One of the ways the U.S. is distinguished in history is that defense is the common responsibility of all citizens. This flows from the decision to establish it as a republic.
This was the basis for the draft, which was not restricted to a specific warrior class; any man of eligible age had to fight if called up and medically cleared.
Today, anyone can volunteer for military service and (again, if medically cleared) they will get trained up and added to the military.
If members of the military see themselves as somehow special within society, it is because of the choices, commitments, and service they have each made as individuals. Not because they are part of some separate class of violence.
And who accept the physical risk of doing so, in order for people like Palmer can profit handsomely from it, without having to take on any of that risk themselves.
A classless society that never aspired to have or need a warrior class, to a society that inexplicably needs a "warrior class" that presumably answers to the moneyed capital class alone.
It reminds me of Col Jessup from a Few Good Men “You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall.”
Him being an edge-lord tool or an honest psychopath are completely indistinguishable in text form, and actually only one party, the edgelord, has any motive to lie.
I think this guy is getting a bit overboard and trying to monetize the moment. He should recall the Cold War - one country can't advance without other major powers catching up quickly. The only way to avoid conflict is diplomacy and America has been bad at it recently! The Democrats pushed both Russia and China into war mode, making them partners.
Absolutely not! Violence only leads to more violence - if not immediately, then shortly after. Even the Ukraine war started with violence back in 2014. And exactly looking back into history and not just hypothesiszing that "Eye for an eye" never worked! Russia was pushed into war by Obama and Biden (when he was Obama's vice president). So, let's see how Georgia dreams to join NATO will end up! Ukraine #2? Well, Georgia is no Ukraine - at least not from a military point of view, which only matters.
Even the Ukraine war started with violence back in 2014.
Right - violent invasions of Ukrainian territory by Russia.
Russia was pushed into war by Obama and Biden
This just is a repeat of what you said earlier. But in short -- in no way was Russia's regime "pushed" into doing what it did in 2014. The move was entirely optional for Putin. He did what he did because he thought he could obtain a certain advantage on the playing field, and because he thought he could get away with it.
You’re right “pushed” is the wrong word. “Provoked” (repeatedly, incessantly) would be a more appropriate way to describe the coup and subsequent actions.
One of the ways the U.S. is distinguished in history is that defense is the common responsibility of all citizens. This flows from the decision to establish it as a republic.
This was the basis for the draft, which was not restricted to a specific warrior class; any man of eligible age had to fight if called up and medically cleared.
Today, anyone can volunteer for military service and (again, if medically cleared) they will get trained up and added to the military.
If members of the military see themselves as somehow special within society, it is because of the choices, commitments, and service they have each made as individuals. Not because they are part of some separate class of violence.
I think your last two sentences are at odds.
There are many American soldiers who see their service as a silent personal humble sacrifice. I know a handful.
There are also others that view their service as a right to violence and only seek that. I know of one
Its a venn diagram bit I think the overlap is small.
We don’t need a warrior class.
We do need to stop stigmatizing people for trying to defend their loved ones or defend their country.
And who accept the physical risk of doing so, in order for people like Palmer can profit handsomely from it, without having to take on any of that risk themselves.
See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mostly_Other_People_Do_the_Kil...
A classless society that never aspired to have or need a warrior class, to a society that inexplicably needs a "warrior class" that presumably answers to the moneyed capital class alone.
So long as wars are waged with violence, he's probably right. At least, you do need a set of people who are up to the job when it needs doing.
“You need people like me who are sick in that way and who don’t lose any sleep making tools of violence in order to preserve freedom.”
Yeah, repeat that when you’re on the frontline there, buddy. What a tool.
It reminds me of Col Jessup from a Few Good Men “You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall -- you need me on that wall.”
A pretty important difference is that Palmer Luckey has never and will never be "on that wall."
Him being an edge-lord tool or an honest psychopath are completely indistinguishable in text form, and actually only one party, the edgelord, has any motive to lie.
I've never heard of more obvious statement been so blatantly disagreed with by people who should genuinely know better.
I think this guy is getting a bit overboard and trying to monetize the moment. He should recall the Cold War - one country can't advance without other major powers catching up quickly. The only way to avoid conflict is diplomacy and America has been bad at it recently! The Democrats pushed both Russia and China into war mode, making them partners.
Russia's regime pushed itself into war mode.
As for China - no one can push China into anything.
The only way to avoid conflict is diplomacy
This is unfortunately false. As indicated by all of known human history.
Absolutely not! Violence only leads to more violence - if not immediately, then shortly after. Even the Ukraine war started with violence back in 2014. And exactly looking back into history and not just hypothesiszing that "Eye for an eye" never worked! Russia was pushed into war by Obama and Biden (when he was Obama's vice president). So, let's see how Georgia dreams to join NATO will end up! Ukraine #2? Well, Georgia is no Ukraine - at least not from a military point of view, which only matters.
Even the Ukraine war started with violence back in 2014.
Right - violent invasions of Ukrainian territory by Russia.
Russia was pushed into war by Obama and Biden
This just is a repeat of what you said earlier. But in short -- in no way was Russia's regime "pushed" into doing what it did in 2014. The move was entirely optional for Putin. He did what he did because he thought he could obtain a certain advantage on the playing field, and because he thought he could get away with it.
You’re right “pushed” is the wrong word. “Provoked” (repeatedly, incessantly) would be a more appropriate way to describe the coup and subsequent actions.
Except there was no coup, nor any subsequent actions which provoked such a response.