What's your generation and how would you change your government?

[JasonBlack]

(02-17-2022, 01:42 PM)David Horn Wrote:

(02-17-2022, 11:57 AM)JasonBlack Wrote:

(02-17-2022, 11:13 AM)David Horn Wrote: Interesting. You two aren't that far apart -- more a matter of degree or focus.  The one undeniable fact is, we are living in a plutocracy and have been for decades.  Both of you propose to end that -- often by similar means.  Yet you are near photo-opposites on the political spectrum.  What that tells me is simple enough: the plutocrats are winning by creating massive opposition where a bit of basic cooperation would be better all around -- except for them, of course. That's the task at hand.  Easier said than done, but the only way out I can see.

Funnily enough, I actually really dislike one of my own suggestions: requiring 2 years of some sort of active duty/other public service really goes against my nature, but if we want things to work for more than like 40 years, it's kind of a necessity.

I did an enormous eyeroll when Richard Nixon killed the draft in 1973 to begin the era of the all-volunteer force.  I'm still of the opinion that taking the vast majority of Americans' skin out of the game made war fighting easier and may have contributed to the messes we just exited in Iraq and Afghanistan.  It also eliminated the only shared civic duty other than paying taxes, and that's not exactly the same.

FWIW, I was a reluctant volunteer and served in Vietnam.  I get thanked for my service regularly; that shouldn't be necessary.

I get what you're saying, but I don't think the majority of people are really suited for combat, so I think it's more realistic to provide other civic avenues for people with different skills and personalities. More importantly, we should...do more to make it fun. If you associate positively with your formative experience in public service, you'll be more likely to vote in your country's best interest later in life.