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Colonel Jessep was right, 76% of respondents to Gallup Poll rank military #1 on confidence.

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jody Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:30 AM
Original message
Colonel Jessep was right, 76% of respondents to Gallup Poll rank military #1 on confidence.
Gallup “Congress Ranks Last in Confidence in Institutions”

From “A Few Good Men”, Colonel Jessep said:
You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.

We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!

Public has confidence in the military (76%) but not in the presidency (36%) or Congress (11%).
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leveymg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:42 AM
Response to Original message
1. We're a nation that's one major casualty incident away from military dictatorship.
Not kidding. When they start that war with Iran they've been itching for, just wait. They'll shut the Internet down, except that part that sells Sears lawn tractors. There will be disappearances, just like in Chile and Colombia. Anyone who takes to the streets will end up in jail, or worse. Football stadiums will be turned into detention centers, and torture will become the new national sport. USA! USA! USA!

Get out that flag. You'll need to wrap your wounds with something.
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jody Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:54 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. Agree. Our defenses are so overwhelmingly powerful that we can only fall from within. That sounds
so :tinfoilhat: but we can no longer service our national debt.

Our military must be kept occupied in foreign lands to counterbalance CONUS' forces needed to maintain domestic law and order.
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izquierdista Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 08:29 AM
Response to Reply #1
3. Only one flaw in your prediction
Football stadiums are there to inspire the masses by the symbolic conquest of yardage. Can't put them out of commission. They'll have to house the dissidents in old factory buildings, since no one actually works there any more.
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leveymg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 02:15 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Granted, football is too much a part of our national identity to disturb.
So, they'll fill the soccer stadiums. Oops, not enough of those. Basketball arenas? Hockey rinks? Too ethnic, too regional.

Abandoned factories, crazed troops and lunatics in command - apocalyptic! Like the set of Full Metal Jacket.

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Leopolds Ghost Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 02:52 PM
Response to Reply #3
6. "Football stadiums are there to inspire the masses by the symbolic conquest of yardage."
As they say in other countries, GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO (AL!)
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PacerLJ35 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 06:48 PM
Response to Reply #1
8. So who is "they"? Are you insinuating that US military personnel will start disappearing people?
You assertion that people in the military are just jack-booted thugs "itching" to go to war and waiting in the wings to enslave everyone else is a gross mischaracterization.
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L0oniX Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 06:53 PM
Response to Reply #1
11. That is their real agenda.
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sinkingfeeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 08:45 AM
Response to Original message
4. A nation of sheep, not the home of the brave nor the land of the free.
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Tierra_y_Libertad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 02:56 PM
Response to Original message
7. No wonder. The military did manage to conquer mighty Grenada.
Edited on Wed Jul-28-10 02:57 PM by Tierra_y_Libertad
But, lets not mention Iraq or Afghanistan.
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bemildred Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 06:51 PM
Response to Original message
9. Boy, are we fucked or what? nt
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jody Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 06:55 PM
Response to Reply #9
12. I'll take "or what" but I'm afraid it's the other choice. n/t
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bemildred Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:18 PM
Response to Reply #12
17. Well, I mean I am OK with the military as such, the grunts and professionals, but
are they supposed to be the only guys we can trust? I mean they are soldiers, they take orders, they do their jobs, if they are who we can trust, then we are screwn. Being trustworthy is not what armies are for.
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marmar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 06:53 PM
Response to Original message
10. Box of Rocks......Meet Americans




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Arkana Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 06:58 PM
Response to Original message
13. Eh. People say they have confidence in the military because they're scared as hell
to contemplate the alternative. It's the poll-tested equivalent of "Do you support the troops"? Who's going to say no?
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jody Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:12 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. "Who's going to say no?" Interesting point implying no polls can be trusted even if anonymous. n/t
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ChimpersMcSmirkers Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:14 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. And this thread is a good example of how some like to automatically assume the worse.
Eveything's a conspiracy and has DIRE DIRE consequences.
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nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #15
19. Don't feel bad
pass the popcorn, and realize this goes back a LONG time in American History...

It just takes different forms...

That said Colonel Jessep's speech is one mean piece of writing... and yes there are a FEW people in the service who think that way. Most of those who think that way have never worn a uniform or for that matter, stood a post.
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tinymontgomery Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:18 PM
Response to Original message
16. That was Jack Nickolson greatest
act in a long time. He really come off as a hard core Marine that feels they should not be questioned.
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rexcat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Jul-28-10 07:19 PM
Response to Original message
18. That is not good...
the military has tortured people breaking our laws and international laws, killed a lot of civilians and generally pissed of a large portion of the population anywhere they go. All I can say about the military is it is a necessary evil. We have used and continue to use our military for our imperialistic purpose around the world. I say this as a honorably discharged veteran. From what I have seen of late not much has changed with the military since I was received my discharge papers 35 years ago.
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