Could a conservative survive at Reed?

[Ctesiphon]

But see, this is idealistic talk. If you recognize, as I think you do, that at present soldiers are necessary, what do you suggest is the best way to motivate people to serve in this capacity. If you are suggesting that a draft would be better than a volunteer army, would YOU be willing to serve if you got drafted? It seems to me that it’s much better to provide some kind of idealistic motivation–even if it sometimes fails in practice–than to accept the idea that we are simply hiring a bunch of mercenaries. If we do that, we risk having those people simply continue to be mercenaries.

I would not suggest that the draft be re-instituted. Why, me? I would likely not want to serve in the draft, thank you for asking me. I do not think I am understanding correctly the point in the latter half of your post. Am I correct in equating your concept of “idealistic motivation” to propaganda?

An issue I have with the military in the United States is that the U.S. people generally have no say in how the military is utilized globally. It is Congress who has the power to declare war (and extend a military arm), and with their decision the massive U.S. military is mobilized to fulfill whatever capitalist desires they may have. Thus, those who sign up to join the military, subject themselves to the whims of the legislative branch. Since a member here does not support the use of “hired killer”, I will thus refer to them as “mercenaries”, which will serve as an excellent euphemism. I would be willing to be drafted into a military where the people are the ones who decide where the military will go and outline exactly our purpose in being there. Then I know I am truly fighting for the interests of the majority. The people would not force us into a senseless war that causes economic burden on the home front, so if we are the deciders of our own military’s actions, then we will be more cautious and less wanton with our military throughout the world.

If you are equating war with capitalism, then you need to study history.

I am not equating war with capitalism. I said capitalism demands routine warfare. I did not say that routine warfare demands capitalism. There can be wars without capitalism, no doubt, as was before the advent of capitalism.

Especially in the 21st century we see a phenomenon of militarized accumulation–wars instigated by the ruling class to create cycles of destruction and redevelopment, creating large profits for the military-industrial economy. In the last century, the Middle East has been the prime grounds for the “developed” world to prompt such wars. Not to mention the amounts of money defense contractors make when America and other nations enter a war and demand even more state-of-the-art technology.