Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (94788)	11/8/2008 1:23:39 PM
From: cosmicforce	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 541604

Jimmy Carter controlled the military when I joined and I think he got stuck with a number of really bad diplomatic situations (Iran comes to mind). My enlistment allowed me to go to college and I'm thankful for that. The U.S. Navy looked good, was strong, and we weren't universally hated everywhere we went. They had hospital ships floating around providing humanitarian care to third world countries and nobody was bombing them when they provided the aid. The major cause of death was accident. In some ways the military provided a venue for young men to achieve something substantial, to learn a meaningful skill, and to be hired when they got out. But even in peace time, it is a bit brutal. The "lifers" were not necessarily enlightened and the system is massively paternalistic and bureaucratic, and sort of fosters some bad behavior. Many an alcoholic got their start in the military. However, there was massive unemployment in 1976 - I'd have preferred a Peace Corps type commitment but that wasn't available for people who hadn't graduated from college. Thankfully, there was enough of me left left when I got out to go to school - not necessarily the case when there is a shooting war.