To get into the US military you have to read and write better than most high school graduates, be drug free, not have anything worse than traffic tickets on a police record, not be in debt, be in excellent physical condition and free of long term disease or joint injuries.
Also you have to be ready and willing to stay that way and freely intend to live away from mommy for three years.
Such people don't end up on welfare in 21st century America.
It is 2008 and every person in the US military either volunteered for a lifetime commission, and chose to stay, or volunteered to serve a term since the start of the Iraq war.
People who say "[o deary me]" and refuse to go get booted out, not imprisoned. The way our fd up country is run, those folks have a better shot at a book deal than the ones who serve.
If we think of international trade as a long-term relationship rather than a pirate raid--- then you are [dear friends] and we're better off without you, being proud people with real self-confidence. And if you were really our friend you'd want us with somebody better.
