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Nobody wants to lie in the trenches to protect other people's wealth, but that's what usually happens. The poor are sent to fight and die, or to return home to

Nobody wants to lie in the trenches to protect other people's wealth, but that's what usually happens. The poor are sent to fight and die, or to return home to poverty and disability if they survive. I'm amazed anyone is willing to sign up to risk their life for $2K/month, even here in the US where military service has long been glorified.

nebula8804 3y ago
As with many things Gen Z is leading the way in breaking the mold (in a good way in my opinion) [1]:https://www.wavy.com/news/military/u-s-military-sees-record-breaking-low-recruitment-numbers/ https://www.wavy.com/news/military/u-s-military-sees-record-...
Etherlord87 3y ago
This is why you need various manipulation* techniques: religion (to decrease the fear of death), patriotism, anger, glorification of war and heroism... I sometimes wonder if maybe the poor state of modern education is not just incompetence or a result of a cynical idea "stupid society is easier to control", but instead someone analyzed that an intelligent society would become atheist/cynical/pragmatic etc. resulting in severly decreased motivation to fight for the government. * I think the word "manipulation" implies an intent to mislead someone, while some techniques influencing others are used by people unaware of the effects or (in)correctness of the propaganda; maybe rather than "manipulation" I should say "indoctrination".
- tim333 3y ago
  If you look back at history mankind seems quite naturally inclined towards fighting wars. The manipulation techniques are more needed to maintain peace. Indeed if you look at our closest animal relatives, the chimps, they are quite inclined to wipe out their neighbours without needing religion or cash payment.
oneshtein 3y ago
Your speech targeted at young men with no family and children, so they may think that they protect "wealth".
tim333 3y ago
I think it's seldom to protect other peoples wealth. I'm trying to think of an example where that was the case. More typically, as a Brit our last big war was fighting Hitler as we didn't like fascism and that. It was very costly for us wealth wise compared with say making a pact with him as he would have liked.

nebula8804 3y ago

As with many things Gen Z is leading the way in breaking the mold (in a good way in my opinion) [1]:https://www.wavy.com/news/military/u-s-military-sees-record-breaking-low-recruitment-numbers/ https://www.wavy.com/news/military/u-s-military-sees-record-...

Etherlord87 3y ago

This is why you need various manipulation* techniques: religion (to decrease the fear of death), patriotism, anger, glorification of war and heroism... I sometimes wonder if maybe the poor state of modern education is not just incompetence or a result of a cynical idea "stupid society is easier to control", but instead someone analyzed that an intelligent society would become atheist/cynical/pragmatic etc. resulting in severly decreased motivation to fight for the government. * I think the word "manipulation" implies an intent to mislead someone, while some techniques influencing others are used by people unaware of the effects or (in)correctness of the propaganda; maybe rather than "manipulation" I should say "indoctrination".

tim333 3y ago
If you look back at history mankind seems quite naturally inclined towards fighting wars. The manipulation techniques are more needed to maintain peace. Indeed if you look at our closest animal relatives, the chimps, they are quite inclined to wipe out their neighbours without needing religion or cash payment.

oneshtein 3y ago

Your speech targeted at young men with no family and children, so they may think that they protect "wealth".

tim333 3y ago

I think it's seldom to protect other peoples wealth. I'm trying to think of an example where that was the case. More typically, as a Brit our last big war was fighting Hitler as we didn't like fascism and that. It was very costly for us wealth wise compared with say making a pact with him as he would have liked.