Military Service as a requirement for U.S. President

[Darth Wong]

Separate civilian/military leadership is one of the hallmarks of modern, open democratic societies. There's a reason for that.

[Joe]

This would make Lincoln Inelegable as well. And who says a Military man will always make a good president

Ulysses S Grant comes to mind

Actually, Lincoln served in some of the Indian wars, I think.

[Isolder74]

This would make Lincoln Inelegable as well. And who says a Military man will always make a good president

Ulysses S Grant comes to mind

Actually, Lincoln served in some of the Indian wars, I think.

And was a terrible failer and was dishonorably discharged, and thus not able to use it as a reference even if he wanted to

[Kitsune]

This would make Lincoln Inelegable as well. And who says a Military man will always make a good president

Ulysses S Grant comes to mind

I think I remeber some materials that shows that Grant was not a bad president but was hamstrung by his congress. I coudl be wrong though

[Kitsune]

Separate civilian/military leadership is one of the hallmarks of modern, open democratic societies. There's a reason for that.

Are you suggesting the direct opposite, that peoiple with military abckground should be ineligible for military service?

[Darth Wong]

Separate civilian/military leadership is one of the hallmarks of modern, open democratic societies. There's a reason for that.

Are you suggesting the direct opposite, that peoiple with military abckground should be ineligible for military service?

No, I'm suggesting that people currently in the military should be ineglible for public service, and that restriction of civilian leadership roles to ex-military types is ridiculous.

The military has its own leadership which is quite capable of getting the job done, and of correcting any military misconceptions the President might have. Only an imbecile with no experience whatsoever in leadership would think that a leader of a very large organization must know how to do everything done by every person under his command. Do you think the CEO of Ford needs to know how to do arc-welding? There is this concept called "delegation" which people seem to have forgotten.

No offense to Wicked Pilot and the other fine men and women serving in the US Air Force, but I would much rather have an economist in charge than an ex-pilot.

[Hamel]

Nah, it'd turn this country into one giant warrior culture wank.

[Plekhanov]

Having prior military experience of any type is better than going into the presidency and not knowing dick about the military. It has the potential of putting the president at the mercy of his military advisors.

Just as having a General in charge who knows dick about business will leave them at the mercy of their economic advisers, as the lack of a distinguished scientific career will leave them at eh mercy of scientific advisors. Perhaps until you breed an omnipotent super being you should settle for an intelligent, well rounded individual with the ability to choose and listen to their advisors wisely in preference to an arbitrary ‘must have been shot at’ or ‘must have won the noble prize for physics’ clause. The current pool for US presidents seems to be limited to rich, white guys with good hair I see no reason to restrict it further.

Or, instead of "Fixing" the system, add a small patch. Give em the opportunity to run for a third term if they have a non-negligible amount of Military Service under the belt. Kind of a "You've served your country, now reap the rewards" sort of deal...

Why give military experience precedence over any other kind of experience? Whilst seeing the current draft dodging hypocrite strutting around in military garb is upsetting insisting upon military service is an over reaction. After all technically Bush would qualify whereas Clinton wouldn’t I can’t stand either of them but I know which one I preferred in the Whitehouse.

Is military service really the only contribution to society you value? Some people for example my mother (school leaver, care home worker, nursery nurse, teacher) dedicate their entire lives to public service in a non-military capacity, is her life worth nothing because she never learnt how to kill foreigners?

The military is an essential safeguard of any society that doesn’t mean that we should let it dominate society, it should be a servant not the master, don’t let a reaction to Bush’s sickening hypocrisy sway you too far in a militaristic direction.

[Wicked Pilot]

No offense to Wicked Pilot and the other fine men and women serving in the US Air Force, but I would much rather have an economist in charge than an ex-pilot.

So I take it you've never seen Independence Day?

[Howedar]

I give this proposal a big thumbs down. I think military experience can be a good thing when looking for a president, but we've had some fine presidents that never served in the military.

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Why? the current system in place works just fine. If It Aint Broke, Don't 'Fix' It.

Or, instead of "Fixing" the system, add a small patch. Give em the opportunity to run for a third term if they have a non-negligible amount of Military Service under the belt. Kind of a "You've served your country, now reap the rewards" sort of deal...

Since when is being in the military the only way you can serve your country? There are many of other jobs that help the country just as much. Hell, during peacetime, jobs like a cop or a firefighter might be more dangerous.

[Ghost Rider]

No, because like WP pointed out, not everyone can be in the military and not everyone wants to be. And if this person is a capable president...we limit him/her because of this?

I mean this is why we have advisors because honestly the president cannot and will not be able to keep abreast of everything by themselves. To say Military service will enhance their militayr capacity, people far more knowledgeable them myself have answered very succiently...just because you led a tank division doesn't mean you can lead the entire military forces.

[Kitsune]

Since when is being in the military the only way you can serve your country? There are many of other jobs that help the country just as much. Hell, during peacetime, jobs like a cop or a firefighter might be more dangerous.

Those two jobs woudl probably be considered 'Military' jobs especially the police

[Ghost Rider]

Since when is being in the military the only way you can serve your country? There are many of other jobs that help the country just as much. Hell, during peacetime, jobs like a cop or a firefighter might be more dangerous.

Those two jobs woudl probably be considered 'Military' jobs especially the police

But they aren't in any relation to the military or aany sort of military service/

And how is being a fire fighter anywhere near being a military personnel aside from risking one's life?

[NapoleonGH]

and how is bieng an ex army guy going to allow you to make proepr judgements bout the navy or the airforce?

How is being in the military going to give you a proper idea of economics (far more important that military knowledge for a president)

[Xisiqomelir]

I have always thought that anyone who is going to be the Commander-in-Chief should also have served in the military in some capacity. Any thoughts?

Not strictly necessary, I would say. All he really needs to do is set defense goals (which are completely political), and the actual soldiering for those goals is done by professionals.

[Patrick Degan]

This idea strikes at the roots of civilian supremacy over the military, which is the bedrock of the American concept of free democratic government. This is not a military state nor was it ever intended to be so. Furthermore, military service is not a guarantor of competence as a Commander-in-Chief, and as likely to result in a very poor individual who doesn't understand that the Presidency entails a far greater sphere of responsibilities than war leadership.

[lgot]

The problem is that he is narrowing-down the fuction of a president (and any world leader actually) to the militar function and it is not true. The president must do economic leadership as well, so all presidents must be a PhD in Economy ? In times of peace , only hippies ? Only doctors when dealing with health ? This short of president is impossible, it is like asking Batman to be the president...

[Darth Wong]

One more problem with this hare-brained scheme: it is undemocratic. If the people think that military service is important, here's an innovative idea: let them vote that way. There is no intelligible reason to take options off the voters' menus.

[justifier]

The problem is that he is narrowing-down the fuction of a president (and any world leader actually) to the militar function and it is not true. The president must do economic leadership as well, so all presidents must be a PhD in Economy ? In times of peace , only hippies ? Only doctors when dealing with health ? This short of president is impossible, it is like asking Batman to be the president...

President Batman. I like it!

[Kitsune]

But they aren't in any relation to the military or aany sort of military service/

And how is being a fire fighter anywhere near being a military personnel aside from risking one's life?

You are risking your own life in the service of the state, that is how it is like being in a military.

[Ghost Rider]

But they aren't in any relation to the military or aany sort of military service/

And how is being a fire fighter anywhere near being a military personnel aside from risking one's life?

You are risking your own life in the service of the state, that is how it is like being in a military.

Using that logic, a postal worker working in SE DC falls under this same category.

That is a bad tangent given that said groups are not trained in similar fashions nor have even a similar outlook or ideas of handling situations.

[Darth Wong]

But they aren't in any relation to the military or aany sort of military service/

And how is being a fire fighter anywhere near being a military personnel aside from risking one's life?

You are risking your own life in the service of the state, that is how it is like being in a military.

I take it you will vote for John Kerry then, since he clearly risked his live more than George W. Bush?

[lgot]

One more problem with this hare-brained scheme: it is undemocratic.

No doubt.
It is also like, ignore the history. The democracy and moderm institutions are exactly developments to deal with the problem of a leader to represent more and more of a society and not be specialist. We do not have great kings because they are great Generals, Great Saints and that change already happened long time ago. Our moderm institutions are exactly build to sustain a leader for every sittuation.
They may fall, but that is not because of the system, rather because the human factor inside, human factor inside in a militar system as well. I do not see - Coming from the experience that a country was FUBAR by militar interventions over the last 2 centuries and from two decades of criminal militar dictadorship - how can the simple fact to be militar will make anything good. You just had to look the history of Latin America that is not something you can take for granted even in the Militar power area, no country in SA have really a strong Militar power despite having generals in the power for years.

[Defiant]

Point conceded.