Posted on 10/20/2013 7:55:00 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
veterans= ‘citizens’ (who were veterans)
You don’t earn rights. That’s what makes them inalienable.
Requiring ID to vote would be a start.
Requiring paying taxes to vote would be a good start.
In today’s world, the problem would be to find anyone not fighting for the bugs.
Voting is not an inalienable right.
Not all veterans were citizens. Some were, at least theoretically washed out, or court marshaled. They would be veterans, but not citizens.
Starship Troopers’ world also restricted certain jobs to citizens (such as teachers of moral history) and the Sky Marshal had to be both a veteran of the Mobile Infantry and what ever it was they called the space navy.
Heinlein didn’t have much of an argument for that system. He said that first, it worked. (at least in that fictional government). After that there was a ‘fitting’ argument.
I was issued my M-14 when I was 17.
On the dole - no vote. That would clear a lot of the underbrush right there.
The left truly wants “national service” so that they can complete the shaping of the minds of the young, and steer them into a lifetime of activism.
They take gun rights (2nd Amendment) away from people merely accused of spouse abuse and other politically correct infractions, as well as any kind of mental issues. Voting is taken away from felons even years after their sentences are served out. Etc., etc.
Right now, in the US, foreigners who serve a term in the military are put at the head of the line for citizenship.
I think you need to have skin in the game.
Would you include: Social Security?
Medicare?
Farm subsidies?
Heinlein made it plain that it was the act of volunteering for service that qualified one for the status. The type of service was not the choice of the volunteer. That was chosen by the government according to the ability of the volunteer. If one were blind, deaf, and a paraplegic, they’d find something appropriate for that volunteer to do. . . perhaps mattress testing for the military. It still counted toward service and gaining the franchise.
People in service COULD NOT VOTE or hold office, contrary to what that idiotic movie depicted. Only after leaving service could one vote or run for office.
Exactly. No skin in the game, no say in how it is distributed.
That's probably better than no taxes, no vote.
It avoids the constitutionally treacherous ground of a Poll Tax.
It follows abundant legal precedent of there being ways one can lose their franchise (such as being a convicted felon).
On a personal note, I wouldn't be able to vote under MY rule, but I could under YOURS. I like yours better!
That is true. The big difference between the US and the Gurkhas of Britain or the Foreign Legion of France is the US soldiers serve alongside everyone else, not in special units.
I think Spain has a foreign legion too.
I think that just about nails it.
If you have made a net contribution (service, taxes), you get to vote. If you have a net withdrawal, no voice.
I’ve read the book.
All of it.
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