On March 14 2012 08:20 Dfgj wrote:
It can be quite in the government's interest what shape you're in if healthcare is subsidized (which it is in Singapore, I can't speak for Korea, but they also have a more pressing military requirement). Nor is wanting people to be fit a cruel totalitarian decree, especially when they give you money for passing exams (again, citing my own country). These exams and reservist call-ups are also what help maintain reservist proficiency after their release from duty. As for why creating a culture where serving the country is normal creates a culture of accepting the requirements to serve, that is self-evident. Whether every person agrees is a different story, but is also unrelated as that's a constant to any sort of policy or population.
I don't disagree that it can be in the government's interest. But i disagree that we should be OK with that! Goverment's usually tend to push agenda that is in their interest, don't they? Even so, there is often disagreement or outright protest from the people - because the interests of the goverment and the people coincide only in an ideal world, which is not where we found ourselves right now.