-=> Bob Klahn wrote to Dave Drum <=-

 DD> While that is true. And while it is a shame that the Dulles
 DD> brothers did not have to serve in any front-line capacity
 DD> in a mess that they were the proximate cause of it's beside
 DD> the point I was making. Which is, I see no earthly reason
 DD> that *military* service, whether as a combat troop, a CO
 DD> serving as a medic, or someone who is just a REMF, should
 DD> be a requirement for citizenship.

 BK>  Actually, I was not using it as a requirement for citizenship. I
 BK>  wanted to require it period. If you live in this country you
 BK>  serve.

I disagree. But, then, you knew that.
 
 DD> SERVICE to the nation is
 DD> what I posited as a requirement for citizenship. It might
 DD> be military service, or it might be sorting buttons in
 DD> Ketchican, AK. But it NEED NOT be "military" service.

 BK>  I want a Swiss style military reserve. Everyone gets training
 BK>  and is in the reserves. I am not considering service as a good
 BK>  experience or a good thing to do, but the necessity of national
 BK>  defense.

I have no problem with all citizens participating in such a program. But, where
we disconnect is that I feel citizenship should be earned, not a given. 
 
 DD> Those wishing to remain second-class residents of the
 DD> country without the perks and privileges (and duties) of
 DD> being a citizen need not serve but, must take life as it
 DD> comes to them and have little say in the matter.

 BK>  I want everyone prepared to defend this country if necessary. To
 BK>  share in the defense of the country.

Good luck on that.
 
 DD> Those wanting to have a say need to prove their worthiness
 DD> by volunteering their service. Else they must siddown,
 DD> sharrop and hang on to whatever crumbs they can get as a
 DD> second-class resident.

 BK>  Worthiness is not my concern. Defense of the country is my
 BK>  point. And I want everyone who lives here invested in any war,
 BK>  even if only on the possibility they may have to go. Or, if they
 BK>  are citizens, they vote knowing their children may have to go.

I want the citizen to vote on any war that does not involve invasion of, or
attack on the homeland. IOW, if we wanna go beat the crap out of some tin-pot
dictator that our leaders don't like - we have to approve it by majority vote
of the citizens who will go do so - not by fiat of a president, or vote of a
bunch of old farts in Congress who will not have to serve directly. I proposed
a constitutional amendment to that end, you may remember. My congress-critter
and I have been corresponding sporadically about the subject ... although,
realistically, it has little hope of getting done. It takes too many people
away from the status quo, puts the burden of responsibility directly on those
involved, and takes them outside their comfort zones. So, it probably ain't
gonna happen. But, I think it would be a most excellent solution to keeping us
out of off-shore spats like the spanking of Grenada by Ronnie Ray-guns, or the
invasion if Iraq by George III. Although, I'll concede that in the righteous
indignation after 9-11 the invasion of Afghanistan probably would have been a
landslide in favour.
 
 BK>  We have too many people in this country who look at the all
 BK>  volunteer army as a mercenary army and don't want to pay for the
 BK>  care they need when they are hurt or support their families when
 BK>  they get killed, or provide therapy for PTSD.

I look at it as very similar to Workman's Compensation.
 
 BK>  I want every singe voter invested, either for themselves or
 BK>  their family.

As do I. We differ on who is allowed to vote.
 
 BK>  And I alway remember, even as powerful as this country is, there
 BK>  is no guarantee that you won't have to defend it on your own
 BK>  home town soil. Bermuda may invade us tomorrow.

And throw onions. Which we will then grill with our hamburgers.  Bv)=

ENJOY!!!

From Uncle Dirty Dave's Kitchen
Home of YAHOOOOAHHHH Hot Sauce & Hardin Cider 

 

... In archaeology you uncover the unknown. In diplomacy you cover the known.
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