I finally found time to catch up on this thread.
I bought my home in an area which was just entering gentrification (I bought in early and cheap).
The house across the street was rented by a section 8 (welfare) family.
The father was a hopeless drunk and the mother mentally retarded (really).
When the oldest daughter turned 18 her mother beat her to a pulp.
The girl joined the army.
The neo-cons have created a society which offers no hope for many...I am pretty sure that recruiters do not warn females that they have a high likelyhood of being a rape victim if they enlist. The schools are now full of pro-military propaganda....the last apprentice I drew from the local trade school explained that without a military background, most doors and opportunities were closed. (as if there were any alternative jobs anyway

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To Darla and Christiefan; while I would often be the first to utilize my inner feminine side to agree with your lofty ideals, in this case, I feel that your desires are naught but lofty ideals; many of the present crop of enlisted soldiers had little if any choice about joining. Turn your awesome powers of persuasion instead to those that could change the culture of rape in the military, the legislature.