Mark Conley
Active member
Yes I changed the title...i don't think people were taking the poll seriously enough with the title it had.
Strictly theoretical...but I am interested enough to poll for an answer:
Some of you may not have read the classic military science fiction book by Robert Heinlein called Starship Troopers. if you haven’t, Id highly recommend it. You would have to have read it to understand the nature of this question for this discussion, and the question is this
would the type of government and system of citizenship described in the novel "Starship Troopers" work?
For those not familiar with the mechanics of that books Governing System:
The main thrust of the Governing body is still a democratic one, with a twist: to earn the right to your franchise for voting in a national, state or local affairs, or for holding any type of public office at all, you have to surrender your body to some form of federal service for a two year stretch, and become a veteran of federal service. Notice it’s not strictly military service in nature, as the military is a part of the Governments service to its citizens; but it is one of the most common services in this particular government.
The citizens that don’t have the franchise still have all the basic rights: freedom of speech, pursuit of economic freedom, right to property, and to life. They just cant participate in the process to effect changes to governing system without having put two years of their life on the line somehow. They can’t hold public office, nor can they be part of the system that enforces law, only a veteran can. They still have to pay their taxes, but cannot adjudge what they will be used for. And if they decide that they don’t want their right to vote or hold office that badly and quit before the two years are up, well they don’t get a second chance to try again.
There are other items in this society that are different as well. I know that some of you may not like this, but crime and punishment are taken to an almost 18th century approach. Physical type punishments are the prevalent norm in this society. Public punishments, such as floggings, and hangings for certain crimes are enforced. You do take responsibility for any actions against the state that is against the law. But once again, the only people that can judge and decide the extent and execution of the judgment are once again veterans of federal service.
Read the book for yourself. Then Vote.
Strictly theoretical...but I am interested enough to poll for an answer:
Some of you may not have read the classic military science fiction book by Robert Heinlein called Starship Troopers. if you haven’t, Id highly recommend it. You would have to have read it to understand the nature of this question for this discussion, and the question is this
would the type of government and system of citizenship described in the novel "Starship Troopers" work?
For those not familiar with the mechanics of that books Governing System:
The main thrust of the Governing body is still a democratic one, with a twist: to earn the right to your franchise for voting in a national, state or local affairs, or for holding any type of public office at all, you have to surrender your body to some form of federal service for a two year stretch, and become a veteran of federal service. Notice it’s not strictly military service in nature, as the military is a part of the Governments service to its citizens; but it is one of the most common services in this particular government.
The citizens that don’t have the franchise still have all the basic rights: freedom of speech, pursuit of economic freedom, right to property, and to life. They just cant participate in the process to effect changes to governing system without having put two years of their life on the line somehow. They can’t hold public office, nor can they be part of the system that enforces law, only a veteran can. They still have to pay their taxes, but cannot adjudge what they will be used for. And if they decide that they don’t want their right to vote or hold office that badly and quit before the two years are up, well they don’t get a second chance to try again.
There are other items in this society that are different as well. I know that some of you may not like this, but crime and punishment are taken to an almost 18th century approach. Physical type punishments are the prevalent norm in this society. Public punishments, such as floggings, and hangings for certain crimes are enforced. You do take responsibility for any actions against the state that is against the law. But once again, the only people that can judge and decide the extent and execution of the judgment are once again veterans of federal service.
Read the book for yourself. Then Vote.
