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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?
Posted in these groups: 
Socialism
Socialism
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 23
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Convents and monasteries come to mind. One person in charge and every one doing the same thing at the same time. Wear the same clothing. Food for thought. In Vietnam there were the Monks.
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
If you look at Socialism from the very heart, something that is totally funded from taxes: roads and military defense are just two examples. The United States military is the largest and most funded (socialist) program in the world. It operates, thanks to our taxpayer dollars, and protects the country as a whole. From the richest citizens to the homeless who sleep under the bridge. We are all protected by our military whether we pay taxes or not. Some believe this is pure socialism. This is what is argued...so what is your rebuttle?
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I think the military is Socialist in a broad sense for the reasons stated. Military healthcare is socialized, the supply system is certainly socialized, the needs and freedoms of the organization or group are typically placed ahead of those of the individual. There could be an argument it is also somewhat Fascist.
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Absolutely I see the similarities. America has a lot more socialism than people like to think. Like medicaid, social security, our police force, public school system, foodstamps, pell grants, fire department, public works, and subsidized housing.
There are plenty of examples of socialism in the states and most people don't even realize it. Lots of them are even good.
Also, we are not a democracy. We are a republic. People seem to not realize that as well.
There are plenty of examples of socialism in the states and most people don't even realize it. Lots of them are even good.
Also, we are not a democracy. We are a republic. People seem to not realize that as well.
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Of course there are similarities to Socialism in the Military. Our American way of life includes many similarities to Socialism and has since the Great Depression and FDR. One could also make the fallacious argument that the military way of life is based on Sparta rather than Athens; it would be as valid as saying Socialism rather than Democracy.
The Socialist Model fails because people may advance not through an impartial systematic system, but through self promotion but hard work, which is supposed to be the same for ALL workers in that system. There should be no difference in pay or privileges between any of the workers and there certainly should never be any managers; yet in the military you can advance through a total of 24 different promotions. What true Socialist Society would ever have that many classes?
The Socialist Model fails because people may advance not through an impartial systematic system, but through self promotion but hard work, which is supposed to be the same for ALL workers in that system. There should be no difference in pay or privileges between any of the workers and there certainly should never be any managers; yet in the military you can advance through a total of 24 different promotions. What true Socialist Society would ever have that many classes?
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
Generally speaking there are rhe workers and the 'authorities'...in a socialism theme...there are many dis-similarities and I was hoping someone would of taken the time to illustrate it....because the argument comes up so frequently, it's difficult to discern what really is...and what really isnt.
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There is nothing more feared and hated in America.
The word alone sends shivers down the spine of the American people.
Those three syllables conger up images of Big Brother Government ruling over us all, telling us what to eat, wear, buy, and think. Our children in national uniform being indoctrinated with propaganda in government education camps that use to be schools, turning them into little slaves. While their parents work twelve hour shifts in the concentration camp that slaughters rich successful billionaires, as the poor and needy get a million dollars a month in welfare. A murderous government waging a war against freedom and liberty to gain complete control over everyone and everything.
You know, the way things were under that socialist Bill Clinton. And the way things are now under that socialist Barack Obama.
They imagine the USSR and how Democrats are turning America into it because our government will give money to poor people so they don't starve to death. (Giving money to billion dollar corporations is NOT socialism somehow. You would be a communist and a hippie to think otherwise.)
This is scary stuff!
And it's about to get scarier, because I have some terrifying news for you....
Socialism is alive and well in America and it has been here for a very long time! Every tax supported benefit program from IRS, TSA, NPR, CIA, to police and fire department to wages for teachers, politicians, military, to even our sewer and garbage are all tax supported and you all reap the benefits even if you do not pay one dime in taxes.
How ironic...I'm not any more comfortable discussing this than the next person. I'm not trying to sway your beliefs, but there it is...on paper.
The word alone sends shivers down the spine of the American people.
Those three syllables conger up images of Big Brother Government ruling over us all, telling us what to eat, wear, buy, and think. Our children in national uniform being indoctrinated with propaganda in government education camps that use to be schools, turning them into little slaves. While their parents work twelve hour shifts in the concentration camp that slaughters rich successful billionaires, as the poor and needy get a million dollars a month in welfare. A murderous government waging a war against freedom and liberty to gain complete control over everyone and everything.
You know, the way things were under that socialist Bill Clinton. And the way things are now under that socialist Barack Obama.
They imagine the USSR and how Democrats are turning America into it because our government will give money to poor people so they don't starve to death. (Giving money to billion dollar corporations is NOT socialism somehow. You would be a communist and a hippie to think otherwise.)
This is scary stuff!
And it's about to get scarier, because I have some terrifying news for you....
Socialism is alive and well in America and it has been here for a very long time! Every tax supported benefit program from IRS, TSA, NPR, CIA, to police and fire department to wages for teachers, politicians, military, to even our sewer and garbage are all tax supported and you all reap the benefits even if you do not pay one dime in taxes.
How ironic...I'm not any more comfortable discussing this than the next person. I'm not trying to sway your beliefs, but there it is...on paper.
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SSG (Join to see)
In some areas I've fairly conservative: banning abortion after 1st trimester as long as life of mother not at risk, gun control, strong defense... in others I'm very liberal: Single payer medical care, robust social security system. I'm libertarian when it comes to most individual liberties and very authoritarian when it comes to how corporations are allowed to exploit natural resources and labor. I'm proud to call myself liberal, however in some areas I'm also very conservative... we need to recognize the limitations of the labels we use. Most people are going to hold positions that range from liberal to conservative unless their a koolaid drinking (insert label here).
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SSG(P) (Join to see)
Good Point Sgt. one is rarely strict I've conservative...or liberal across the board. Free programs are often welcomed and rarely refused from even the most conservatives...even in the military, if they overpaid you on TDY pay, most SM would look the other way. It's funny how politically you can call yourself a conservative but be pro-gay rights, pro-abortion and feel you deserve free medical and free college...labels are meant to divide. I think in a lot of ways, labels confuse....for example, if I think politically conservative, therefore I HAVE to be (must be) conservative across the board. I have liberal friends that tell me a lot of their military views border on conservative.
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When i was in, during mostly cold war era,i felt like we had to live it in order to understand and fight against it ,it did feel like it it on occasions ,learned to adapt to it,but the cold beer at the end of the day was refreshing ah.
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People believe the military is "socialist" because we have universal health care, retirement and other trappings that on the surface appear socialistic. However, what they fail to realize is that those benefits only come if you are IN the military.....meaning they are tied to employment not universal entitlements. As long as you are employed by the military you get them. Unless you retire (and when you retire you're still technically IN the military) or have service connected disabilities, the day you leave, you lose those bennies. That is not how socialistic entitlements work.
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SSG(P) (Join to see), there have been many arguments presented here about your topic, so I won't burden the RP population with more. I guess my thoughts are more concerned with your last paragraph, wherein you pose your questions. I served for 28 years, and in that time, no one, even during the Vietnam era when everyone questioned everything, has ever compared military service to socialism, whether they were liberal or conservative. I don't think that people in general think of military service that way. Quite frankly, I never looked at that way myself. It creates no paradox for me.
1LT Sandy Annala
1LT Sandy Annala
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