What would happen if we did things like in "Starship Troopers" where only veterans have the right to vote?

Capt Tom Orlando, MSOM, PMP — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 11:35:35 -0400

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jul 27 at 2015 11:37 AM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 11:37:41 -0400

Well in this world we would be paid our worth. Also if this came to be the rate of people choosing to serve would rise considerably.

“Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea.” – Samuel Johnson

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 11:38 AM

1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 11:38:27 -0400

That would change the political structure of the country and I believe it trend very conservative.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jul 27 at 2015 12:07 PM

SSG John Jensen — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 12:07:40 -0400

I believe that part of the book is from Plato's Republic where there are citizens and residents and only citizens vote, the rest of the book is based on Sparta, where a man's real home is his barracks
'and Englishmen now abed shall think themselves accursed they were not here'

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Jul 27 at 2015 12:11 PM

MSgt James Mullis — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 12:11:36 -0400

"Service means Citizenship". I don't believe that it would have a lasting or major on affect on American politics. The leadership class would spend 2-4 years in an administrative position somewhere, then go out and start their political lives. I'd rather we required everyone to take an Intelligence and reading comprehension test to be able to vote. FYI: I mentioned that once at a party and was told it was somehow racist. It's interesting to note that Robert A Heinlein, who wrote "Starship Troopers", changed his political views a number of times during his long life. He started out as a FDR Democrat/Liberal, then became a Conservative, then Libertarian, and finally ended up as a self described philosophical "autarchist", which is a political philosophy that upholds the principle of individual liberty, rejects compulsory government, and supports the elimination of government in favor of ruling oneself and no other.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 27 at 2015 12:17 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 12:17:38 -0400

As much as I think it's a good idea, especially considering low information voters, our country was formed as a constituional republic so all citizens have the right to vote

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jul 27 at 2015 1:23 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:23:43 -0400

As a different approach, what if we were assigned 1 Senate slot, and the appropriate number of House and Electoral votes to match the population as if we were a "Veteran and Service Member's District"? This would ensure we are represented and we would be able to cut out that crud about districts refusing to send absentee ballots on time.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Jul 27 at 2015 1:39 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:39:10 -0400

And only veterans could be presidents! :)

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jul 27 at 2015 1:46 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:46:08 -0400

Create a ruling class based on participation in an organization that could not sustainably take everyone who wanted to join? No thanks. I know MANY great leaders that would have been ineligible to serve for a number of reasons completely unrelated to their character.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 2:10 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:10:25 -0400

It sounds good but I would fear that there would be many ways to exclude people much like gerrymandering of voting districts goes on now.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Jul 27 at 2015 2:13 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 14:13:50 -0400

I imagine recruiting would soar.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2015 5:22 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 17:22:40 -0400

Hi, Captain Orlando.
The crux is that the military would be in control of the government and, to stay in control, it would have to constantly find large-scale wars to be in. Otherwise, they lose power of the government by losing control of the people. They ended up fighting bugs on the other side of the galaxy that didn’t pose a real threat to maintain control.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Jul 27 at 2015 8:07 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:07:55 -0400

I don't like the equation between service and universal sufferage (voting) - I do believe that just because a person pays taxes doesn't mean they do enough. I do like how the French Foreign Legion grants the right apply for citizenship after 3yrs