forces to gain access to education. Our current military is grossly over-represented by poor and minority groups mainly because the military is an avenue for upward mobility. However without the GI bill, the idea that the military can benefit one's social standing becomes an illusion. Of course our country will ask citizens to put their lives in danger and also deny their opportunity to get a better life in the future. This is what McCain doesn't understand. McCain was born with the silver spoon in his mouth—he never had to hope for a better life because he was given it by the time he was born. If we were to have a compulsory military, then our citizens would basically have access to FREE public education! Wow! Our Universities would probably quickly fill up beyond capacity and we will need more schools and teachers.

Does anyone think this is a bad thing? We would have plenty of soldiers for meaningful wars. We will have an end to the 2nd Amendment debate. We will have the military in the hands of the citizens and not the elite generals who sit behind closed doors. We will have a flood of citizens who could otherwise never afford college (or get themselves into massive debt). We will have an overall educated citizenry who are willing and capable of defending our country and her interests. We will have a higher demand and appreciation of our teachers and schools—the true heroes of freedom and democracy.

Richard Zuercher
C of I 2005

Thanks Richard for good thoughts and an intelligent post, but I'll pick on a couple of thoughts.

First, everyone is not military material. While Tomlin's have been in every armed conflict from the Spanish American War throught Viet Nam and a few unreported (by the mainstream media) excursions since, my son is simply not military fiber. He is bright, strong, successful in business, but the fact is simply that everyone should not serve, will not serve well, and universal service would bring the quality of our fighting men and women down from the elite and the few, to the mediocre and the many.

Second, the poor and minority are not nearly so overly-represented today as during Viet Nam and the draft era. And with a volunteer military if they are overly represented it is a good thing because they can better their chances for education, training, and ending their family's cycle of poverty.

Third, unless all military people carried their weapons of war home with them it would have no effect on the 2nd Amendment.

Could a 16-year-old still go hunting? He/she would have no military weapon. Once out of the military would we keep our military weapons, or would we resort to civilian hunting and sporting arms(?)....which is pretty much where we are now.

Great posts. Let me add my thoughts. Active duty A.F. (69 to 73)

1. I agree with Jasper on a few points. McCain had no business knocking Obama in that manner. The GIs fighting today should get the same GI or better than did the Vietnam or WWII era vets.

2. I think the poor were over-represented in Vietnam largely because of the college exemption (which eventually went away).

3. With compulsory service, the military would still get it's share of career folks.. and likely the best of the crop.

4. I do think that compulsory service would make it more difficult to get into conflicts where we have no business. The burden of fighting would be spread among more people, and more families would have "skin in the game" (pardon the expression.

5. Although the service of today is far more technical than it has been, I think there are plenty of jobs for almost everyone. Let's not forget that the services run on supply and food and paperwork.

6. I like the idea of universal service. Everyone has to give a couple years to something.. be it military or other service. Kids need a "rite of passage" -- something that says, ok.. I am now a man.. or a woman.. not a kid any more. For me, the military forced me to grow up. Without such a rite, young people can just slide along with no challenge to start their adult lives.

7. I think that military service would effect the 2nd amendment. It's not about hunting, after all, and familiarity with firearms, I believe, would make a difference in how people felt.

eric

LiCalzi says, "I would not have joined the military in the first place" if it were not for the GI Bill.

That's too bad Professor.
I'm sure your Italian ancestors would be proud of you. Yeah, those that got off the boat at Ellis Island.

**********

Ask about all the financial benefits your country can provide you before you enlist.-- is that right LiCalzi?

Cheezy and liberal!

erico49 thanks for your service.

If everyone were familiar with firearms some of the anti-hysteria would go away. Good point.

I always find it interesting that in countries where the elite know they will ascend to power, they plan on the military from birth - such as England. I am very proud of the young to-be kings there.

It would be interesting if military service were part of our "ruling class elite" culture, where the offspring of Bill and Melinda Gates assumed military service, or those of Nancy Pelosi, or Bill Frist, Steve Forbes, Michael Bloomburg, etc.

A question I have to you all is how do we keep decent salaries and benefits for our military and at the same time increase the ranks by millions of people through compulsory service? Is there a flip savings on the other end I am overlooking?

I understand that the principal reason that the military has been successful in their recruitment drives, is that they offer health care to the GI family. I also beleive that draftees (most everyone take a turn) improves the overall perspectives of the military in regards to human values. I also understand that (averaged) despite the GI Bill, GI Joe never catches up with Joe College on income.
For this discussion, I am obviously on the wrong sheet of music.