C. L. Polk: A lot of people here didn't have to enlist to have a snowball's chance in hell of getting a better education or even three square meals and a roof. A lot of people who served were maneuvered into it by dickenesian levels of social support and equity. so congratulations, i guess?

A lot of people here didn't have to enlist to have a snowball's chance in hell of getting a better education or even three square meals and a roof. A lot of people who served were maneuvered into it by dickenesian levels of social support and equity. so congratulations, i guess?

Lot of people on here seem to assume that the US military is basically as bad as US police when it comes to “being totally dominated by frothing MAGA freaks.” This is absolutely NOT the case.

Yes I will scold you for being relentlessly ignorant about the realities of growing up in poverty. the Soldier or Sex Worker (reluctant) choice has been in play for centuries and it's still in play now. Pay attention.

Upward mobility in America: Fuck, Marry, Kill

Thinking of that video of a guy going around his boot camp asking people what they would say to their recruiter and all but one said some variation of "why'd you lie to me" and "fuck you."

Be all that you can be, they said. those bastards.

I loved my GI bill students when I taught. Often older, great at helping with classroom management, usually funny as hell.

They knew what it was worth to them, I like to assume.

Or the classic "jail or the army." Not as common as it used to be because of how weird the US has gotten about drug charges, but I do know at least one person..

Dental care. I knew several people during my Army service (early 70's) whose primary reason for joining was so something could be done about their (or their family's) rotting teeth and gums. (One guy's spouse ended up with full dentures in her 20's.)

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