Why would anyone join the armed forces?

I always remember Maggie appearing in front of the TV cameras looking fierce and in her falsely superior voice telling the Press to "just rejoice at that news and congratulate our Forces and the Marines" at the surrender of the Argentinians on South Georgia. I was somewhat disgusted by the arrogance of that statement when she knew full well that she'd been at the head of a Tory cuts campaign that had the Services on it's knees, and that the task force being sent was militarily inadequate. The one and only aircraft carrier being sent there actually broke down not long after leaving the harbour and it was only due to the skill and perseverance of the naval fitters on board that kept the Aircraft Carrier going. But yet again, while the military were burying their dead the politicians were waving the flag, appearing in front of the cameras crowing as to how they'd won the war, while patting the Armed Forces on the head and saying "We support you all the way"

 

One of the core reasons we're the best in the world at what we do - we've never had the best kit but we train very hard with what we have and use the ability to improvise, fix, cobble together (make do and mend?!) and otherwise get the job done.
The downside is that the politicians see this as us not actually needing better kit so chop it as soon as they can in the budget. Idiots.

 

Not quite sure why you would think that, Jiffy, what has changed about the Human Race in this present day that they are different to the people back in the early 1900's and the mid 1900's???
I'm pretty sure that back then a lot of people were saying the exact same thing without realising that their ancestors had also said the same thing.
Politics, Religions, Cultures, Racialism have not exactly moved on with some countries still living in the Middle Ages whilst also importing the same into the countries they have emigrated to, and so called Forward Thinking Democratic Countries still having organisations that condone extremism and hatred.

 

Politicians - inability to learn or change, only to come in and poke around a bit. Until there is planet sized threat, countries, factions, tribes and whatever will be at each other. Even then I feel man may still bicker amongst themselves.

 

Sorry to say that's all it is. :(

 

I think at that point I'll take a leaf from Oddball's book and - 'Drinking some wine, eating some cheese, catching some rays...'
Actually, I might do that this afternoon lol

 

Took the words right out of my mind, Loofah!!