Sharing the Burden

So, I've read some left of center bloggers and pundits saying, "Why doesn't Bush sign up his twins for Iraq if the war is so important and so just?"

I also just spotted an article from the Washington Post on the topic.

Obviously, on its face that is ridiculous--you don't sign your adult children up for military service, they sign-up themselves.

Barbara Bush is volunteering in the Cape Town Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital (in South Africa) and Jenna is currently teaching public school in Washington, D.C. ... I think those are certainly valid contributions. By the way, good for the White House for not exploiting these marvelous choices.

Why any one politician's children aren't in the military really isn't the issue, anyway.

While children often share the values (or lack thereof) of their parents, those values may not manifest themselves in the way the parent wishes. Besides, not everyone is suited for today's military. I would make a terrible soldier, personally.

What is the problem is that the burden of serving and protecting the country is not even close to evenly shared among the classes in our nation.

Of course, one could point to all the educated elites with that accusation, including the liberal professional class.

Even more directly, the drop in prestige in military service could be traced to the radical left's hatred of the military during and immediately following the Vietnam War.

After all, it was those liberal elites that forced ROTC off of the top college campuses in the late 1960s.

My DH and I went to Yale. Students who wished to complete the ROTC program had to drive an hour and a half each way to UCONN, almost completely eliminating their ability to take classes two days a week.

The military is even barred from recruiting on many campuses.

They would have you believe it is a result of discriminatory policies--that is a post-facto rationalization. Yes, that policy should change, but the answer is not complete withdrawal of the nation's educated elite from national defense.

Despite this, a few of our fellow graduates still claimed interest in serving the country after college. Yet, they were reluctant to lose the time and income relative to their peers. That is not an excuse but it is somewhat understandable and needs to be addressed if we want the military to reflect the society.

On Blogs for Bush, Matt argues that there are many ways to show support. This is true. Not everyone is suited or eligible for military service. Still, I do think it is a problem that so few contribute service to the country. Service does more than help others, it helps those who serve as well.

So, what is the solution?

All Americans should give two years of service to their country. They should be allowed to choose the form--AmeriCorps, teaching in disadvantaged areas, or enlisting in the military. Those who wish to complete their service by becoming officers should have to give an additional year to compensate and allow for the extra training. An auxiliary program should also be established for those who wish to share their talents with the military at home but may not have the physical toughness required for combat, thus freeing others for combat.

This will build unity, improve our nation, and ensure that everyone shares the burden. The wealthy will learn about living off of a smaller paycheck (although Daddy and Mommy will no doubt help...but I don't think there is any way around that) and others will perhaps discover a career with a steady paycheck, health care, and self-respect.

Those who are pacifists will have the opportunity to serve in other ways. Those who wish to serve in the military will be able to do so without fear of losing ground to their peers.

Of course, this would be very difficult to establish--political dynamite.

Still, it helps to imagine the world as it should be and then take steps towards that. We are a society that is justifiably and rightly concerned about tyranny...so instead of coercing people we can persuade.

We could begin by rebuilding the prestige around service. Allow ROTC and recruiters back onto the elite campuses.

Currently veterans are given preference for government jobs. Let's establish gradual programs that build upon that and include other forms of service.

Everywhere the government holds any influence, national service should be made a priority.

And gentlemen in England now a-bed

Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,

And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.