Comments on: I Shouldn’t Vote

By: Firefighter

Firefighter — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:51:43 +0000

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.

By: 4 of 7

4 of 7 — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:35:54 +0000

“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!

By: harvey

harvey — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:12:23 +0000

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?

By: Scary Things - 019

Scary Things - 019 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:42:45 +0000

[...] Heinlein Principle? [...]

By: 4 of 7

4 of 7 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:48:23 +0000

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).

By: Trish

Trish — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:29:34 +0000

If the Chicago machine and its handpicked puppet had their way, only DECEASED members of the military would be allowed to vote.

By: Sig

Sig — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:03:34 +0000

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.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:05:09 +0000

So was Patton.

By: otcconan

otcconan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:13:34 +0000

Heinlein was right.

By: ILoveMyFreedoms

ILoveMyFreedoms — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 17:43:07 +0000

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.

By: hansen

hansen — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:21:19 +0000

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!

By: Alucard

Alucard — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:02:26 +0000

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.

By: Cullen

Cullen — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:33:10 +0000

Nine years as a REMF (PAO) in the Army and 4 years (and going) of DoD civil service. McCain/Palin.

By: Zack

Zack — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:10:46 +0000

2 years so far of NBC defense and 41 left to go, MA. Air Guard. McCain/Palin.

By: Dick

Dick — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:11:06 +0000

Six years, Infantry. McCain/Palin.

By: Scott F.

Scott F. — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 01:29:12 +0000

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.

By: 4 of 7

4 of 7 — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:50:36 +0000

As long as you wear your flag pin, they won’t push you in the mud.

By: ILoveMyFreedoms

ILoveMyFreedoms — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:55:33 +0000

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.)

By: Browncoatone

Browncoatone — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:34:06 +0000

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.

By: George guy

George guy — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:59:20 +0000

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.

By: NunyaB

NunyaB — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:32:05 +0000

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.

By: Herpules

Herpules — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:57:56 +0000

Pushing you in the mud is better than pushing the mud out of you….

Unless you’re a Kos Kid.

By: BigRichardSmall

BigRichardSmall — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:54:00 +0000

#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.

By: Browncoatone

Browncoatone — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:03:48 +0000

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.

By: BigRichardSmall

BigRichardSmall — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:56:13 +0000

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.