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To: Maelstorm
I think you're wrong.....soldiers are govt employees....employees that enjoy superior benefits and pay, compared to similar civilian jobs (a fact) with a nice early pension waiting for them....

they will follow orders.....

as in Russia or any dictatorship......when you have the job, the money, the prestige.....you stick with the dictator.....

102 posted on 08/13/2009 10:01:46 PM PDT by cherry
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To: cherry
"I think you're wrong.....soldiers are govt employees....employees that enjoy superior benefits and pay, compared to similar civilian jobs (a fact) with a nice early pension waiting for them....

they will follow orders.....

as in Russia or any dictatorship......when you have the job, the money, the prestige.....you stick with the dictator....."

Hate to ask this, but have you ever spent any time in uniform? I made $397/month (gross pay) when I went active duty (1978) and I daresay I could've made a lot more in the private sector or civil service. Yes, medical & dental were free, but at 18 years old, what need do you have for much of that? Free room and board, of course, but you wouldn't have liked to live like I did, especially in Korea (picture Gomer Pyle's barracks, but not that nice), and the food was maybe a step or two above a low grade community college or prison cafeteria, with a few exceptions. Oh, and there's that little detail of getting killed at work, that most people (except police and fire fighters) don't have to worry much about. Believe me, they earn EVERY PENNY of that "superior benefits and pay" that you referenced. As to whether the will blindly follow orders to shoot their fellow citizens? Sure, some might, but they risk being shot by their fellow soldiers, as well as the civilians. I would guesstimate that 10-20% will do whatever they're told and another 10% can be brow-beaten into it, but that leaves the vast majority in defiance of orders: What then?

103 posted on 08/13/2009 10:21:09 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (If we're an Empire, why are Cuba, Iraq, Philippines, Japan & Germany independent?)
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To: cherry

I’m not so certain. The military is far more conservative than the general population. The military worldwide has shown a willingness to depose out of control leaders. I think if the rubber hit the road that we could certainly trust the majority of our military to side with the people. It does trouble me when I see national guard members being sent in to disarm otherwise law abiding citizens such as after Katrina. I am still an optimist where the military is concerned. There are bad eggs in every basket but I hold our military in high regard.


105 posted on 08/13/2009 11:42:57 PM PDT by Maelstorm (Socialism is the refuge of people who don't respect their fellow citizens enough to ask for help.)
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To: cherry
“with a nice early pension waiting for them....”

Only a few who would be real patriots would side with the civilians. ‘

Face it they are now bought and paid for. The ones commanded by academy grads are the ones to fear. The ROTC trained are still civilians at heart. The academy pukes want their stars and bars and their comfy retirements.

Just my thoughts.

264 posted on 01/18/2010 8:16:04 PM PST by JSteff (It was ALL about SCOTUS. Most forget about that and HAVE DOOMED us for a generation or more.)
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