America’s Elite Needs to Get Back in Uniform

That would weed out the wheat from the chaff!

I'm always conflicted on this. When I was serving, even though I was fairly low-ranking, it was a question I thought about: Should everyone serve? My answer then would have been a clear, loud, definite "No." From what I remember, we could not have made use of the people who didn't want to be there. I can think of specific examples of people I've met after my service that would have been disasters as Soldiers (their self-perceptions being markedly to the contrary).

I look at Israel, however, and they seem to have it working pretty well there. Maybe reserve service would be good - keep the regular, active components volunteer-only. The only downside I see there is it would cost enormous amounts of money. Does it improve our defense any? I don't think so.

So, we'll always have more sheep than sheep dogs, but that's the way works anyhow.

I am old enough to remember when adults got together, the question almost always came up; what service were you in? Where did you serve?
Now, one never hears that unless someone is wearing a ballcap with something military on it.

While it was active, I opposed the draft. I thought of it as involuntary servitude. Now, with the conditions of this country, I think I may have been wrong. Some sort of required service for the public good may be beneficial. But, it would absolutely have to be 100% equal and fair. If one citizen is required to serve, all citizens should be so required. We all know that would never happen.

As to the "elites" I like to look at the examples of the Kennedy and Bush families. They are/were well-to-do families, but saw military service as an obligation to out nation.

Now, how many such families exist?