If only the military voted in the election, McCain would win in a landslide of 68% to 23%. That makes sense, because the more that someone likes this country, the more likely he is to vote Republican. So someone who likes this country enough to fight for it is going to be very Republican. I may think I really like this country, but if I explained how much I like this country to someone in the military he’d be like, “You’re pathetic!” and push me down in the mud.
To which I’d say, “Maybe, but pushing me in the mud was a little over the top.”
Anyway, maybe we should consider following the Heinlein principle of only allowing those who’ve served in the military to vote. Sure, I’d lose my vote, but if I really missed it I could stop being so pathetic and join the military. Even if I don’t, though, stop pushing me in the mud.
I’m in Frank! I shall gladly give up my right and trust those who have and do serve! And can you imagine all the queer KOS Kids trying to make it through basic?
LOL, you’re so totally pathetic for not joining the military. I’m a girl, at least I have an excuse. Sexual harassment or something like that.
I do think that you have a good point: the military would kick the liberal illuminati right off the ballot.
The last desperate act of the few remaining Democrats would be to try and dumb down the basic training requirements so a few of their pansy constituents could make it through. Of course, as much as (D) voters hate working, none of them would probably bother anyway.
It must be getting close to Halloween, all my neighbors are trying to make their houses look creepy by putting up Obama lawn signs.
I bet the little kids walk up not knowing if they’re going to get candy or have it taken away so it can distributed more fairly. Scary stuff.
I think the only way to scare off even more people is to put up a sign saying “In accordance to Megan’s law you are hereby notified that a registered sex offender lives on these premises”. That’ll save you a bunch on candy!
When I was a teenager thinking about military service, the Marine recruiter scared the snot out of me, and the Army recruiter never took his feet off his desk and barely made eye contact.
Though I didn’t serve, I did very well on the ASVAB and actually talked to recruiters. Can I have 3/5 of a vote?
I was a United States Marine. So I’m going to vote whether you are or not, candy ass.
And if a military man pushes you into the mud, consider it a complement.
Umm. We need to re think this. If I remember correctly in his books you needed a permit to have children, and the easiest way to get that was military service. Sooo for those of us who want kids, we’ll have to marry women who have served in the military. Some of those women are pretty rough looking, and pushy. Also they aren’t afraid to fight. What if I marry one of them and they get angry with me. They might knock me down, sit on my chest, and pin my arms to the ground… maybe they might slap me…. Maybe she’ll be in uniform… Those new ACU’s are hot… Never mind. I like the plan.
[Was that in the book or only in the movie? -Ed.]
Dood! I wouldn’t push you in the mud…much. But you like guns. That makes you pretty cool.
Don’t worry, Frank. This former soldier would help you out of the mud.
Of course, that’s just to push you back in again.
> 2. A.B. says:
> … I’m a girl, at least I have an excuse. …
No you don’t. Just ask any of the female soldiers in that artillery brigade unit I was once attached to.
Take That!, and That! (pushes Frank back in the mud)
If we can’t make the rule that only military and vets can vote, can we at least require that only gun owners can vote? You have to show your gun and your ID to the election officials.
That’d be cool
The visual is only in my mind…. for now. I do remember it being in the movie, Starship Troopers. It’s been a while since I read the book and can’t specifically remember it being referenced. Either way The plan to have only military women, or women lucky enough to land a service member would at least help the gene pool. If you don’t believe me, watch MSNBC one night a week.
Personal thought: If you want to join the service Frank, you should. You still are young enough to join any service you want. If you don’t want to go full time because you make more money on the civilian side, All five major services have reserve units just a short drive from where you live. (Marine/Navy, Army Reserve/National Guard, Air Force Reserve/Guard, and even the Coast Guard.) Every once in a while they send you off to a cool destination for 2 weeks (Or longer… A lot longer). Every American who truly loves this great nation should serve their country in some way. The military is not the only way, just the best way. I had a buddy of mine spent a year in Kenya teaching people how to program for the Peace Corps.
I voted early today wearing my US Army ball cap. It’s become a tradition for me. I guess I hope that some dickweed tries to call it politcally motivated attire so that I can push them down in the mud and make them cry.
I think the only way to scare off even more people is to put up a sign saying “In accordance to Megan’s law you are hereby notified that a registered sex offender lives on these premises”.
In an amazing coincidence, every yard with that sign also has at least one Obamuhhh sign.
#12 (reply)
> [… I haven’t completely dismissed it as a possibility…]
Keep in mind this oath:
If things go bad next Tuesday… Well, now you know a contributing factor to my leaving service 35 days after Clinton’s re-election.
What happened to Kos then? He was in the military I think…
So was John Murtha, Lee Harvey Oswald, and Wesley Clark. Service members have a point of view because usually they’ve had to deal with the breakdown of foreign policy. You can have two people experience the same thing and see it differently. I know two people who served in a infantry company in Iraq. When they left they had the same political point of view. One came back as a cut and run Democrat, the other came back more of a right wing nut job. It’s fun to see them argue politics since they have the same reason for their political beliefs.
I’m all for it. I’d gladly surrender my vote in order to increase the quality of the franchise either by restricting it to older voters (raise the age to 35, 40, 60?) or requiring voters to have served the country. The gun owning idea is a neat twist, though I don’t know that I’d want to encourage those imbalanced nitwits over at DK to get guns.
Remember that Heinlein’s plan was to restrict the franchise to those that had completed a “term of service” which, although included military service, was not exclusively military. I’d imagine under the Heinlein plan firefighters, border patrol, and those working at the CDC would also be granted the Franchise. And being unqualified under this expanded definition of Federal Service I’m still all for it.
At least it’s something to keep in mind for after the revolution. 🙂
#12 (reply)
[… I haven’t completely dismissed it as a possibility…]
I don’t know who you work for, but most would keep your job if you are joining the military, If not for a sense of patriotism then a complete lack of knowledge of the Soldiers and Sailors act. You never know, Sarah might be supportive of the idea. At the very least she’d love how you look in uniform. Just tell her you get to shoot a plethora of weapons… And Terrorists! Better yet they pay you for it and provide Dental coverage for you and your life partner! Dead Terrorist, Dental coverage. IT’S THE AMERICAN DREAM!
As I said before many ways of serving your country. Military is one, but not the only one. Some of the greatest Americans never served in the military but have done great things for this country. Abe Lincoln, FDR, Joe the Plummer.
Pushing you in the mud is better than pushing the mud out of you….
Unless you’re a Kos Kid.
Actually, this whole thing could be fixed by allowing all (and ONLY) US citizens to vote (what a concept).
Of course, only those voting for Obamuh (or Liberals, or RINOs) are taxed.
That way it’s truly fair.
I seem to recall that in Starship Troopers (the book), you didn’t have to join a military service to be able to vote. You could volunteer for medical experiments or any other hazardous government job and get the same reward as a soldier.
Yes, but the catch is that the government gets to decide what constitutes “Federal Service” so it could be frontline soldier or it could be drink this and tell me if you die. The key concept is that the volunteer volunteered, there was no draft.
I voted early a couple weeks ago, wearing my ICE cap, a blue star service pin, and a sparkly American flag lapel pin. Hehehe. If looks could kill… But Frank, you must vote, regardless of whether you’ve served or support those who do. It takes both – those in theatre and those on the homefront – to make the military mighty. (Just vote in the troops’ best interest, please and thank you.)
As long as you wear your flag pin, they won’t push you in the mud.
I feel like such a dork for knowing this, but it happens to be one of my favorite books. Starship Troopers wasn’t about strictly giving the vote to military personnel, but restricting it to those who were willing to subordinate their lives (at least temporarily) to serve the state. The hurdle they had to clear to gain the franchise was to volunteer, and the government was required by law to find a place for ANYONE who was willing to volunteer – regardless of mental capacity or physical handicap. In fact I think they specifically mention that they would take blind people and let them peal potatoes in the mess for 2 years or something, because they were required to find work for anyone willing.
To be honest, its an appealing concept – but I just spent nearly 6 years in the USMC getting shot at, so I’m admittedly biased.
Six years, Infantry. McCain/Palin.
2 years so far of NBC defense and 41 left to go, MA. Air Guard. McCain/Palin.
Nine years as a REMF (PAO) in the Army and 4 years (and going) of DoD civil service. McCain/Palin.
Getting pushed in the mud by a servicemember is like getting kicked in the nuts by Dubya. Consider it an honor.
New butterbar coming on 1 year in the Army Reserves (Signal). McCain/Palin.
Best concept I’ve heard yet!! ‘I’m a mom of a 2/75 do I get 1/2 a vote? LOL! At least I raised a Ranger!
Son – USArmy, north of Baghdad. Spouse – USAF, Vietnam. Numerous uncles – USArmy & AF, WWII. Maternal grandparents – escaped Nazi Germany.
Peace and thanks to all of you. McCain/Palin.
Heinlein was right.
So was Patton.
5 years and some change, intel puke, WA National Guard–all but 9 months of it full time. McCain/Palin, of course.
I would hold off on the oath of enlistment, just yet. You could find your (overtly political) blogging privileges severely curtailed under UCMJ. I expect to say a whole lot less about politics after the election no matter who wins–just as I don’t say anything about our current CinC. It may be that you do more (for morale, if nothing else) behind your keyboard than behind a rifle.
If the Chicago machine and its handpicked puppet had their way, only DECEASED members of the military would be allowed to vote.
USCG 20 years retired. Served under Carter, Reagan, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Clinton. Oh well, the 12 years in the middle were pretty good! McCain/Palin (mostly Palin).
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As much as I respect veterans (and am one myself), I think the founders had it right(ish). Property ownership should be a requirement for the franchise.
Owning property means you have stake in the the long-term interests of your community & the nation. Renters are, by definition, transients who can skip town any time they want. Why the hell should we listen to people who have roots no deeper than your average hobo?
“All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and wellborn, the other the mass of the people….The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the second, and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain good government.”
– Alexander Hamilton, Constitutional Convention, 1789
No franchise for Hobos!
LOL. Interesting concept. I think I like your idea of only allowing service members to vote. It’s interesting how someone can love thier country but not be willing to defend it. I know the military is dangerous and all but that would probably help to mature a lot of americans. Look at Israel. They require every citizen to be in their military. Its a requirement. Something to think about for sure.