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> And all this in the 70s. It was just as bad before this With WWI, how did the european powers manage to convince their civilians to go die in the trenches f

> And all this in the 70s. It was just as bad before this With WWI, how did the european powers manage to convince their civilians to go die in the trenches fighting a meaningless war? Or Vietnam in the US The saying "if everyone jumped off the bridge..." is funny, because people will say it and forget what it means the moment everyone around them starts jumping off the bridge

smackeyacky 4y ago
"Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile" "It's a long way to tipperary" Different medium, same outcome. Also a lot of yellow journalism.
jlangenauer 4y ago
In most countries, they simply conscripted them. There was no "convincing". Australia is one of the exceptions, although certainly not because the government didn't want conscription.
- derevaunseraun 4y ago
  > In most countries, they simply conscripted them. There was no "convincing" But who conscripted them and dragged them off to war? Was it the politicians who decided to go to war? The "convincing" isn't necessary once it's reached critical mass
- rswail 4y ago
  We didn't have conscription in WW1, but we did in WW2 and then "National Service" in the 50s. In the 60s there was a draft that had a "ball draw" every month with the date (a ball numbered from 1-28/30/31) and if you turned 18 on that date of the month, you were drafted. There were exemptions but it still seems a cruel form of gambling in a way.
  - opo 4y ago
    >We didn't have conscription in WW1, ... There was a military draft in WW I: >...By the end of World War I, some two million men volunteered for various branches of the armed services, and some 2.8 million had been drafted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_Act_of_1917 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_Act_of_1917
MomoXenosaga 4y ago
Nowadays we just send out the poor and desperate. I've always felt conscription was better. How many military interventions would the Pentagon be allowed to sign off on if Wallstreet bankers had to serve in the front lines? Can you imagine the SHIT STORM about burn pits if it involved a billionaire's son... In ancient Rome everyone in the elite had to serve a few years as an officer in a legion.
- hippich 4y ago
  Afaik, in times of ancient Rome men who gave orders to fight were standing in front of the people they gave orders to, not in some remote office or bunker. As for wall Street and conscription - they would find a way to get their sons out of this trouble I am sure.
- danielvf 4y ago
  There's a common misconception that the US volunteer military is only poor people. Surprisingly enough, the top US income quartile enlists at a higher rate than the bottom income quartile. There's a big list of things that disqualify recruits, not having basic literacy, no recent prison time, no high school dropouts, obesity standards, mental health standards, no marijuanas use, no children...
qsdf38100 4y ago
It’s not meaningless when the stakes are being invaded, and then oppressed, deported or killed.

smackeyacky 4y ago

"Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag and smile, smile, smile" "It's a long way to tipperary" Different medium, same outcome. Also a lot of yellow journalism.

jlangenauer 4y ago

In most countries, they simply conscripted them. There was no "convincing". Australia is one of the exceptions, although certainly not because the government didn't want conscription.

derevaunseraun 4y ago
> In most countries, they simply conscripted them. There was no "convincing" But who conscripted them and dragged them off to war? Was it the politicians who decided to go to war? The "convincing" isn't necessary once it's reached critical mass
rswail 4y ago
We didn't have conscription in WW1, but we did in WW2 and then "National Service" in the 50s. In the 60s there was a draft that had a "ball draw" every month with the date (a ball numbered from 1-28/30/31) and if you turned 18 on that date of the month, you were drafted. There were exemptions but it still seems a cruel form of gambling in a way.
- opo 4y ago
  >We didn't have conscription in WW1, ... There was a military draft in WW I: >...By the end of World War I, some two million men volunteered for various branches of the armed services, and some 2.8 million had been drafted. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_Act_of_1917 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Service_Act_of_1917

MomoXenosaga 4y ago

Nowadays we just send out the poor and desperate. I've always felt conscription was better. How many military interventions would the Pentagon be allowed to sign off on if Wallstreet bankers had to serve in the front lines? Can you imagine the SHIT STORM about burn pits if it involved a billionaire's son... In ancient Rome everyone in the elite had to serve a few years as an officer in a legion.

hippich 4y ago
Afaik, in times of ancient Rome men who gave orders to fight were standing in front of the people they gave orders to, not in some remote office or bunker. As for wall Street and conscription - they would find a way to get their sons out of this trouble I am sure.
danielvf 4y ago
There's a common misconception that the US volunteer military is only poor people. Surprisingly enough, the top US income quartile enlists at a higher rate than the bottom income quartile. There's a big list of things that disqualify recruits, not having basic literacy, no recent prison time, no high school dropouts, obesity standards, mental health standards, no marijuanas use, no children...

qsdf38100 4y ago

It’s not meaningless when the stakes are being invaded, and then oppressed, deported or killed.