Modulator

This is the fundamental tension between what we are and what we are becoming as a nation. You are correct, no empire can last by treating and paying its soldiers badly. Afterall, they are the avantgarde, if you will, of empire building. Throughout history, any empire, from Rome to the Third Reich, has had to exalt its soldiers and lifted their status above that of the average citizen. It is nearly impossible to do this in a true democracy as there are numerous competing interests for the finite resources available from the gov't. It takes one person, or at least a small cabal, with immense power to usurp the will of these various groups and the citizenry and place the military at the head. GW and Rummy can't pay the soldiers a high salary and supply tax cuts for the uber-wealthy.