this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2024
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A Boring Dystopia
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I had a very anti-war sociology professor that had been protesting since vietnam. Despite his qualms with military industrial complex, he would always say that the the military is the last vestige of upward mobility in the united states as it's one of the few places where you can enter a playing field that is somewhat leveled for new entries, have merit impact your growth, and get access things like subsidized education. Sure there's still racism, sexism, etc. but in terms of economic mobility it provides a decent ladder.
I once read an article that basically called the military a billion dollar vocational school program and it really shifted my perspective. Like I kinda don't give a shit about most people or why they join - maybe it's that chance at upward mobility, maybe it's the desire to serve a cause, maybe it's a desire to feel a part of something bigger, all of which are legit human needs and desires. As an idea, I'm kind of neutral leaning towards negative in the military. It's when I start looking at it in the broader context thag I get angry, and it's not necessarily at the rank and file, and sometimes not even the mid to high leadership. It's the presidents and the politicians and business people who lead the whole thing and play games with people's lives. I even have sympathy for the angry knuckle dragging meatheads because they just got duped, again, by the ruling class.
Its a noble path that has been corrupted by politicians.
Congratulations on repeating a literal fascist talking point.
As if facism isnt just government by whole kit corrupt politicians.
Take the evil out and you have people defending society.
Do you hate firefighters too?
Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt believed the military was a noble path. At Nuremberg, when asked why he continued to serve after learning the atrocities of the German Reich, he asserted Prussians don't mutiny!
Essentially, he was glad to be a loyal machine that completes a task, rather than someone who stands for principle.
But then when honor doesn't compel us to operate the Death Star's superlaser for the Galactic Emperor, money will, and if not that, extortion.
It's also a great way to demoralize an entire generation of young people and have a lot of low-key insubordination in the ranks. Most people are aware the VA treats many of their veterans like absolute garbage. It took Jon Stewart years to force the VA to acknowledge that soldiers who had to work on burn pits got lung cancer from their jobs. Imagine how many other health issues they're trying to dodge responsibility from. Mexico is also full of veterans who were promised citizenship but were rewarded with deportation after their contract ended instead.
Well a draft is for times of war. But mandatory military service in a democracy... Does that lead to anti war policies. If every family had skin in the game knowing their kid could go to war, does that help elect anti war politicians?
Mmmmm…. Boot
The freaky thing is we spend an insane about on the US military so we can bully the rest of the world. But then we don't spend that on our troops. Shit materiel, shit armor, shit supply. Instead we're investing in laser planes and active camo on tanks, and the POS raptor program.
To paraphrase Kurt Vonnegut, we treat our troops like toys a rich kid got for Christmas which became obvious during the War on Terror, but new info traces it back to Vietnam.
If the armed forces gave our troopers real gear, didn't treat them as expendable, but people expected to come home and actually have lives (rather than missing pieces, dealing with a TBI from an IUD or lifelong PTSD) and the DVA treated those shot up like the heroes they're allegedly supposed to be, then maybe there's an argument for joining up.
But as it is, military service in the US is comparable to self-harm. The only ones who should be joining are those who are on the verge of unlifing and have exhausted all other options.
Seriously, counter-recruitment writes itself, as per the social media failures about Army Experience. Even if none of the things above happens, you're at risk of becoming the pet project of some bully officer who wants to break you, and if you're not too unattractive, you're at high risk for sexual assault and a following cover-up, while you get quiet medical discharge.
You know, I wonder if the French Foreign Legion treats its troopers better than the United States. (I genuinely don't know.)