I wrote a letter to my senator

I think the same testing used to test people going into the military should be used on people going into college. Way too many people suited for other fields (don't read that to think I'm saying dumb) go to school when their true gifts lie elsewhere. Imagine how much more productive we would be as a nation if we used our resources intelligently instead of just foisting the idea of education just for the sake of education on people who could serve society much better in other ways. Simple but potentially powerful.

The US military is really two services, 1) Army combat infantry & Marines, and 2) Army logistics and support, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

The Pentagon has trouble getting fresh volunteers for 1) but no trouble for 2). Because of the situation, Army Combat Infantry and Marines are doing three sometime four tours of combat duty per four year enlistment.

The way to remedy that imbalance is to require one year of prior combat infantry duty for non-combat Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard duty.

Letter writer-

Kudos to writing your senator (why only 1? Why not to both?); most citizens never get that engaged.

That being said, let me spare your senator the trouble of pointing a few things out:

To point A-The military already offers incentives. Perhaps they need more, since the "disincentives" to enlisting during an active war are strong (PTSD, death, traumatic brain injury, etc). But, incentives need to be paid for. Last I checked, the new legislature was not eager to increase government spending.

To point B- (or second, since we're mixing letters and numbers)- You yourself point out that your brother already was offered a re-enlistment bonus; so...you're proposing we start doing something that is already happening??

Third/C- This proposal was the basis of the "Dream" act- it was just defeated in the Senate, after passing the house, I believe. Those who defeated it were those listening conservatives.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Act

So, 3 ideas, 2 already in place, 1 just failed in congress. I'm afraid the letter may not find much of an audience.

As to we liberals "tearing up" your ideas: Again, 2 of them are already occuring, and the third was unsuccessfully championed by liberals less than a month ago. Hardly "tearing up".

Finally, to write off a whole political category as people you "can not have an intelligent conversation with" seems a bit short sighted; I may not like the conservative viewpoint, but I have many friends who are quite conservative, and we manage to have remarkably substantive discussions. It could be that the liberals you are talking to have gotten frustrated that you have no real idea as to the policies that you're trying to talk about.

I really hope you are a troll...

Please read up on the Dream Act and realize that it wasn't the liberals who destroyed but the conservatives.

What about the border patrol?

Can we agree if the government made some incentives for that, we could increase the numbers, while adding employment. I don't see this in the Dream Act.

Yes?

I have read the Dream Act back in its inception in 2001. I learned of it's defeat in 2010. I Thought it had merit.

I would agree with the OP that anything to stir the pot about illegal immigration would be welcomed. Not that we need to rid our country of illegals, but that our country needs to make the best of the situation. It seems to me that the large majority of all immigrants without citizenship WANT to be a legal American citizen. So, why not find a way to make that happen, and have the country benefit as well?

As for the border patrol, do we really want inmates guarding the prisoners?

Keep writing letters. Not many people do, and this is one of the very few countries that welcomes the citizens input.

Hey and if the government doesn't have enough money to send everyone to college for free, it can just print the needed funds out of thin air and stimulat the economy at the same time! Great idea!

my atty advised me to be CAREFUL when sending letters to Federal solons

"You don't want them to start a file on you" I was cautioned

"You're kidding" I replied

"No, I'm not" was the rejoinder

just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you it seems

It should be remembered that we opened the floodgates and let the illegals in during the years 1998-2008 because corporate America was looking for cheap labor-we had pretty much full employment. It was much easier to look the other way and let them in then it is now to try and kick them out.

Letter Writer wrote:

What about the border patrol?

Can we agree if the government made some incentives for that, we could increase the numbers, while adding employment. I don't see this in the Dream Act.

Yes?

do you honestly believe that the reason we do not have more border guards is because the compensation is too low?

"At least conservatives listen?" What conservatives listen?

Why the military? Doesn't build anything constructive and we don't need a larger military. If we're throwing out money, why not invest it in something that actually creates wealth, i.e. infrastructure projects or whatever.

Yes. The right wing is so well known for being good listeners. You are surely not lying about being a Dem

Working class whites being paid small money to oppress and kill poor people of color for the benefit of rich white folks.

What a noble calling is the military

The New UncleB wrote:

Working class whites being paid small money to oppress and kill poor people of color for the benefit of rich white folks.

What a noble calling is the military

They should kill you instead.

die liberals wrote:

The New UncleB wrote:

Working class whites being paid small money to oppress and kill poor people of color for the benefit of rich white folks.

What a noble calling is the military

They should kill you instead.

Oh, poor baby. Somebody posted something obviously true that does not conform with your groupthink? Does that make you whine?

Third is semi in place.

Though no illegal aliens can join and get citizenship people from other countries can legaly join and gain citizenship.

Most people usually explain the problem they're solving before proposing a solution.

honestly the first thing you've ever said, that I know of, that wasn't idiotic.

The New UncleB wrote:

I think the same testing used to test people going into the military should be used on people going into college. Way too many people suited for other fields (don't read that to think I'm saying dumb) go to school when their true gifts lie elsewhere. Imagine how much more productive we would be as a nation if we used our resources intelligently instead of just foisting the idea of education just for the sake of education on people who could serve society much better in other ways. Simple but potentially powerful.