Politics in AGS

[Atelier]

Because opt-out would be much more convenient than opt-in, both time-wise and management-wise.

[Calin Leafshade]

On the subject on incest it's not *that* much of a problem from a breeding perspective.

Studies show only about a 4-6% increased chance of significant birth defects in the first generation. *after* the first generation it becomes much higher.

But the chances of birth defects are raised significantly higher in other *legal* pairings.

For example, 2 parents with recessive genes for a certain illness have a 25% chance of passing it on. Should they be denied the chance to have a child?

I fail to see the difference.

[Barricus]

On the subject on incest it's not *that* much of a problem from a breeding perspective.

Studies show only about a 4-6% increased chance of significant birth defects in the first generation. *after* the first generation it becomes much higher.

But the chances of birth defects are raised significantly higher in other *legal* pairings.

For example, 2 parents with recessive genes for a certain illness have a 25% chance of passing it on. Should they be denied the chance to have a child?

I fail to see the difference.

Plus, how many people do you know who are romantically involved with a sibling?  Sure you hear about it on the news, but that's why they have it on, because it's unique.  It seems like incest laws affect a very small amount of the population, where as same sex marriage laws affect not only the 10% of people who are gay, but also their families and friends.

[Igor Hardy]

Because opt-out would be much more convenient than opt-in, both time-wise and management-wise.

Convenience is a fair enough motive.

Though the price for it is that the government decides for you what wars are important to fight and if you personally should participate in the fighting or not. In other words, they can legally punish people who oppose a war, easily pretend there is a military threat where there isn't one, as well as disregard any reasons a person might have not to become a soldier. Perfect means to, for example, get rid of a political opposition, gain more control etc.

So I much prefer citizens to be able to make this kind of choices by themselves, even if it takes more time.

[Snarky]

I think there are serious arguments in favor of subscription in terms of making sure the military is "of the people, for the people". It might make it more difficult for a divergent military sub-culture with different political views to evolve, and could thereby make military coups less likely. You might also imagine that by giving all citizens basic military training, they're more capable of defending themselves against a potentially tyrannical government, should it come to that.

And vice versa, if everyone has some experience serving, they might have a better understanding of what it means to be a soldier. It would almost certainly mean taking war less lightly, because so many would be personally affected. (The draft was probably the main reason why there was such strong opposition to the Vietnam War.) I disagree that having conscription gives the government more power to decide which wars to fight. On the contrary, it makes the politics of going to war much trickier.

Whether conscription or a professional military is best for a country arguably depends on the political and defense situation it is in, which military capabilities are most relevant, and the funding available. In my opinion it's not primarily a question of personal freedom vs. state authority.

[Igor Hardy]

I disagree that having conscription gives the government more power to decide which wars to fight. On the contrary, it makes the politics of going to war much trickier.

I was talking mainly about the government being able to legally summon normal people to serve as soldiers whenever it wants. The more power the government has has to dictate the citizens what to do, the less it needs to fear their opposition and not vice versa.

[Gabriel_Down]

You might also imagine that by giving all citizens basic military training, they're more capable of defending themselves against a potentially tyrannical government, should it come to that.

Strongly disagree, military service everywhere is first and foremost a training to obey without questioning. Fertile ground for totalitarian goverments.

[Snarky]

The "blind obedience" idea is usually overstated. Conscripts may learn the discipline and organization necessary to work in a hierarchy, but a person with strong convictions or without loyalty to the leadership is not going to give up their critical, questioning mind just based on army drills. And even if active-duty soldiers are blindly obedient, that can hardly be expected to extend past their dismissal into their civilian lives.

Many (though by no means all) resistance fighters, partisans, rebels and revolutionaries, from Washington to Mao, had military training, which often has given them the expertise needed to mount armed resistance. Perhaps the best example is Tito, who served in the Austro-Hungarian army and in the Red Guard before becoming an underground revolutionary and eventually the head of perhaps the most effective resistance force during WWII, the Yugoslav Partisans.

[ddq]

As long as war and the military continues to be glamorized in action movies and games like Modern Warfare, the US will have a steady stream of willing volunteers. I don't really have anything against either, but I can't tell you how many rednecks I knew in high school who couldn't wait to enlist. Legal obligation to join the military via the draft probably isn't as effective as good old fashioned advertisement, not in the form of billboards or web banners, but though a glamorized vision of shooting down those damn, dirty terrorists with sophisticated modern weaponry.

But that's just my opinion.

EDIT: I scored 70% and 70%

[bicilotti]

[Ponch]

Is it odd that I'm enjoying watching how AGSville fills in? The hippie-filled slums are getting crowded, naturally. And even CLUB AWESOME is starting to get a little crowded for my libertarian tastes. Meanwhile, the park in the middle of town is starting to assemble a motley collection of bums and drifters. (Good thing CLUB AWESOME is a gated community. That way they'll be forced to prey on the hippies over in the rent-controlled housing units to the West.) Babar and ddq have taken up residence under bridges, like the refined hobos that they are. Ali still hasn't decided whether or not he's going to jump or come in from his ledge. And Atelier seems to be settling in nicely in his enormous castle. I can't wait until the hippies work their nerve up and storm it in an attempt to turn his giant private swimming pool into some sort of communal and disease ridden public affair. And to the south, the mysterious, unexplored Quadrangle of Mystery awaits a collection of explorers bold enough to explore the sinister abandoned trailer parks that slumber in their overgrown lots.

At the moment, it's another great day in AGSville.

But dark clouds are gathering...

[Stupot]

[Barricus]

Is it odd that I'm enjoying watching how AGSville fills in? The hippie-filled slums are getting crowded, naturally. And even CLUB AWESOME is starting to get a little crowded for my libertarian tastes. Meanwhile, the park in the middle of town is starting to assemble a motley collection of bums and drifters. (Good thing CLUB AWESOME is a gated community. That way they'll be forced to prey on the hippies over in the rent-controlled housing units to the West.) Babar and ddq have taken up residence under bridges, like the refined hobos that they are. Ali still hasn't decided whether or not he's going to jump or come in from his ledge. And Atelier seems to be settling in nicely in his enormous castle. I can't wait until the hippies work their nerve up and storm it in an attempt to turn his giant private swimming pool into some sort of communal and disease ridden public affair. And to the south, the mysterious, unexplored Quadrangle of Mystery awaits a collection of explorers bold enough to explore the sinister abandoned trailer parks that slumber in their overgrown lots.

At the moment, it's another great day in AGSville.

But dark clouds are gathering...

This might actually be a cool premise for a game...