Posted on Jan 17, 2014
Should the President and elected officals with the power to send our sons and daughters to war be required to have served in the military?
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I feel it should be law that all political office members from president on down should have to have served in the military before they can be voted into office. If these people are going to have the power to decide who and when we go to war they should know what it is like to lead in the military. Far too many of our leaders have never served, and neither have their children yet they vote to send ours to war. <div>I recall at the height of the war in 2006 when politicians were considering a draft or mandatory conscription service. However they were silent when asked if their own children would be subject to the requirements of such a requirement.</div><div>A doctor must go to med school before they can legally practice medicine so the president should have to be a veteran before they can be commander in chief.</div>
Congress
Warfare
Military service
Office of the President (POTUS)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 114
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Bad idea, and undoubtedly unconstitutional. Consider this historic example; many may disagree with his New Deal politics, but FDR would be excluded. He was one of our nation's few leaders in the 30s to foresee the threat the Nazis posed.<br>
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Suspended Profile
However, I wish the administration had listened to Gen. Douglas MacAuthur in the Korean War and allowed him to push the Communists out of North Korea. In the end, military should have the final say in military operations. When the wars become about politics, it seems the military suffers in completing the mission.
1SG(P) (Join to see)
I suggest you read Thomas Ricks' "The Generals". MacArthur stepped across the line between strategy and policy. Regardless of who we think had the best course of action, MacArthur was insubordinate and was developing his own foreign policy. Besides, Truman was a WWI vet.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/02/the-generals-tom-ricks_n_1979201.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/02/the-generals-tom-ricks_n_1979201.html
WASHINGTON -- As the country chooses a president Tuesday, a timely new book by a veteran military writer makes the case that it is now easier to sack the commander in chief than it is to remove the g...
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SPC Craig Weaver
I think it should be a requirement that the president and vice president should have served in military
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As much as I agree with you that the President and political office holders should be veterans who have served in the uniformed services, I would disagree for the simple reason that our nation is a democratic republic, and that the dream of a small physically disabled child born in the United States can aspire to become someday a House member, US Senator or US Congressman or even President of the United States.
We, that have served and continually to serve, have made our choices. Let us celebrate our choice of vocation without reprisal, hate or malice to those who are not like us, yet are saturated in curiosity of who we are; Sailor, Soldier, Airman, Marine, Coastie...we are the uniformed services.
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There are many complex issues that effect the American people. One of those is the current economy consisting in high unemployment numbers, increasing inflation, more part-time jobs being created over full-time jobs, etc. What does having served in the military have to do with fixing the economy? How does having served in the military have any bearing on making someone more knowledgeable in the areas that affect most Americans? It doesn't.
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SFC (Join to see)
Ok I can concede the point of the infirmed not being able to serve yet still able to successfully hold office. However I still firmly believe that EVERY physically capable American should have to serve in the military for a period of time. If you are going to enjoy the benefits of living in America you should have to give something back.
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I'd like politicians to have served. As was stated by LT Matthews, I wouldn't want to exclude a powerful mind that is physically unable.
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