[Ken522]

I've heard this argument before - it includes people it really shouldn't just for the sake of fluffing up the numbers. Active duty military personnel are not "serfs" nor should they be categorized like that for the sake of academic argument - it's false!

[Spirochete]

Active duty military personnel are not "serfs" nor should they be categorized

Um, yes they are. The only difference is their serfdom is not hereditary. They're worked harder than serfs on the manor, too.

[cgbg]

I understand why you are uncomfortable putting military folks in the same category as civilians.

However the economic point remains valid. If more folks are dependent on a government paycheck (earned or unearned, important and vital jobs as well as stupid ones) they have a vested interest in keeping government at least as large as it is at present.

The possible flaw in the model in my view is how spouses are treated if one works for the government and another works in the private sector.

[dragnet2]

I've read that outside the military, America now has upwards of 20,000,000 people on the government payroll, this includes city, local, state and federal governments.

That's 20 million.