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There have been many comparisons of military life to a socialism existence.
I am strictly conservative and find this subject distasteful, however, I bring it up to see how everyone else has responded to this argument. A large majority of military members run the conservative gamut, and therefore are largely anti-socialism.
However, we have seen many changes in the last decade thst appear to be taking this great country down a very govt-dependent path.
In a Socialism model, there is no difference in class, we are all equals, and none do without. Education, Health, Housing is all paid for...this is one of the arguments about the eerily similarities of military life and socialism.
2 million men and women wake up at approximately the same time.
They all wear the same uniform.
They all March to the same drum or cadence, even singing songs.
Their housing is taken care of and communal living is commonplace. When communal living is not provided, private housing is subsidized. Food is provided. Everyone is paid according to their rank, not merit. (Merit comes in later, of course)
Free healthcare is provided, often times for life.
There is little difference in lifestyle between troops, they can pretty much live as equals, none richer than the other.
We contribute $1200 to the MGIB, and get back $90k+. That is a free education no matter how you look at it.
The Differences:
It is a volunteer force until you sign the document, then and only then you are forced...or in a contract.
There is a merit based system, so one can advance.
The poorest soldier can, over time, make it from the stock room to the boardroom (figuratively speaking), and eventually become a General Officer.
When this topic is broached with your peers or liberal family member, how do you handle it?
Do you agree about the eery similarities?
Does it kind of create a paradox with your conservative ideals?
I am strictly conservative and find this subject distasteful, however, I bring it up to see how everyone else has responded to this argument. A large majority of military members run the conservative gamut, and therefore are largely anti-socialism.
However, we have seen many changes in the last decade thst appear to be taking this great country down a very govt-dependent path.
In a Socialism model, there is no difference in class, we are all equals, and none do without. Education, Health, Housing is all paid for...this is one of the arguments about the eerily similarities of military life and socialism.
2 million men and women wake up at approximately the same time.
They all wear the same uniform.
They all March to the same drum or cadence, even singing songs.
Their housing is taken care of and communal living is commonplace. When communal living is not provided, private housing is subsidized. Food is provided. Everyone is paid according to their rank, not merit. (Merit comes in later, of course)
Free healthcare is provided, often times for life.
There is little difference in lifestyle between troops, they can pretty much live as equals, none richer than the other.
We contribute $1200 to the MGIB, and get back $90k+. That is a free education no matter how you look at it.
The Differences:
It is a volunteer force until you sign the document, then and only then you are forced...or in a contract.
There is a merit based system, so one can advance.
The poorest soldier can, over time, make it from the stock room to the boardroom (figuratively speaking), and eventually become a General Officer.
When this topic is broached with your peers or liberal family member, how do you handle it?
Do you agree about the eery similarities?
Does it kind of create a paradox with your conservative ideals?
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Socialism
Socialism
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 24
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SSG(P) (Join to see). One could just as easily argue that the military is ultimately equivalent to a feudal hierarchical oligarchy where the rich, famous, and otherwise privileged class has distinct and almost hereditary advantage in being initially appointed to officer ranks and future advancement. Or an early imperial predatory capitalist economy poaching on their neighboring indigenous populations / economies for sake of advancement of capitalist lords / economies vs exploited populations / economies. One could even argue the military might be reasonably characterized as a totalitarian dictatorship . . . only the president in this case is not president for life. The military cannot be reasonably classified as socialism. Yes, I'm a conservative constitutional constructionist. Warmest Regards, Sandy
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The similarities are superficial, and are the result, not of comparing military life to an economic system, but because military life requires a certain amount of authoritarianism to function, being the only substantive similarity.
We've all heard, and embraced to one extent or another, that we defend Democracy, we don't practice it. And that's the crux of the matter.
And the greatest difference in this aspect is that those living under Socialism have little opportunity to exit or choice about entry. In the military, we sign a contract, absent a draft, of our own volition. We receive housing, food, medical care, education.... as terms of our very Capitalist contract.
If you remove that authoritarian element, all that remains are benefits earned in return for work.
We've all heard, and embraced to one extent or another, that we defend Democracy, we don't practice it. And that's the crux of the matter.
And the greatest difference in this aspect is that those living under Socialism have little opportunity to exit or choice about entry. In the military, we sign a contract, absent a draft, of our own volition. We receive housing, food, medical care, education.... as terms of our very Capitalist contract.
If you remove that authoritarian element, all that remains are benefits earned in return for work.
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You have an incorrect idea of what is socialism. Socialism is about consolidating resources and then redistributing them to reduce inequality.
Public schools are a socialist concept, allowing all to be educated and reducing the educational advantage of the wealthy.
Social security is income redistribution and is a socialist program.
Our tax system is socialist, with higher tax rates for the rich.
The fact that our military is regimented no more makes us socialist than the Prussian Army of Frederick the Great.
Public schools are a socialist concept, allowing all to be educated and reducing the educational advantage of the wealthy.
Social security is income redistribution and is a socialist program.
Our tax system is socialist, with higher tax rates for the rich.
The fact that our military is regimented no more makes us socialist than the Prussian Army of Frederick the Great.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
I've picked a few ideals from socialism for this discussion, please remember, this has been brought up and even argued about with me...I'm not pro-socislism, but of you tease it apart, you can see some similar ideals. The uniforms, the marching, the concerted effort towards a common cause. I listed some differences in addition to the similarities. I am in no way saying it is purely based on socialism, but we do all get paid the same in each rank and clearly everyone does not do the same amount of work....that is the equality part
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Capt Gregory Prickett
SSG(P) (Join to see), no, I'm sorry, but uniforms and marching have nothing to do with socialism. Neither do the concerted efforts toward a common cause. If so, every army in history would have been socialist, and they were not.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
If they are completely tax funded, they are. Those were presented to compare an analogy....metaphorically speaking.
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SP5 Michael Rathbun
Back in the '60s I was convinced that medical care in the military was an example of the worst of socialized medicine.
Then as a civilian we lived in two countries that actually have universal health care in a single-payer system. Wish we could go back. I miss paying a grand total of 4% of my income for what would pass for a platinum-grade insurance plan in the USA nowadays.
But that is a different can of worms.
Then as a civilian we lived in two countries that actually have universal health care in a single-payer system. Wish we could go back. I miss paying a grand total of 4% of my income for what would pass for a platinum-grade insurance plan in the USA nowadays.
But that is a different can of worms.
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Your point about the military also having a lot of similarities to a feudal hierarchical oligarchies is a good one.