Does being part of military make you 'right wing'?

[ltmaverick25]

Or on those you care about. One's life experiences and present status in life will always influence one's political views. Like someone previous said in this thread, one is a staunch conservative when they are rich and of the upper class, and staunch socialist if one is poor and of the lower class, with extremes of both.

I dont think this is always the case.  I have never been a rich man, not anywhere near close, and neither has my family and I have always leaned towards the conservative side of the spectrum.  When I got to university and started to learn more about politics, I started to lean even more to the right.  The military never really influenced my political outlook.  That I am conservative had nothing to do with joining the military and nothing to do with financial standing.

 

[mariomike]

I don't know if it shaped my political opinion, but it opened my eyes. Spend a few years going to some disagreeable shit holes seeing people at their absolute worst, with no regard for their fellow human being, and see if your views aren't altered somewhat.

Which is why whenever I talk to a soldier, I ask where they have served, and say "thank you". I was never put to the test in my youth, and looking back, I'm thankful I didn't have to find out.

 

[Jungle]

My dad always said to me whenever politics came up in conversation: If you aren't a  liberal when you're young, you have no heart and if you aren't a conservative when you're old then you have no brain.

My interpretation of this Winston Churchill quote is that as a young adult, most want to have an "equal" chance of making it in the world; as we age and build a "life" (pension plan, paid off mortgage, money invested) we do not want to share all of it with the "losers" who made some wrong moves and did not do well, or were just lazy.

The aspect I appreciate the most about the right is that their programs tend to encourage people to develop a certain level of autonomy, whereas the left likes to treat the government like a milking cow.

 

[Shec]

I'm not sure what you're driving at here - in my time I voted in Federal elections while deployed to foreign nations - thrice (that I recall).

The ability of the troops to vote in elections - no matter where they are deployed - is taken very seriously in the Forces.

I don't know the background to your story - but I assume that your instructor (BTW - what does the fact that he was Regular Force have to do with anything?) was "being witty".

Indeed he was "being witty".  And I appreciated tbe witicism which is probably why I still get a chuckle from it 35 years latter.  As if a Bolsheviks ever had the right to cast a ballot that indicted anything but "Da".  No disrespect of Instructors, reg or res, intended on my part.

 

[Roy Harding]

Indeed he was "being witty".  And I appreciated tbe witicism which is probably why I still get a chuckle from it 35 years latter.  As if a Bolsheviks ever had the right to cast a ballot that indicted anything but "Da".  No disrespect of Instructors, reg or res, intended on my part.

Ain't the Internet grand?  I mis-interpreted your intent in the original post.  A thing (mis-interpretation of intent) which has lead to more senseless arguments here (on Army.ca) than I care to contemplate.

Thanks for your response - and for the record - I agree with you.

 

[benny88]

  When I got to university and started to learn more about politics, I started to lean even more to the right.  The military never really influenced my political outlook.

  For me, it's hard to separate the two influences, as I joined the military and started University just months apart. For the OP's reference, I believe  I have become more politically conservative in the past two years, but I can't say for sure whether it's because of the military.

 

[OldSolduer]

To be honest, there is no room for politics (the real politics ie elections etc) in the military. We have a mission and a duty to support our legally elected government.
We have enough "politicians" in the military.... >

 

[mellian]

I dont think this is always the case.  I have never been a rich man, not anywhere near close, and neither has my family and I have always leaned towards the conservative side of the spectrum.  When I got to university and started to learn more about politics, I started to lean even more to the right.  The military never really influenced my political outlook.  That I am conservative had nothing to do with joining the military and nothing to do with financial standing.

That was just an example of certain factors that can provide different set of experiences which in turn influences one's views of the world. 

Apart from economic factors, there is also family, education, ethnicity, culture, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, geographical, social, physical, mental, occupation, etc. Change any factors in a persons life and experiences, who they are as person and their outlook of the world at large will change. One is not born, they are made.

 

[2 Cdo]

In the 80's many of the rank and file voted NDP as it was more of a labour based organization then. The Officers generally voted Conservative. As the NDP became more anti-military, I think they lost most of the serving members. The Liberals screwed the military over badly and hurt morale, so I am guessing they also lost Lot's of military support as well. The current CPC has been very supportive of the military despite making a number of goofs along the way. It's natural to support a political party that doe not piss on you and treat you like a 2nd class citizen or a mindless zombie. It really depend on what your primary issues are. As I am a gun owner, there is only the CPC for me as the others treat me like a deranged criminal.

As others have asked, what rank and file voted NDP? I joined in 81 and in all those years I have never met a single person in the Forces who voted NDP! There probably are a few simple souls voting NDP but I've yet to meet them. 8)

 

[mellian]

As others have asked, what rank and file voted NDP? I joined in 81 and in all those years I have never met a single person in the Forces who voted NDP! There probably are a few simple souls voting NDP but I've yet to meet them. 8)

I probably should re-think my vote then when I join?  

Bah, only reason I am really is that some of their MPs at least are pushing for policies and amendments that affects me positively, while the tories would like to prevent that and remove some other existing ones. I would only vote lib if I am in the Papineau riding, or maybe if their MP is party leader eventually. 

 

[Roy Harding]

I probably should re-think my vote then when I join?  

Bah, only reason I am really is that some of their MPs at least are pushing for policies and amendments that affects me positively, while the tories would like to prevent that and remove some other existing ones. I would only vote lib if I am in the Papineau riding, or maybe if their MP is party leader eventually.

To be honest - in the last Federal election I destroyed my ballot, I just couldn't stomach any of the choices presented to me.  AND - I think my MP is doing a wonderful job of representing our riding, and he's NDP.  I've emailed him (with a CC: to Taliban Jack, of course), that I think he's doing a good job, and that I'd work for him if he became an independent - but I couldn't in good conscience vote for him as I am diametrically opposed to the majority of the stated policies of his party.

Democracy is hard work and messy - especially if you think about it, rather than just voting party lines.

 

[aesop081]

I would only vote lib if I am in the Papineau riding, or maybe if their MP is party leader eventually.

:rofl:

 

[daftandbarmy]

Does being part of the military make you 'right wing'?

This may be an important question if you are planning to join anything other than infantry. The only 'right' you need to think about in the infantry is 'right flanking', and then you get to smash things up. That's why I like the infantry. Hehehehehehehe ( eace: through speed and violence)

 

[mellian]

:rofl:

I figured someone would laugh at that.

 

[OldSolduer]

Does being part of the military make you 'right wing'?

This may be an important question if you are planning to join anything other than infantry. The only 'right' you need to think about in the infantry is 'right flanking', and then you get to smash things up. That's why I like the infantry. Hehehehehehehe ( eace: through speed and violence)

Agreed....its a simple person's life is it not? ;D

 

[helpup]

WOW is the site slow

Roy, I understand the concept behind the destroy ballet in protest but I don't follow the practice myself.  If there is not canidate that I want then I don't vote, If I dont vote I have removed myself from participating and in my mind reduced my ability by not participating. 

I know we vote local but in a reality we vote for who is the leader of the party ( as in if Lib's win enough seats Iggy is PM ( currently)  So what a party's platform is comes very much into play.  Due to Jack being....... well Jack I dont vote NDP.  There are people who even though they are military do vote NDP, I doubt however it was in great numbers as posted during the 80's.  For the troops who do and bring it up I ask them why they are and actually listen to thier points.  Mind you I generally counter them with my own if they are voting with the blinders on but hey devils advocate is what I do.

 

[Roy Harding]

...
Roy, I understand the concept behind the destroy ballet in protest but I don't follow the practice myself.  If there is not canidate that I want then I don't vote, If I dont vote I have removed myself from participating and in my mind reduced my ability by not participating. 

...

In my mind - I'm at least registering my protest/disgust in at least SOME manner.  I know that nobody really cares - but it works for me.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[George Wallace]

Oh!  He is talking about destroying his ballot.  I was trying to figure out why someone wanted to destroy a ballet.  Which Ballet?  Swan Lake?  Took me a while to catch on to what was being said.




See what kind of confusion bad spelling can cause.

 

[Roy Harding]

Oh!  He is talking about destroying his ballot.  I was trying to figure out why someone wanted to destroy a ballet.  Which Ballet?  Swan Lake?  ...

For what it's worth - I have a thing against 'The Nutcracker Suite' - but I'll save that for sometime around Christmas.

To the subject at hand - I DO wish there were a "None of the above" option on ALL ballots - and that those votes were counted and reported in the media. 

 

[George Wallace]

....or the Write in Option.