Politicians sending others off to war

Lost In Ohio

I'm watching (ok, mostly listening) to the "talking heads" on the news and they're talking about how a ton of politicians have zero military experience, but seem to be ok with sending others off to war, while they sit back in comfort.

I'm really thinking Eddie or the band said something about this...or was there a protest song? All I can easily come up with is "Masters of War" and "No More."

Is there anything more specific?

Thirty Bills Unpaid

Everybody else's kids, but not theirs.

ldent42

Yea it was a line in a song. Cashing checks that others pay or something like that.

PJfanwillneverleave1

Marker in the Sand has a good reference
Medals on a wooden mantle. Next to a handsome face.
That the president took for granted.
Writing checks that others pay

CH156378

From aPJ cover:

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no, no
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no

brianlux

"It's always the old to lead us to the war
It's always the young to fall"

-Phil Ochs, "I Ain't Marching Anymore"

ldent42

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Marker in the Sand has a good reference
Medals on a wooden mantle. Next to a handsome face.
That the president took for granted.
Writing checks that others pay

I was close

WhatYouTaughtMe

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Marker in the Sand has a good reference
Medals on a wooden mantle. Next to a handsome face.
That the president took for granted.
Writing checks that others pay

Great line. Wrong song! That's from World Wide Suicide.

Although Marker has one of my favorites.

"You've got both sides,
claiming killing in God's name,
but God is nowhere,
to be found conveniently."

(Not really on topic, sorry)

PJfanwillneverleave1

WhatYouTaughtMe said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Marker in the Sand has a good reference
Medals on a wooden mantle. Next to a handsome face.
That the president took for granted.
Writing checks that others pay

Great line. Wrong song! That's from World Wide Suicide.

Although Marker has one of my favorites.

"You've got both sides,
claiming killing in God's name,
but God is nowhere,
to be found conveniently."

(Not really on topic, sorry)

Thanks for that correction.
Draft feature posted first.
The words and songs blend.

brianlux

WhatYouTaughtMe said:

PJfanwillneverleave1 said:

Marker in the Sand has a good reference
Medals on a wooden mantle. Next to a handsome face.
That the president took for granted.
Writing checks that others pay

Great line. Wrong song! That's from World Wide Suicide.

Although Marker has one of my favorites.

"You've got both sides,
claiming killing in God's name,
but God is nowhere,
to be found conveniently."

(Not really on topic, sorry)

I would say spot on target. MITS is such a great song (one of my favorite's) and that line is definitely ant-war.

tempo_n_groove

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

jnimhaoileoin

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

That is a very very good point

callen

jnimhaoileoin said:

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

That is a very very good point

On surface it appears to be a good point but it isn't. In poor communities the schools are shit and no manufacturing jobs so many poor kids join military to break out. So they make up the losses. Not the fortunate better off kids that have better opportunities The poor die in our wars, not rich kids.

Thirty Bills Unpaid

callen said:

jnimhaoileoin said:

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

That is a very very good point

On surface it appears to be a good point but it isn't. In poor communities the schools are shit and no manufacturing jobs so many poor kids join military to break out. So they make up the losses. Not the fortunate better off kids that have better opportunities The poor die in our wars, not rich kids.

There is certainly a portion of the military comprised of people fighting for principle or values, but there is a significant portion fighting for lack of other options.

For the first time in a week and a half... Callen has a good point!

jnimhaoileoin

callen said:

jnimhaoileoin said:

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

That is a very very good point

On surface it appears to be a good point but it isn't. In poor communities the schools are shit and no manufacturing jobs so many poor kids join military to break out. So they make up the losses. Not the fortunate better off kids that have better opportunities The poor die in our wars, not rich kids.

I guess I'm never going to understand it, coming from a country whose military only ever perform peacekeeping duties and where education is pretty much free

rgambs

jnimhaoileoin said:

callen said:

jnimhaoileoin said:

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

That is a very very good point

On surface it appears to be a good point but it isn't. In poor communities the schools are shit and no manufacturing jobs so many poor kids join military to break out. So they make up the losses. Not the fortunate better off kids that have better opportunities The poor die in our wars, not rich kids.

I guess I'm never going to understand it, coming from a country whose military only ever perform peacekeeping duties and where education is pretty much free

Tens of thousands of kids are lost in our education system before they reach 10 years old!

callen

Thirty Bills Unpaid said:

callen said:

jnimhaoileoin said:

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

That is a very very good point

On surface it appears to be a good point but it isn't. In poor communities the schools are shit and no manufacturing jobs so many poor kids join military to break out. So they make up the losses. Not the fortunate better off kids that have better opportunities The poor die in our wars, not rich kids.

There is certainly a portion of the military comprised of people fighting for principle or values, but there is a significant portion fighting for lack of other options.

For the first time in a week and a half... Callen has a good point!

I love you to Thirty.

dignin

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

The draft. It has happened before, it can happen again.

Jason P

dignin said:

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

The draft. It has happened before, it can happen again.

Technology and cost considered, the draft will not happen again. Unless the shit really hits the fan. Then we are all fucked.

tempo_n_groove

callen said:

jnimhaoileoin said:

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

That is a very very good point

On surface it appears to be a good point but it isn't. In poor communities the schools are shit and no manufacturing jobs so many poor kids join military to break out. So they make up the losses. Not the fortunate better off kids that have better opportunities The poor die in our wars, not rich kids.

You watch Michael Moore documentaries? He actually chases the senators and asks them why their kids aren't serving.

Years ago you had to have served to be considered for president. That's not the case anymore.

I actually think that every citizen should donate 2 years to military service. EVERY citizen. There would be no one to scoff at because only a medical reason would keep you out.

oftenreading

tempo_n_groove said:

callen said:

jnimhaoileoin said:

tempo_n_groove said:

If you don't join the military then you won't have to worry about going to war. That's an easy way to look at it, no?

"Treating people just like pawns in chess"

That is a very very good point

On surface it appears to be a good point but it isn't. In poor communities the schools are shit and no manufacturing jobs so many poor kids join military to break out. So they make up the losses. Not the fortunate better off kids that have better opportunities The poor die in our wars, not rich kids.

You watch Michael Moore documentaries? He actually chases the senators and asks them why their kids aren't serving.

Years ago you had to have served to be considered for president. That's not the case anymore.

I actually think that every citizen should donate 2 years to military service. EVERY citizen. There would be no one to scoff at because only a medical reason would keep you out.

There would then be a preponderance of medical issues among the kids of the rich.