Philosophy Now Forum

So I think I've satisfactorily answered your question, Bob. I assume we can end the thread now?

Gary Childress wrote:

bobevenson wrote:Sorry, the subject of this thread is about U.S. government-sanctioned slavery of a military draft. If you don't care to comment, OK, but please stick to the subject.

Fair enough, Bob. In that case, I am against "slavery" under most all circumstances except the most dire.

How about peacetime, just because you enlisted in the military, why shouldn't you be able to tell them to take this job and shove it like any civilian can? Isn't that non-dire slavery?

bobevenson wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:

bobevenson wrote:Sorry, the subject of this thread is about U.S. government-sanctioned slavery of a military draft. If you don't care to comment, OK, but please stick to the subject.

Fair enough, Bob. In that case, I am against "slavery" under most all circumstances except the most dire.

How about peacetime, just because you enlisted in the military, why shouldn't you be able to tell them to take this job and shove it like any civilian can? Isn't that non-dire slavery?

We don't draft people in peacetime, Bob.

Are you suggesting that recruits in the military should be allowed to disobey the orders of their superiors? Wouldn't that tend to diminish the effectiveness of our military? And hence jeopardize the lives of the soldiers themselves?

bobevenson wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:

bobevenson wrote:Sorry, the subject of this thread is about U.S. government-sanctioned slavery of a military draft. If you don't care to comment, OK, but please stick to the subject.

Fair enough, Bob. In that case, I am against "slavery" under most all circumstances except the most dire.

How about peacetime, just because you enlisted in the military, why shouldn't you be able to tell them to take this job and shove it like any civilian can? Isn't that non-dire slavery?

They do it different in the military. If you were to try it, you would go to prison or be shot by a firing squad.

PhilX

Gary Childress wrote:Are you suggesting that recruits in the military should be allowed to disobey the orders of their superiors? Wouldn't that tend to diminish the effectiveness of our military? And hence jeopardize the lives of the soldiers themselves?

You've just got a regular job in the army, but you don't like it. Why shouldn't you be able to just quit like any civilian? This is what slavery is all about whether you know it or not!

Philosophy Explorer wrote:

bobevenson wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:Fair enough, Bob. In that case, I am against "slavery" under most all circumstances except the most dire.

How about peacetime, just because you enlisted in the military, why shouldn't you be able to tell them to take this job and shove it like any civilian can? Isn't that non-dire slavery?

They do it different in the military. If you were to try it, you would go to prison or be shot by a firing squad.

PhilX

Or they could be dishonorably discharged depending upon the circumstances.

bobevenson wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:Are you suggesting that recruits in the military should be allowed to disobey the orders of their superiors? Wouldn't that tend to diminish the effectiveness of our military? And hence jeopardize the lives of the soldiers themselves?

You've just got a regular job in the army, but you don't like it. Why shouldn't you be able to just quit like any civilian? This is what slavery is all about whether you know it or not!

BTW it's customary to give two weeks notice before leaving a job. And in Wisconsin, they do contracts over there (possibly other states) so you just can't quit.

PhilX

bobevenson wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:Are you suggesting that recruits in the military should be allowed to disobey the orders of their superiors? Wouldn't that tend to diminish the effectiveness of our military? And hence jeopardize the lives of the soldiers themselves?

You've just got a regular job in the army, but you don't like it. Why shouldn't you be able to just quit like any civilian?

Let me rephrase my question, Bob. Wouldn't allowing recruits to disobey the orders of their superiors ultimately jeopardize the effectiveness of the military and therefore the lives of those in it who depend upon each other's cooperation? A simple "yes" or "no" answer will suffice for now.

No one forces anyone at gunpoint to sign up for the military in peacetime. Most young people know the terms of the contract. Under some circumstances they can be discharged for not cooperating, though it would be a "dishonorable" one. If they were allowed to quit or refuse direction at will we probably would either have an army full of fat, out of shape couch potatoes who wouldn't be ready for war when it came, or else no soldiers at all. The military is a very demanding life and those who choose that route often do it because they want to the honor to serve their country.

bobevenson wrote:Except for the military, you can quit any fucking job in America whenever you want without breaking the law!

philx wrote:WRONG,WRONG,WRONG. YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE YOUR RESEARCH BETTER.

PHILX

bobevenson wrote:It's peacetime, and I'm a clerk-typist in the United States, so why shouldn't I be able to tell my boss to go fuck himself? I can except in the military. Please, don't bring that combat bullshit into play!

Isn't the potential of combat rather essential to the very raison d'être of the military? And wouldn't it reduce the readiness or effectiveness of the military if people could quit or refuse orders at will?

Gary Childress wrote:

bobevenson wrote:It's peacetime, and I'm a clerk-typist in the United States, so why shouldn't I be able to tell my boss to go fuck himself? I can except in the military. Please, don't bring that combat bullshit into play!

Isn't the potential of combat rather essential to the very raison d'être of the military? And wouldn't it reduce the readiness or effectiveness of the military if people could quit or refuse orders at will?

Gary, you can never reason with a moron.

PhilX

Philosophy Explorer wrote:

Gary Childress wrote:

bobevenson wrote:It's peacetime, and I'm a clerk-typist in the United States, so why shouldn't I be able to tell my boss to go fuck himself? I can except in the military. Please, don't bring that combat bullshit into play!

Isn't the potential of combat rather essential to the very raison d'être of the military? And wouldn't it reduce the readiness or effectiveness of the military if people could quit or refuse orders at will?

Gary, you can never reason with a moron.

PhilX

"Moron" is a very pejorative term and I hesitate to apply it to others, even Bob. I think if Bob wishes to deal in overly simplified absolutes, then he just needs to think things through more or else acknowledge when others have valid points.

Gary Childress wrote:"Moron" is a very pejorative term and I hesitate to apply it to others, even Bob. I think if Bob wishes to deal in overly simplified absolutes, then he just needs to think things through more or else acknowledge when others have valid points.

You're being too kind to him.

PhilX