Should Citizenship require a term of Service?

[Guest bkelm18]

I will say this, a few people here have gained ALOT of respect from me and 1 or 2 have made me utterly sick.

I'm not going to start a riot, but I'll say this I stand with Bkelm, Crimson, and Jack 100%. I can't say anything nice that they didn't say. I'm tempted to just cuss and call names.

I think service is a great thing, but I think it should be voluntary, but with some extra benefits. Special privileges for people sacrificing certain ways of life and doing a job most wouldn't. I don't want to be FORCED to do anything. This is supposed to be a FREE country.

Booya!

[robin48]

Citizenship is a birthright. Anything else is socialism, even outright communism.

[Guest jackdog]

at one time i would have said no. but now with the way things are,, i have changed my mind. 18 to 24 months in the military should be the standard for males, females could do military or other service. for the ones that can not cut it, something could be found,, i.e.. picking up trash, parks service, etc.....

Forcing someone into the military scares the crap out of me. I have seen and dealt with a lot of 18 to 24 year old young folks. There are a bunch of these folks that would never be good material for the military. Would I want to be side by side in combat with these guys? Think I'll pass. Not saying that some of these guys would not be good or capable but I think the majority would not be. Major conflict if you have to draft folks, you do what you have to do.

Let's leave our military a volunteer force if at all possible.

[Guest Schwarzgebrannt]

Everyone who supports service in order to have a vote, what would you do to someone who reacted to this change with violence?

[Mike.357]

I was born here, there is not one thing else I need to do to as far as being allowed to vote. There is not one other thing anyone born here needs.

If you weren't born here then follow the steps to citizenship, and get a vote.

I think the founding fathers would spin in their grave at some of the ideas posted in this thread. And they were pretty freaking smart, amazed I am at how their ideology carries into present day.

[Oh Shoot]

I was born here, there is not one thing else I need to do to as far as being allowed to vote. There is not one other thing anyone born here needs....

Only an atheist would say that.

- OS

[Guest Schwarzgebrannt]

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.

I consider a right to have fair say in how my government runs my country and impacts my life to be a unalienable right. What some of you advocate is nothing more than serfdom. That model of government has no place in a country that claims to be free.

And what is the proper response to those who try to press others into serfdom?

Bullets and rope.

[Tim Nunan]

Fans of Robert Heinlein know where I'm going here. Should Citizenship be a birthright, or tied to serving your country (not neccessarily in the military)?

TANSTAAFL -There ain't no such thing as a free lunch - Robert Heinlein

[mousegunner]

All men are ________________ equal.

They are endowed by their ___________ with certain unalienable rights.

That's what the founding fathers believed. Those who reject their ____________, will be part of the problem, not the solution, to our nations troubles.

[G27]

All men are ________________ equal.

They are endowed by their ___________ with certain unalienable rights.

That's what the founding fathers believed. Those who reject their ____________, will be part of the problem, not the solution, to our nations troubles.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

[memphismason]

Fans of Robert Heinlein know where I'm going here. Should Citizenship be a birthright, or tied to serving your country (not neccessarily in the military)?

Birthright!

[Oh Shoot]

....

They are endowed by their ___________ with certain unalienable rights.

This "Creator" gave me the unalienable right to doubt his existence -- otherwise I couldn't, eh?

(an example of the circular arguments you get when debating the unprovable and unknowable)

- OS

[Guest SUNTZU]

Heinlein wrote a rebuttal in one of is books explaining what he was talking about. I think it was more a rant on his part about the political climate in his day. I haven't been able to find it for free on the internet. I might write it up this evening. He personally couldn't believe that Starship Troopers won a Hugo.

[Machman]

Die, Rightwinger.

There was no Starship Troopers movie. And there sure as frak were not two gorramed awful sequels...

+42

[Mike.357]

my parents were my creator(s)

Can't ask my father, but I expect mom thinks thats all they needed to do for me to be a citizen and have rights.

[Guest Schwarzgebrannt]

Heinlein wrote a rebuttal in one of is books explaining what he was talking about. I think it was more a rant on his part about the political climate in his day. I haven't been able to find it for free on the internet. I might write it up this evening. He personally couldn't believe that Starship Troopers won a Hugo.

Many people think that the socialist-fascist utopia that he described was a viable society. They get confused and think that because Heinlein was a talented writer and capable of presenting that society in a non-negative light, he must also be advocating it.

He wasn't. He was actually a libertarian minded, shoot from the rooftops type.

[mousegunner]

I bet there is one point we all agree on: Heinlein was a great SF writer, and one of my all time favorites. I read his books often from my teen years and on up. I think my favorite novel was "Between Planets."