Posted on Dec 13, 2015
Millennials support 'boots on the ground' to fight ISIS, but not necessarily their 'boots'. Is this survey surprising to you?
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The institute has asked millennials about the idea of American boots on the ground at three different times this year, and the survey results have fluctuated somewhat, but there seems to be a "hardening of support." In this most recent survey, 60 percent of the 18- to 29-year-olds polled say they support committing U.S. combat troops to fight ISIS. But an almost equal number (62 percent) say they wouldn't want to personally join the fight, even if the U.S. needed additional troops. The disconnect in joining the fight comes down to how millennials feel about the government writ large, according to Harvard IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe. "I'm reminded of the significant degree of distrust that this generation has about all things related to government," said Della Volpe. "And I believe if young people had a better relationship with government ... they'd be more open to serving."
http://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459111960/millennials-want-to-send-troops-to-fight-isis-but-not-serve?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20151213&utm_campaign=bestofnpr&utm_term=nprnews
http://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459111960/millennials-want-to-send-troops-to-fight-isis-but-not-serve?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20151213&utm_campaign=bestofnpr&utm_term=nprnews
ISIS
Service
War on Terror
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 59
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There are many who view military service as being "pedestrian" or the job of someone else....I am not one who subscribes to that. The only way that this Nation stays great is for Americans to stand up, call bullshit and take it to them. There will always be that group of people who are willing to let others do the work.
There will always be those who are too happy to send Troops over, then question the manner in which they fulfill their duties....
The rest of my opinion will be available after I become a fully retired member of society.....LOL
There will always be those who are too happy to send Troops over, then question the manner in which they fulfill their duties....
The rest of my opinion will be available after I become a fully retired member of society.....LOL
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CPO Andy Carrillo, MS
Yes, and too many in our society want to retire without having worked for it (entitlements). We have become a sad, fat, complacent society...
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LTC Jason Mackay
I had a conversation with a family friend of my parents after I came home from Iraq in 2003. She looked at me about ready to cry, and asked me why I serve. She told me how smart and educated I was, that it was a waste. I looked her in the eye and asked her, if not me, then who? I told her that I had no regrets, The Army made me the man I am today, and I helped topple a ruthless dictator whose rap sheet read like a demon's resume.
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Really not surprised by this. There are plenty of people that are cool with military action, until it actually affects them. Send their kids to go to college to avoid the draft, avoid the draft themselves but still call for boots on the ground, because it's not their family who is going to risk anything.
There's also a version of this where people are very anti-war until the age of 25 become a lot more pro-war once they're past draft age.
It's not a new thing by any means.
There's also a version of this where people are very anti-war until the age of 25 become a lot more pro-war once they're past draft age.
It's not a new thing by any means.
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I'd just like to point out that I'm what many older generations would label as a "millennial" and would say that you can't label us. Many didn't grow up in our circumstances where we saw how successful previous generations were; yet, our attempts to do the same have been futile due to the economy. Stop labeling us.
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Not really surprised. Their outlook on life is different than the generations before. That in and of itself is not unusual. As each generation has its own unique perspective on life based on their own experiences. A mandatory draft (for both males and females) would give them a different perspective on things.
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PO1 Cameron Rhyne
We're probably not gonna have a draft. Not unless WW3 is looking imminent and recruiting numbers are way belong requirements to keep end strength up. People forget that one of the reasons we don't have a draft anymore is because it was incredibly unpopular and the rich and powerful could easily get their kids(or themselves) out of it.
So you'd pretty much have to make it mandatory for EVERYONE, regardless of social status and even then you'd run into a lot of resistance when the Senators, Congressmen and the rich realize their kids might just come home in a body bag as well.
So you'd pretty much have to make it mandatory for EVERYONE, regardless of social status and even then you'd run into a lot of resistance when the Senators, Congressmen and the rich realize their kids might just come home in a body bag as well.
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SMSgt Thor Merich
PO1 Cameron Rhyne - You are absolutely correct the draft. It was just wishful thinking on my part.
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no, not surprising at all, from what I gather about milennials(sp) they 'support' the boots on the ground, as long as it isn't THEIR boots. "Oh and gimme that too! But I don't want to work for it!" *SMH*
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What did the Harvard guy say? That millennials "distrust the government"? Is he kidding? They're the ones who elected this current government. What do they "mistrust"? That they haven't gotten more free stuff? That they're actually going to have to pay back student loans?
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CPO Andy Carrillo, MS
CPO Randy Francis, and that my nephew (27) can't afford Obamacare as an SF State grad student. He also sees cops being charged with 1st degree murder with more frequency than ever before, so he's not too keen with current government.
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SGT K G
CPO Randy Francis Saying that we elected this current government is like saying babies are responsible for not knowing how to use the restroom. If you look at the statistics of us compared to everyone that's not a millennial we're not the entire cause. Plus many of us are vastly aware of student loans. If you compare the markets to when you were of college age you would understand that the rate of student loans to income of jobs acquired with said student loans it is vastly disproportional in comparison. All the hopes and dreams that previous generations have instilled take 10x's the amount of work it took when they were our age. It's almost entirely impossible. And I have not gotten more free stuff. I've starved and served my way through college.
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The same not in my back yard mentality. In theory they want to fight ISIS so long as it doesn’t interfere with their Starbucks latte and Snapchat.
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