Military member that need a way to help the FSP

[Pat K]

O-K then feel free to snipe away, I will feel free to call you on it when you do.

[maineiac]

Wittingly or not, the guy IS a tool of the empire. I hardly think that kissing his peepee is appropriate.

His getting out of the death business would best serve everyone, him included.

[Dreepa]

Wittingly or not, the guy IS a tool of the empire. 

Isn't everyone who pays taxes?

[maineiac]

Wittingly or not, the guy IS a tool of the empire. 

Isn't everyone who pays taxes?

The difference being that military service is voluntary, where taxation is coerced.

[Braddogg]

Wittingly or not, the guy IS a tool of the empire. 

Isn't everyone who pays taxes?

The difference being that military service is voluntary, where taxation is coerced.

I think that's a great point, though I would add that after someone enlists they are coerced into staying on board; that is, even if someone becomes a libertarian/anarchist/pacifist they are in the same boat as you taxpayers.

[Pat K]

Wittingly or not, the guy IS a tool of the empire. I hardly think that kissing his peepee is appropriate.

His getting out of the death business would best serve everyone, him included.

Nobody said anything about kissing his peepee, maybe just don't take the stance of being a self rightous know it all, holier than though, I got every thing figured out with us or against us tude.   Please

[Tom Sawyer]

I'm with ya there Pat.

The assumption is that people in the military are responsible for what the assholes in Washington decide. I first heard the word libertarian in the Marine Corps. We were young, hard working, and doing what we had been raised to believe was right. It is the bastards that take young men and use them for evil purpose that deserve our anger.

[maineiac]

Wittingly or not, the guy IS a tool of the empire. I hardly think that kissing his peepee is appropriate.

His getting out of the death business would best serve everyone, him included.

Nobody said anything about kissing his peepee, maybe just don't take the stance of being a self rightous know it all, holier than though, I got every thing figured out with us or against us tude.   Please

I don't see how any of my replies here intimate any such attitudes. All I said was that his getting out of the death business would best serve all involved.

How would you have me couch that sentiment as not to offend your delicate sensibilities?

???

[Tom Sawyer]

Well first off when someone newly arrives a polite greeting is the first course of action. Second the assumption that the only reason someone joins the military is to dominate other countries/peoples shows lack of experience in this area. If the overlords in Washington would stick to the mission of defense, I see no problem with serving.

Some of the strongest advocates of peace have been military men.

[KBCraig]

I hardly think that kissing his peepee is appropriate.

Nobody said anything about kissing his peepee

I don't see how any of my replies here intimate any such attitudes.

No idea at all, eh? 

[Caleb]

But Roger, I didn't say that they joined to beat up other countries.  I feel that most of them joined a) either because they love their country and believe that is the best way to defend it or b) because of the incentives that have been offered, and I stated so earlier in this thread.

I for one don't hold the military responsible for what the idiots in Washington do, but I do question whether we need a military.  No.  Scratch that.  I'm certain that we don't need a military and the military is actually antagonistic to liberty (which was the position of Thomas Jefferson, as well as most of the other founders), and therefore we should simply dissolve it.  Since the idiots in Washington refuse to dissolve it, then the next best thing is for nobody to join, and for those who have joined to quit. 

Ergo, I asked him to quit.  I had no malice in my heart towards him, but he asked what he could do to help, and in my opinion that would be the single best thing he could do to help.

Caleb

[Caleb]

And as an aside, to those who criticize asking a liberty-lover to quit their job (the military) by suggesting that it will turn them off ...

How is it any different than asking a statist at the IRS office to quit their job? 

If anything, the gentleman who started the thread should be *more* amenable to our suggestions than the statist would be.

Caleb

[tracysaboe]

And as an aside, to those who criticize asking a liberty-lover to quit their job (the military) by suggesting that it will turn them off ...

How is it any different than asking a statist at the IRS office to quit their job? 

If anything, the gentleman who started the thread should be *more* amenable to our suggestions than the statist would be.

Caleb

KArma to Caleb.

That's probably the first thin I would have asked him to do too.

I've been trying to convince my brother to quit the Navy for years now as A:) He Hates it and B:) It's an immoral occupation to be in, but he feels trapped.

I don't judge him anymore then Russell should judge me for not refusing to pay income taxes.

TRacy

TRacy

[Pat K]

By the way, it is not like an IRS job, you just can't walk in and quit.

[KBCraig]

By the way, it is not like an IRS job, you just can't walk in and quit.

Every soldier, sailor, airman, or marine signs the dotted line on a contract. Within that contract are the terms of service. Not one of them signs under force. They even sign a disclaimer that says, in short, "Everything my recruiter told me is a lie, all promises he made are null and void, and only the wording of my contract really counts."

Having been through that process myself, and having witnessed it again when our oldest signed those dotted lines in July 2005, I can verify that Army recruiters do their best to make sure that you understand what you're signing. And part of what you're signing is an agreement to go where you're told, do what you're told, and accept an extension of your contract if the service determines it's necessary. In other words, "I quit!" won't work.

Kevin