Dig Deeper Texas

Apparently William Arkin thinks of U.S. soldiers as mercenaries.

The Troops Also Need to Support the American People - Early Warning

But it is the United States, and the recent NBC report is just an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary - oops sorry, volunteer - force that thinks it is doing the dirty work.

While he may not like soldiers making demands on the civil government, it doesn’t make them mercenaries.

mercenary - Definitions from Dictionary.com

–adjective
1. working or acting merely for money or other reward; venal.
2. hired to serve in a foreign army, guerrilla organization, etc.
–noun
3. a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.

Some people may volunteer for promises of a college education or training, but I don’t think anyone stays in the military only for it’s “great” pay. I also don’t think these people would be willing to serve in just any military. They serve because they believe that even if it is “dirty” work, it is an important job and needs to be done. They want to serve but they don’t want to starve either.

I am surprised at the conservative reaction to the mercenary comment. After all, they use the same thinking when they talk about politicians or government employees who make a living at the government expense. In fact, there is such suspicion regarding the motives of politicians that we have created term limits and often don’t pay them anything close to a living wage.

I’m willing to bet that a lot of the same people who are loudly denouncing the mercenary comment are also the ones who begrudge local police or librarians any pay raise or health benefit. They tend to think that anyone who works for the government should do so for patriotic reasons and not expect to be paid for their services. So why should they be outraged if someone accuses one type of government employees of being mercenaries?

Actually, given the current support by the President’s budget for Veteran Administration services, you have to think that the Republicans are doing their best to eliminate the mercenary label by making sure the soldiers don’t receive any benefits.

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