Elites refuse to serve

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Jan 7, 2003 | by Douglas Burton

ARMSTRONG WILIAMS, TV's THE RIGHTSIDE

Of the 535 members of Congress, only one has a child or grandchild in the armed services--the lone exception being [Democratic] Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota. The lack of military service amongst our leaders' children indicates the appalling level of insulation between an upper-middle-class elite and the military that has formed in the all-volunteer age.

As America's ambitious young continue to insulate themselves from service, the military will become more inbred, drawing its personnel from the same classes generation after generation. That, in mm, will lead to greater estrangement between civilian policymakers and military personnel, perhaps even scuttling the political-military balance that is essential to the defense of our country.

DOUGLAS BURTON IS AN ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF Insight MAGAZINE.