First Conservative Blog

Conservative Blog operators frequently receive interesting questions.  This one deserved at least a bit of discussion.

Why is the US Military generally a Conservative organization?

There are a few reaons for this…

• Family Tradition
• Opportunity for education and growth
• Chance to do meaningful work

Family traditions play a large role in choosing to enlist in the military.   A young enlistee frequently has a father or mother that also served.  Those that have served understand that the military is a difficult but very honorable choice and install this belief in their children’s set of values.  Additionally, the esteem with which young military people are received – particularly in rural and southern America is also an incentive.  The chance to ‘be somebody important’ is always an attraction.

More concretely, though, the Military also provides opportunities for college and career training.  Vocational experience can be provided to young people that might not have the opportunity in their home town areas.  A military commitment is highly rewarding professionally.

No one can argue that the military does not do valuable work.  Hunting and keeping those that would kill Americans if given any chance, is highly honorable work.  It is also difficult, but as the US Armed Forces provides the best training in the world, there is an unbeatable chance to be uccessful

These point by themselves don’t explain why the military tends to be conservative. The key point is that enlisting young people that value the tradition, opportunity and opportunity to do meaningful work are by definition “Conervative.”  So in this sense, those that enlist are “Conservatives” going in.  The military simply does not attract many liberals. 

Conservatives tend to not ’shy away’ from difficult deciions and hard work.  Following orders as a team is very difficult under battle conditions.  Following orders is difficult by itself.  However, the military method of personnel management holds that from the lowest enlisted level up through the officer’s ranks, all peronnel need to be trained and capable of doing the job one or two levels (or more) above their current station.  Officers understand that the people in their command are there to be trained and groomed for greater responsibility – not to be used as fodder.

Do liberals make good soldiers?  Some certainly do.  But a key advantage to an all-volunteer Armed Forces is that commanding officers don’t have to argue senseless emotionalisms with too many of their soldiers. The military environment just doesn’t work well for leftists, who tend to blame others for problems and seem to seek out ways to make other people do the difficult work.   Young people with liberal beliefs understand that the military doesn’t tolerate a lot of argument when difficult decisions are made and have to be executed.  Accordingly, the Young Democrats don’t send many recruits to Fort Bragg. 

Ambition to better one’s self is a key part of the conservative lifestyle.  As the military offers tremendous opportunities to achieve and grow – particularly for Americans without the financial means to attend Harvard.  Young conservatives fully understand this opportunity.  If they are willing to personally work hard and be in an environment where they are accountable for their actions and decisions, the military is a great opportunity.  Interestingly, this also explains why Harvard types are so liberal – many of them are simply pursuing their entitlement of an Ivy League education and haven’t had to work all that hard to get there. 

In short, it doesn’t take much effort to be a liberal whereas it takes a thinking and rational, unemotional and ambitious individual to be conservative.  As the military attracts rational and ambitious young people, it only holds that its ranks should be filled mostly by conservatives.  And thank God for that.