4 ms·

I'm a veteran that had to enlist so I could get out of poverty. I also lean left. Let me say this out of a little spite since you decided to get political: If

I'm a veteran that had to enlist so I could get out of poverty. I also lean left. Let me say this out of a little spite since you decided to get political: If you and your daughter's mother made the "right" decisions, your daughter wouldn't have to enlist in the military to have a chance at a good life. I'll show myself out now.

israelisreal 8y ago
Fair enough, but it's her choice. She is choosing this path largely because she doesn't want to attend college in a traditional setting and deal with the kinds of BS that plague colleges now. My daughter leans hard right, again her choice, and in many ways she is further right than me or her mother. My daughter wants to do things her own way, and the Air Force is the way she wants to do it. Who am I to stop her? She's always been a willful kid and she's always been academically on point. The Air Force way benefits her in numerous ways, not least of which is she keeps her money in her pocket.
- Art9681 8y ago
  Thank you for a civil response. I apologize for my comment. I also want to add that you painted a very rosy picture of the military and while under ideal conditions everything you said can occur, the reality could be much different. Also, what triggered me was your “leftist” comment. The military is essentially a social welfare system funded by tax payers. I’ve never met a person who joined because they wanted to be a hero or because of some sort of prestige. Almost everyone joins because of the benefits or travel or because their families forced the issue, among other reasons. It would be great if our government offered similar incentives using tax money for other career paths. As I understand it, it’s a “leftist” ideal that is constantly being shot down by the “right”. Maybe I’m wrong about that. Anyway, you seem like a decent man and your daughter sounds like she was raised well. I’m sure she will make a fine officer someday.
- isostatic 8y ago
  > My daughter leans hard right How ironic she's relying on the taxpayer for her financial future. Good job the rest of us actually generate economic activity so we can pay taxes to pay for her.
bluGill 8y ago
This is true for poor people, but I know kids who have gone into the military form backgrounds where they could have gone other routes. They have the background to get a student loan to pay for everything.
- Art9681 8y ago
  Depends on the situation. I enlisted in 11th grade. I got a scholarship awarded as a senior and my recruiter told me it was too late to change my mind. A lot of kids are not aware of their options and neither are their parents. Also, the kids that enlist for the excitement of being a soldier base their decisions on the glorified version of events presented in movies and the media. Real war is an awful thing to witness. No sane person would ever enlist to take part in it.

israelisreal 8y ago

Fair enough, but it's her choice. She is choosing this path largely because she doesn't want to attend college in a traditional setting and deal with the kinds of BS that plague colleges now. My daughter leans hard right, again her choice, and in many ways she is further right than me or her mother. My daughter wants to do things her own way, and the Air Force is the way she wants to do it. Who am I to stop her? She's always been a willful kid and she's always been academically on point. The Air Force way benefits her in numerous ways, not least of which is she keeps her money in her pocket.

Art9681 8y ago
Thank you for a civil response. I apologize for my comment. I also want to add that you painted a very rosy picture of the military and while under ideal conditions everything you said can occur, the reality could be much different. Also, what triggered me was your “leftist” comment. The military is essentially a social welfare system funded by tax payers. I’ve never met a person who joined because they wanted to be a hero or because of some sort of prestige. Almost everyone joins because of the benefits or travel or because their families forced the issue, among other reasons. It would be great if our government offered similar incentives using tax money for other career paths. As I understand it, it’s a “leftist” ideal that is constantly being shot down by the “right”. Maybe I’m wrong about that. Anyway, you seem like a decent man and your daughter sounds like she was raised well. I’m sure she will make a fine officer someday.
isostatic 8y ago
> My daughter leans hard right How ironic she's relying on the taxpayer for her financial future. Good job the rest of us actually generate economic activity so we can pay taxes to pay for her.

bluGill 8y ago

This is true for poor people, but I know kids who have gone into the military form backgrounds where they could have gone other routes. They have the background to get a student loan to pay for everything.

Art9681 8y ago
Depends on the situation. I enlisted in 11th grade. I got a scholarship awarded as a senior and my recruiter told me it was too late to change my mind. A lot of kids are not aware of their options and neither are their parents. Also, the kids that enlist for the excitement of being a soldier base their decisions on the glorified version of events presented in movies and the media. Real war is an awful thing to witness. No sane person would ever enlist to take part in it.