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    Hamilton NolanKen Layne
    11/11/13 12:35pm

    This is a great idea.

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      Macbeth3Hamilton Nolan
      11/11/13 12:44pm

      Didn't we try something similar to this prior to WW II?

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      Two Time GrimeMacbeth3
      11/11/13 12:47pm

      Yes:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_Pro…

      And it BROUGHT THIS COUNTRY TO ITS KNEES. That is why old people reminisce on the halcyon days of the Unites States of America.

      Err...

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    Bipedal HominidKen Layne
    11/11/13 1:37pm

    I'm going to be "that guy" and I don't really care. Calmly remove the military's dick from your mouth and think for yourself.

    This is a great idea similar to the WPA, and I'm for it, but I'm not for worshiping at the feet of veterans. Open it to everyone. We have a volunteer military, they are paid very well, they get free healthcare for life, everyone knows they aren't really "protecting our freedom" but are being ordered to protect business interests (I understand that isn't by choice, but I'd like to knock that cudgel down before I'm waylaid with it), they already have access to commissaries, 234+ golf courses, a half billion dollar band, and a whole host of other bullshit expenses. I get it. Your job is dangerous, but so is landscaping. Loggers and fishermen have a higher on the job mortality rate. Taxi drivers face about half the risk of the military on the job, but we don't have two holidays a year where we throw them a parade and we don't offer a taxi driver discount at the movies. You're not special snowflakes because you've got a cool uniform and we shouldn't be thanking you and kissing your ass because of your career choice.

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      BearDownCBearsBipedal Hominid
      11/11/13 2:07pm

      This. If we had more lucrative work opportunities for low-skilled people, they wouldn't feel so compelled to join the military on such large quantities, I bet.

      Categorically, I have about five times more respect for teachers than soldiers.

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      thismessagewillselfdestructBipedal Hominid
      11/11/13 2:17pm

      Tell me more about this 'Free Health Care for Life' I served overseas and only have 5 years maximum at the VA, then it's the civilian world for me. I have a good private health plan tho (phew!), and would rather use that anyway.

      I didn't 'choose' the join the military, circumstances chose it for me. There was no other way out of being poor than the military. That's how it's set up.

      Golf courses? Really? You mean the ones only high ranking officers use? Enlisted people don't give a shit about golf, they give a shit about feeding their families on the lousy pay they get.

      I'm also unaware of any lawnmowers or landscapers who are , against their will, put into harms way for someone else's interests. Really who else does that, maybe Police.

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    seeyaKen Layne
    11/11/13 12:27pm

    I saw this awesome commercial last night. It was all about how we appreciate our veterans and we want them to have jobs. And they deserve jobs because of the sacrifices they've made. I was really caught up in it because I thought, "fuck someone is actually going to do something for vets!" Then it ended up being a recruiting commercial for Wal-Mart and I shot myself dead.

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      Ladybug2seeya
      11/11/13 12:50pm

      Have you been in a WalMart on Black Friday?

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      Perry Downingseeya
      11/11/13 1:25pm

      Jesus ... that's awful. I feel like that whenever I see a Tea Partier with Revolutionary era slogans 'Don't Tread On Me' etc. I just quake with 'how dare they' rage.

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    cepalgKen Layne
    11/11/13 12:19pm

    If it was only possible to mobilize these unemployed young men and women under some kind of Administration to Work towards Progress on this issue.

    Sadly to my knowledge this would be totally unprecedented.

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      Perry Downingcepalg
      11/11/13 1:55pm

      I know! It's not like our country ever spent money hand over fist providing employment for our citizens during a time of serious financial and environmental upheaval! We would never ever have realized that what people needed was more than money, they needed purpose and self-respect. We have always been a country of self-made men, we would never stoop so low as to overhaul the entire country's infrastructure providing the foundation for a prosperous nation and healthy, growing middle class. We have always been at war with Eastasia.

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    FavelaKen Layne
    11/11/13 12:19pm

    "Those missing limbs or their marbles will be gainfully employed according to their abilities and talents."

    I'm a bit confused by this line. Don't they deserve a sort of disability stipend, personalized care for their ailments, and rest?

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      cepalgFavela
      11/11/13 12:23pm

      Nah, that'd be socialism

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      HickoryoneFavela
      11/11/13 12:24pm

      Your idea is better. Unless they want to work, of course.

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    Zoey NovaKen Layne
    11/11/13 12:20pm

    As a veteran the only thing I want is a boob job and facial feminization surgery. Being a tranny sucks.

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      LeNoceurZoey Nova
      11/11/13 1:04pm

      You should create a Boobs for the Troops ribbon.

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      Zoey NovaLeNoceur
      11/11/13 1:26pm

      hahahahahaha I love you

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    United States GhostKen Layne
    11/11/13 12:32pm

    You know, I have to say that I'm a bit torn. Part of me agrees with everything that you've written here (although a ten percent matching contribution does seem pretty pie-in-the-sky in an essay that's, let's face it, unrealistic to begin with). And another part of me just cannot understand why anyone would willingly join the Imperialist Killing Machine. "It's a flat-out immoral decision!" I scream to myself...

    Nonetheless, people need kindness and compassion, and help. Even people that make immoral decisions (and lord knows I've made my share of mine, who the fuck am I to judge in the first place?). It is not the enlisted person's fault that our military is what it is, after all. It is not their fault that they are run through the machine and then tossed aside. These people need help.

    We can have both things. We can give our veterans a mission, and change the nature of our military. Perhaps not in my lifetime (and, realistically, perhaps not ever) we can transform our Imperialist Killing Machine into a Defense and Peacekeeping Corps. At least we can hope.

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      Perry DowningUnited States Ghost
      11/11/13 1:30pm

      WWII really ramped up our sense of moral superiority and instilled this idea that our armed forces are a fundamentally upright organization fighting for the good of all humanity as opposed to just wealthy Americans. It's hard to cut through all of that jingoism.

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      biroUnited States Ghost
      11/11/13 2:43pm

      [Z_T] And another part of me just cannot understand why anyone would willingly join the Imperialist Killing Machine.

      For the same reason people in starved countries eat GMO grains - it's the only option they have.

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    JACKen Layne
    11/11/13 12:24pm

    Layne's pieces are as formulaic as a Law & Order episode.

    1. Mischaracterize social issue;

    2. Insert anti-American line criticizing the country's history and/or core values;

    3. Puke left-wing 'discussion' onto page;

    4. Profit from slurping readers.

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      Zoey NovaJAC
      11/11/13 12:25pm

      suck my cock
      -a veteran

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      StandUpHookUpShuffleZoey Nova
      11/11/13 12:47pm

      Did you really feel the need to identify yourself as a veteran in that post? Really? That's something you want your service to be tied to? Telling somebody to go suck your cock?

      Christ, somewhere along your professional development path in the military somebody failed you.

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    b-rarKen Layne
    11/11/13 1:54pm

    Everybody, as a veteran's day gift can you just do us all a favor and stop talking about us in the abstract? We're not your old invalid granddad; we can hear what you're saying about us.

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      Perry Downingb-rar
      11/11/13 3:07pm

      I totally agree with you. What would that look like? How would we go about raising awareness, writing articles etc. without talking about veterans as a group?

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    ToppinsKen Layne
    11/11/13 12:38pm

    How about this veterans day, voters realize that they are responsible for any and all actions taken by the US Military. How about voters realize that if they don't want extremist politicians (left/right) that it is important to vote in the primaries (the nutbag voters do, silence the dumbass minority that gives us a shit pool of fascist/sexist/racist/communist/elitist/pious mother fuckers to work with every 4 years). How about you stop being such a fucking lazy bastard and take responsibility for your country and your vote?

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      EyeHeartPieToppins
      11/11/13 1:53pm

      Hah, you're expecting typical American voters to realize something. Good luck with that.

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