Why do so few of our elected officials in Washington have sons or daughters serving in the military?

joannaserah

Well, partly because so many of them didn't serve either. Relatively few of our elected officials are vets. Mainly because we've not had a draft to force them into service, so many choose not to.
They tend to be more affluent, too, so they don't choose military service as an option to get out of bad economic situations. Plus many are very politically aware and might disagree with how the President or Congress might use the military.

Because we have an ALL VOLUNTEER military! That means, adults (those over 18) can and should of their own free will decide to serve out country. It is absolutely and totally independent of the career path chosen by their parents.

slabsidebass

please present the source of your "facts"

lundstroms2004

Because of the age gap. Most of the people who serve in congress have older children who are not of "emlisted" age. As a percentage of the population, given that for every 15 people there is one in the military, I think the ratio matches well.

Sativa

Only about 2% of our nation's citizens serve in the Armed Forces...so it's not like everyone is enlisted and a few fat cat politicians have kids sitting in the background.

I'm tired of this question. Our military is a volunteer force, people should join because of partriotism, not because someone like you is going to judge their parent's political career. That is entirely the wrong reason to serve one's country.

Yak Rider

Because it's an all volunteer force. It's been that way for over 30 years. Check it out. You'll see I'm right.

Another thing. Some cretin wrote that Republicans/conservatives don't serve in the military. If that's the case, why did Algore try to disqualify so many military votes in Florida?

only p

Did you ever consider the fact that most of these politician's children are well over service age? And your statement is false. Many elected officials have served or have children who have served in the military. Did you just make that up

texan1186

actually its probably on par with the average of un elected citizens. the military is a very small percentage of the us population. besides if you grew up in a priveliged family would you join the army or get an easy job from your dads buddies?

nicolasraage

YOU ARE WRONG!!!!

You just made that up.

The percentage of a family member of a republican congressman serving in the military in Iraq, is higher than that of the national average

CLICK THE LIN, AND DO THE MATH YOURSELF BEFORE YOU LIBS GIVE ME A THUMBS DOWN:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhYJ42INNSI2QvgtWpnqvmwjzKIX?qid=20060911063359AAxh9PY

Sawcutting Shogun

of course it is true, liberals love scare tactics as much as terrorists.
If Dems win, we will all die.

elmjunburke

Almost all of our elected officials are pretty well off. Their sons and daughters see more opportunity in following Pop's footsteps than enlisting in the service.
Ask yourself what you would do if your father was a Governor, had a couple hundred millions in the bank, and loved politics. Would you join the service, or try politics ?
Remember that our service is entirely voluntary.

popeye

Let's see I am 18 now so what should I do?
1. Join the service and serve my country,further my education, grow up and accept some responsibility's.

2. I could go to college with my friends, hey my folks and/or grandparents would fork out the bucks.

I think that I will hang around let my folks decide.

vanamont7

Is there a particular place where you can back this up with hard copy? Not the first time I've heard that.

Q-burt

some do join. Not long and on the Officer side, but they join. Fact is, why would you join if you don't have to?

I joined because i have always wanted to. My family has served for nine generations now and i just carried on the torch.

When you have the money to go to college and the connections to land a heavy paying job, you don't join the service unless your job will be politics or you want to serve your country. Some do, most don't.

Thats just the way it is. No mystery, just common sense.

briang731/ bvincent

Is this something you know to be fact, or is this just more liberal dribble to get the lemmings thinking how unfair life is in the US under a conservative president?

Do you understand the concept of volunteer armed forces? This is when the individual decides for himself or herself they would like to serve their country in a military capacity. Some do it for love of country. Some do it for educational benefits. Others do it because they're bored and need a challenge in life.

I have never met a soldier, sailor, air force member, or Marine who joined because their mom or dad said they should. So, why don't you find something more useful to do with your time, like apologize to those elected officials you have attempted to discredit, with your absurd question.

May I help You?

So where did you get your information...as it's not true...They just don't want to bring attention to them as then they become more of a target ....for capture....See?

Do you actually know how many people died in 9/11/2001?...and how many police and firefighters died since due to the trama....terrorists exist and cost us dearly.

Angels Raising Hell

they subscribe to Kerry's anti military magazine.
" STUCK "

hockeytwn09

1 word... Money

Alan G

OK here we go.
It is the rot that is the death of countries setting in. I believe if you check you will find that as civilizations age this becomes the common practice before the civilization falls.
If we want to keep our civilization alive we need to stop this rot . Switzerland has done it ,but the answer is very uncomfortable to many.
Everyone serves at least 2 years in the service and so they do not take the civilization for granted.
Each generation learns that you must work at it to maintain a civilization.

Hemingway

I believe your question is meant to make a point but I'll answer it anyway.

If our lawmakers had children in the military, do you really believe we would be embroiled in a bloody war in Iraq? It's a pathetic reality, but the privileged never pay the price for freedom. It's always the middle class or lower class citizens that fight the wars. In spite of what you might think, America is anything but a democracy. Reinstate the draft, make it impossible for Senator's and Congressman's children to be exempt, send them to Iraq, and see how quickly this insane war ends.

Billy M

MONEY, you don't give anything, you take and no price is too high if you don't have to pay it.

Jadis

You've been asked for proof several times, but have yet to provide any...I'd love to see the stats on this.

Tammy

It is not yours, mine or anyones elses business why people do or do not sign up to serve in the military.

Perhaps after you put your own life on the line you can come back here and ask this question. Until you are willing to do that noone owes you an explanation as to why they have made the choices they have.

namazanyc

Because they remember the saying' "Big men make big mistakes and small men pay for them with their livees".

rec

Hd you asked this earlier, I would have said that their sons or daughters are better educated than the average soldier fighting on the ground and they had access to better and safer jobs. But because of what happened to Kerry, I won't go there.

Mrs. Jackson

For the most part, those who were elected into Congress and the Senate have always had money. They are able to pay for their children to go to college without interfering with their other payments. They are independently wealthy and the military is simply not a necessary part of their children's education.

rattagous70

you wasted a question, that micheal moore took right to thier faces, hmm thanks for the points!!

Doc 13

Beacuse they make lots of money so thier kids are all stuck up little snots in Harvard or Yale or something. They don't know how to work for a living or serve anything but thier wallet

-RKO-

Because they're all holed up in ivy-league colleges, protected from the dangers of Bush's stupid Iraqi war. Kerry spoke the truth when he said what he said:
only kids who can't afford to go to college, or who don't work hard enough to stay in college end up "stuck in Iraq". -RKO-

BParker

I don't know, i also don't know how true this is as a percentage of all people in the miltary. I know that several officials including Kerry and McCain served terms in Vietnam and came from wealthy families. Even though there was a draft back then, it was relatively easy with power and influence to get deferrments or national guard duty.

Of the three people I know in the miltary today, I know the following to be true. They joined as a means to advance their education and improve their chances at buying a home and landing a good paying job after their service is complete. Yes, they are all patriots, as we all are. But, mostly it was money related. My guess is elected official's kids don't have the worry of how to pay for their education or buy their first home. Therefore, most of them don't sign up.

But as I tell my kids, when George W.'s girls sign up, you can sign up. Until then, forget it. I think all the kids in Iraq right now are great patriots and I hope for their safety. I know they would give anything to be home and safe. War is a scary place and I honestly never did see the reason for this one. I don't think it is fair that our kids have to join the miltary to advance. But, it is an honorable way for them to get education money, a weekly paycheck and a shot at the American dream.

i have seen this question here many times now . do really think that they would every let their own sons and daughter die

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