Ted Rall for February 01, 2021

Have no problem with LGBT+ people in the military, if they satisfy the mental and physical requirements. But do have a problem when the only reason a person enters the military is to get the government to pay for a sex change operation. That should be a condition of enlistment, that the government will NOT provide that service.

Biden cancelling the Trump ban on transgenders is indeed little more than a heart drawn on a sucking chest wound.

Not really getting this cartoon. Would you rather the ban stay in place?

That sounds like a Cheney sound bite. He always had a practical side to his evilness.

Defining all those who run the military as “crazy right-wing nationalists” is inaccurate, but you don’t read Ted Rall for fairness or accuracy.

“Join the Army: travel to exotic distant lands; meet exciting,unusual people and kill them.”

Reminds me of Arlo Guthrie’s “Alice’s Restaurant”….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0a6iWHSWbA

Not everyone in the military is a "right-wing nationalist.

Another policy based on political correctness.

Ironically, the effect of this “non-discrimination” policy is to discriminate in favor of transgender-identified service members. Other people who are dependent on lifelong specialized medical treatment like hormones, or those with serious mental health conditions are not permitted to serve in the military — only transgender people.

According to the DoD, medical costs for Service members with gender dysphoria are nearly 300 percent higher compared to service members without gender dysphoria. They are also “eight times more likely to attempt suicide” and “nine times more likely to have mental health encounters.”

So, not only is this discriminatory it’s fiscally dumb, too. There are nearly 1000 trans service members (and growing) who cost 300% more in medical costs. C’mon, man! That money could better be used for ammo and camo! :P

hm

I’m certainly against discrimination and transphobia, but I always have trouble with the issue “Should the US military accept transexuals as members?,” because I have the same trouble that Rall has with the US military. WWII was “the good war” against true evil—my father served honourably in the Canadian Army. Korea was a “police action” by the United Nations against aggression (by a crazy dictator—but not as crazy as his heirs). Afghanistan was arguably a reprisal, although Afghanistan offered to deliver bin Laden and the US didn’t give them the chance. But much US military activity has been naked imperialism and/or hegemony, arguably starting with the clearance of Native Americans from their own lands. The Monroe Doctrine, the invasion of British North America in the War of 1812, the taking over of previous Spanish colonies (especially the brutal betrayal and subjugation of The Philippines), many invasions and subversions in Latin America, Vietnam, Iraq, and so on—these were all examples of the US military invading and killing the people of other countries, for profit or control.

I’m not comfortable when even left-wingers talk with US military veterans of Vietnam and Iraq and say, “Thank you for your service.” These people “served” the US in the same way that Roman soldiers “served” Imperial Rome, not for anything to do with human rights or betterment of personkind or even adherence to the US’s professed ideals, and at a time when millions around the world were protesting their wars and the lies they swallowed (or fought for, anyway).

Classic, work to find a way to make a good decision bad.