"Canadians trust military more than government: Poll"

[PPCLI Guy]

I'd bring up Heinlien's proposal in Starship Troopers that only retired Service members could be elected to government. By that method, the cure for dishonest politicians is to ensure that they will never get to do the job unless they go through the military. That will do three things: Turn poorly suited perople into dependable, trustworthy future politicians, break the will of poorly suited political candiates who can't hack military responsibility, or prevent the least suitable people from ever approaching the business of politics in the first place by their unwillingness to serve. Of course, a fourth sub-effect would be that those who would serve the public interest best would have no difficulty at all, if their motivations are pure; Service life would suit them, and therfore public office would be a good place for them as well.

Nope.  Heinlein stated that you could only earn the franchise through service to the country - and military service was not the only way to do so.

 

[brihard]

Nope.  Heinlein stated that you could only earn the franchise through service to the country - and military service was not the only way to do so.

"If someone blind and in a wheelchair were to insist on serving, something suitably silly would be found- counting the fuzz on a caterpillar by touch or some such". Rico's discussion with the enrollment doctor in Chapter 2. Franchise through service as the only genuine, universal right.

Between Col (Ret'd) Dubois and Maj Reid, the sociopolitical structure of veterans as sole political actors is thoroughly deconstructed and exposed as merely an instance of post-war expediency. "Separate the wolves, and the sheep will give you no trouble"; though Dubois concedes it as 'nicely put, though analogy is always suspect', he then goes on to continue breaking down what, if anything, 'service' actually intrinsically means- and it's found to be politically insignificant.

Starship Troopers was brilliant (my single favourite, moat read novel), but it's most brilliant once it's realized that Heinlein - a libertarian - wrote it as a parody of fascism. Arguably the only part Verhoeven got right when he made that abysmal film.

 

[Journeyman]

Arguably the only part Verhoeven got right when he made that abysmal film.

You didn't like the shower scene?