RE: Response: Is It Evil To Join The Military?
Well, if you KNOW they're acting on profit and illegitimate motives, I'm curious why you'd argue in their defense.
Because I'm not childish enough to believe that this is a simple black and white topic of "corruption" vs "non-corruption". There are legitimate threats in this world. How I think they should be approached and how elected politicians and un-elected bureaucrats decide to approach it are two different things, in or out of uniform.
I like the majority of the voluntaryist/anarchist principles that I've been seeing in here. I'm curious as to why there is antagonism towards one population known for an appreciation of individual liberty (combat veterans are big into this).
Not a very wise strategic move. We should be natural allies, but I feel like I'm arguing in a college classroom with kids fresh out of their parents houses proclaiming how things should be without discussing how to practically get from A to B.
Mainly because every single war in history has had a fabricated motive when the true, proveable initiative is power for special interests. This is proven, using economics and history... but instead fighting an offensive battle to promote the growth of the wealthy who influence the military.
- Has any war or large-scale conflict been 'justifiable'?
- Is conflict ever justifiable by anyone?
- What are some examples of justifiable 'defensive' battles from your perspective?
Childish was the operative word I was going to use...
This has been one of my biggest issues with anarchism/voluntaryism. I don't feel like the vast majority of our citizens are capable of rationally deciding how to handle these threats. Further, many of these threats will require the intervention of those that are skilled in handling them (with military, police, intelligence experience). Either way there will be military organizations. I much prefer an organization with some semblance of fighting for ideals or a cause, than one that is simply sold out to the highest bidder. In fact, in the case of mercenaries, the question of is it evil to join becomes even more relevant. It seems to me that many of the anarchist elements on this platform repeat themselves and stick to a script ad nauseum that doesn't work in the real world. The real world is messy; and good and evil aren't always black and white (like you said). These people seem to rely far too much on society always doing the right thing, which doesn't always happen.