[Neanderthal]

"In Robert Heinlein's novel "Starship Troopers," only veterans could vote. That goes too far. But suppose we made it a requirement for holding federal elective office that candidates for the House and Senate must have an honorable discharge from the U.S. armed forces?

This would require a constitutional amendment, and that would be hard. But it beats trying to bring back an unneeded and unwanted draft just to get the most privileged among us to do their duty. And the principle is sound. Those who are unwilling to serve should not be permitted to lead."

Not a bad idea . . .

[PizzaDriver]

on "Starship Troopers", and the rest of Heinlein's works...
Assume "everyone" gets 1 vote & veterans get 2.

What is the result?

[Modernman]

But suppose we made it a requirement for holding federal elective office that candidates for the House and Senate must have an honorable discharge from the U.S. armed forces?

If you do this, you'd have to overturn the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rules. You'd also need exceptions for people who are disabled or belong to religions that do not allow service in the military.

I don't buy it. A large percentage of what our federal elected officials do has little, if anything, to do with the military. True, every once in a while military issues pop up, but why limit the pool of people who can be elected to Congress?