Who needs conscription when you've got 10% (and by some accounts 17%) unemployment. A pool of people desperate to take any job no matter how dangerous it is.

What a terrible smear on everyone actually in the military for reasons other than the money. 4 people in my extended family are in the military and 1 was turned down becuase he has a titanium screw from a sports injury. All of them make less money than they would have if they didn't join the military, but all joined anyway.

On the other hand, I've never actually met anyone who was in the military for money except for those in the ROTC - i.e. those capable of getting a college education that would put them in the segment of the population with lower unemployment than average.

You don't know enough people in the military then. I've met plenty and usually they are from south east or middle america where the unemployment rate is double or triple that of the coastal cities. Where the choice after graduating highschool is working some low end job or not working at all.

Most people I know in the military joined because it was the best option available, school, housing, and clothing is taken care of. And with signing bonuses and hazard pay they have plenty of money to send home to help family out.

Don't kid yourself for a second if you think the military doesn't recruit heavily in middle America for those reasons. They do very well in places like detroit, south Philly, small towns throughout the bible belt.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there are several reasons to join the military? You don't think money for college, or job prospects factor into anyone's decision?

Edit: And again, correct me if I'm wrong here, but I'm pretty sure there are lots of different kinds of people in the military. Your family has a culture of serving, and lots of outside opportunities it sounds like, and that's great. But there are lots of people who join up who didn't have the same opportunities they had.

Do you think it's dishonorable for them to serve in part because they didn't have access to money for college, or a good job?

Well my family members joined for reasons in this order

1) I live in New York, our house overlooks what was the smoldering ruins of the WTC. That was about 4 of them right there

2) Our family has been in the military for generations

3) One wanted to be a medic, not sure why but it was his calling? I guess he can be an EMT after but he has been in for 10 years so I don't think he is leaving the military until they kick him out.

Money was never really an issue for any of them. They make the least by far of anyone in the family, they certainly would have made more if they did like the rest of us and didn't go.

Although I might be biased because I heavily considered the military and decided not to specifically because it didn't pay well enough.

I'm sure some do for money, but I think that is overblown by people who simply don't understand why someone would want to serve. I can also tell you that most of the people in it for money are in and out, but the people who stay long term have reasons other than money.