Comments on: Fit To Serve? Most Young Adults Aren't

Just Three Of 10 People Between 17 And 24 Even Qualify For The Army

[gccox59]

I though this piece was going to explore the pain the country undergoes as being the only developed country on our planet with over 5.3 million of its citizens somehow enveloped in the justice system.

Everyone, knows that the strength of the all-volunteer force as always been directly linked to a sagging economy and high unemployment targeted specifically to the poor and those who may not be able to afford college. Hence educational benefits that the military uses as a carrot.

Being physically fit has never main a major stumbling block for enlistment.

More attention should be made to give violent criminals a chance to make good by serving.

[ubrew12]

rudy2281 said: "people over-spending thus requiring two income earners" Yes people. Didn''t you know the reason you must have two income earners is because you overspend?? Who needs a house anyway?

[ubrew12]

hypnotoad72 said: "and these LIBERAL school districts are the ones who don''t give a bleep. Sorry."
You should be sorry for posting bvllsh*t.

[sociald63]

so, basically idiots & fat kids cannot apply for the military...but no worries, macdonalds & wal-mart will hire you

[rudy2281]

Quote:"I blame going to church and republicanism. After church people go get stuffed in the local buffets, after sitting down listening to a sermon for 2 hours, and than going to sunday school and sitting down all day listening to the fairy tales."
Well,we don''t have 2 hr sermons, we listen to facts, and we might get a donut. As for fat, Tip O''Neill and Dan Rostenkowski (you remember those big hulking alcoholics) weren''t republicans.
The problem is out entitlement society , no family together time, people over-spending thus requiring two income earners, give the kids all the greasy food they want, etc.

[hypnotoad72]

it also explains why kids can''''t think! I blame the parents for allowing their kids to become slouches. The parents are overwieght too! GEt rid of fast food and cook real stuff. Maybe we need a recession or depression to teach us how to eat properly, without any fast good and junk food to buy maybe we will eat right!

Also, we can''''t afford gym teachers because we have to spend that money on Special Ed teachers for the dummy kids who also hamper learning in the classroom for the smart kids!! No Child Left Behind is leaving all our children behind-get rid of NCLB.

Posted by cmp271
--------------------

Inverse thinking. Given the cost of healthy foods has gone up, in a big recession or worse, people will turn to the cheapest stuff. Macaroni, cheese, and red beans. Hardly balanced, and certainly not healthy...

Besides, Burger Slop''s Dollar Menu would render the same garbage just as cheap -- who has the time to make proper food anymore?

As for special ed, the administrators can''t be bothered to decide who goes into that classes. Otherwise bright kids, taunted or worse by bullies are often perceived as the actual problems and thrown in with the retards or face-kicking vermin. The bullies are the real problem, and these LIBERAL school districts are the ones who don''t give a bleep.

Sorry.

[andrew_693]

I blame going to church and republicanism. After church people go get stuffed in the local buffets, after sitting down listening to a sermon for 2 hours, and than going to sunday school and sitting down all day listening to the fairy tales. Look at republicans, they are all fat, rush limbaugh, cheney, karl rove, etc.... or dumb, bush, powell, rumsfeld. They took us to war so we wouldn''t have to walk anywhere and have to drive our cars and spend our money on their gasoline it was a war for gas but it''s not working out since the iraqis bomb their own oil pipe lines. They are not giving us enough vacation and making us all work, husbands and spouses, they don''t allow us to eat home cooked meals, instead we have to spend in restaurants. Meanwhile, bush is on vacation 88 days of the year.

[cmp271]

it also explains why kids can''t think! I blame the parents for allowing their kids to become slouches. The parents are overwieght too! GEt rid of fast food and cook real stuff. Maybe we need a recession or depression to teach us how to eat properly, without any fast good and junk food to buy maybe we will eat right!

Also, we can''t afford gym teachers because we have to spend that money on Special Ed teachers for the dummy kids who also hamper learning in the classroom for the smart kids!! No Child Left Behind is leaving all our children behind-get rid of NCLB.

[ubrew12]

dowell100 said: "I blame Liberalism for a mindset that has numbed the American psyche.... disgraced public schools that has elimated thing like PE"
PE is often eliminated because there''s no money to put into ANYTHING that doesn''t raise test scores. This is ''No Child Left Behind'' in action. Its actually ''No Child Left without a BIG Behind''. Har Har. I agree with an earlier poster who said posts like yours made him glad he wasn''t an American. Through people like you, I hope the rest of the world can understand just WHAT kind of backwardness we in America are having to deal with, that could lead to such horrible wars. This is NOT the America I was raised with.

I don''t think you can ''numb'' the American psyche with liberalism, dowell100, but I KNOW you can with corn syrup, which this country produces WAY too much of and seeks to put it into EVERYTHING, diabetes epidemic or no.

[genghisjuan]

the sad thing about this whole situation is the fact that it''s very difficult to decide what to spend money on in the education admin. who is to say what is the most important aspect of our schools, and the disagreements that arise over what is more important cause even more problems. it usually comes down to one problem becoming larger than another, and then the attention is diverted to that topic. i hate to say it but this problem may not be solved until it becomes even more of a threat to the well being of the children. it is sad yes but we should also consider the alternatives, like encouraging them to go outside and play. buy them things like slip n slides or outdoor toys. if they are in high school then they are already responsible for their own health and need to take it upon themselves to get the exercise they need.

[zhivagonh]

Hummm.... I remember when I was in junior high during the Johnson administration that there was suddenly a whole lot of emphasis on physical education because President Johnson had just set up a program to encourage fitness. They even had certificates with the president''s signature for those who passed a series of fitness tests. There was a rewards ceremoney and the whole bit. .... Now the cynic in me is wondering if purpose of all that was to supply the military with healthier draftees.

[dougmurray27]

Physical fitness training should be mandatory for all school children modified to any illnesses like asthma, etc. Full gyms, running tracks, playing fields should be mandatory for all schools. My son''s school doesn''t even have a cafeteria, much less a gym. How it a child to stay fit without nutrition or regular exercise?

[lowell43]

I''m 65 and I go to the local VA to excerise twice a week. I also do a lot of walking.

It is sad that the majority of young people are out of shape.
The military services could develope physical training programs for the young adults who would not pass their physical to enlist. It could be done.

[randynason]

Al Qaeda has a better recruitment ratio than the U.S. and enlists not only twelve and thirteen year-olds, but old women, as well. I guess a fascist regime''s gotta do what a fascist regime''s gotta do.
-heh-

[imaok1]

Well said, genghisjuan. You are wise beyond your years.

[obeylaw]

I do not believe this country would wake up even if we had a nuclear attack on our own soil.

Apathy abounds and most Americans are running around with their heads kept in the dark areas of their bodies. No one wants to get involved and it doesn''t take a blind person to see what is happening in and to our country. We are leaping to self destruction post haste.

Everyone will blame everything except themselves!

[genghisjuan]

I find this article both true and untrue in a few respects. I am no expert on either physical fitness or the military or even the effects video games have on children. I am only 20 years old but I still know well enough that if you think children aren''t as physically fit as they used to be then there need to be more gym classes or some if none. Video games have been persecuted for years but interestingly enough these are the same kids that about 30 years ago would be reading books instead. Just because the inside activity changes doesn''t mean one is worse than the other. Also video games have been going up in price, and not just steadily. At an alarming rate. As shocking as I find some of the information regarding physical fitness, I do believe it''s time to stop blaming influences and start taking responsibility for your children or at least making them take responsibility for themselves.

[o_nolan1]

I blame Liberalism for a mindset that has numbed the American psyche. Their position on "personal freedom" (as they define it) has resulted in horrible, disgraced public schools that has elimated thing like PE, a holocaust of death for the unborn,"tolerance'''' for invaders and so many other things. Posted by dowell100

Personal freedom is a conservative ideal. Collective freedom is a liberal one.

[erasmus81]

So what year did the draft end?

[erasmus81]

Hi Barbara

"Kids are running it
they boss their folks.
it is the me myself and i gen and their kids"

You got that right!


"Who is fit to serve."

That is a good question. Not only are there a lot that are physically unfit, but mentally, as well.