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So, I'm not sure how many RJers have served. I did for a brief moment in the 80s in the USAF. My brother as well and I have 2 Nephews who still serve. 2 Uncles who served and I imagine others in here share similar connections with the Military/Armed forces.
Now the Military is the Largest recipient of US tax dollars outpacing every other discretionary entity by a wide margin. So you'd think, the Military would reflect the Ideals of the country and populace it defends and it just might--However. There is a notion that supporting the Military is a Right Wing, Conservative hard core vale. And I believe it is. I also think a vast majority of Left leaning folks also support the Military even though they may disagree with some policies and the amount of our budget that is dedicated to it.
So it stands to reason the Military should be Uber Constitutional Rights/Free Market Capitalism.
It Is Not.
First, the fiscal structure is pretty socialist. Your pay is NOT free market nor based on ability, it's rank and time in service. If you're an E-3 it doesn't matter WHAT your job is--you get paid the same, sure there's a bonus for travel and combat, but a mechanical engineer at E-3 makes the same as the E-3 serving you shit on a shingle in the base commissary. On top of that, every service member is provided housing, food, health insurance and free education. This is true of EVERY service member even if all you do is drive people around the base or sling hash. Socialist, VERY Socialist and yet we contend that our Military is the FINEST fighting force in the world. Produced in a socialist fiscal model. Now the veracity of being the Finest can be debated, but the socialist fiscal model, really can't be.
Second, the Military fights to defend our constitutional rights--you're freedom of speech, expression, to protest, own a gun and the like. However, if you serve you are subject to the UCMJ on top of all federal/State and Municipal statutes. The UCMJ is the Military's set of rules/laws which you agree to abide by upon enlisting. They are purposely vague and somewhat arbitrary. But even if you believe otherwise what they absolutely do is--force servicemembers to give up some of the rights they have as a civilian. You follow orders or you suffer the consequences--period. No talking your way out of it, no going over someone's head. They have you by the balls and if you give them a reason, they will squeeze--hard.
They tell you to move to Oklahoma, you move. They tell you what job you'll be doing, you do it. They tell you this word is not to be used on base and while on duty, you don't use it. Sure you can take it up the chain of command, but once a decision has been made by your immediate supervisor, good luck with getting a different answer. It rarely happens.
Not that any of this is new to most of you, I was just swirling things around in my mind, like livable wages, basic Monthly, income, Food insecurities, healthcare, education--you know the other shit in my head besides 24/7 trade ideas in my roto leagues. And in doing so, found it interesting/ironic, that the MOST American thing Right Wing Patriots point to with Pride and Honor, runs contrary to their Live Free or Die mantra.
That is All.
Now the Military is the Largest recipient of US tax dollars outpacing every other discretionary entity by a wide margin. So you'd think, the Military would reflect the Ideals of the country and populace it defends and it just might--However. There is a notion that supporting the Military is a Right Wing, Conservative hard core vale. And I believe it is. I also think a vast majority of Left leaning folks also support the Military even though they may disagree with some policies and the amount of our budget that is dedicated to it.
So it stands to reason the Military should be Uber Constitutional Rights/Free Market Capitalism.
It Is Not.
First, the fiscal structure is pretty socialist. Your pay is NOT free market nor based on ability, it's rank and time in service. If you're an E-3 it doesn't matter WHAT your job is--you get paid the same, sure there's a bonus for travel and combat, but a mechanical engineer at E-3 makes the same as the E-3 serving you shit on a shingle in the base commissary. On top of that, every service member is provided housing, food, health insurance and free education. This is true of EVERY service member even if all you do is drive people around the base or sling hash. Socialist, VERY Socialist and yet we contend that our Military is the FINEST fighting force in the world. Produced in a socialist fiscal model. Now the veracity of being the Finest can be debated, but the socialist fiscal model, really can't be.
Second, the Military fights to defend our constitutional rights--you're freedom of speech, expression, to protest, own a gun and the like. However, if you serve you are subject to the UCMJ on top of all federal/State and Municipal statutes. The UCMJ is the Military's set of rules/laws which you agree to abide by upon enlisting. They are purposely vague and somewhat arbitrary. But even if you believe otherwise what they absolutely do is--force servicemembers to give up some of the rights they have as a civilian. You follow orders or you suffer the consequences--period. No talking your way out of it, no going over someone's head. They have you by the balls and if you give them a reason, they will squeeze--hard.
They tell you to move to Oklahoma, you move. They tell you what job you'll be doing, you do it. They tell you this word is not to be used on base and while on duty, you don't use it. Sure you can take it up the chain of command, but once a decision has been made by your immediate supervisor, good luck with getting a different answer. It rarely happens.
Not that any of this is new to most of you, I was just swirling things around in my mind, like livable wages, basic Monthly, income, Food insecurities, healthcare, education--you know the other shit in my head besides 24/7 trade ideas in my roto leagues. And in doing so, found it interesting/ironic, that the MOST American thing Right Wing Patriots point to with Pride and Honor, runs contrary to their Live Free or Die mantra.
That is All.
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