Austria backs status quo conscript army Published - Jan 20 2013 03:45PM EST
GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press
VIENNA (AP) — Austrians voted overwhelmingly Sunday to retain their conscript army, with preliminary results showing around 60 percent rejecting the proposed shift to a professional force.
The wide margin of victory came as a surprise, since pre-election surveys had that side ahead by only a few percentage points.
The results, published by the Interior Ministry, had 59.8 percent backing the present system and 40.2 percent voting to change it. Overall turnout was 49 percent. Absentee votes were still to be tallied but were not expected to change the outcome.
Participation was highest in rural areas and lowest in Vienna, the capital, according to polling organizations.
More than 54 percent of the Viennese voted to have a professional armed force. But with conscripts frequently recruited to help prevent natural catastrophes — or clean up afterward — rural voters in this Alpine nation clearly felt that a professional army would not be filling sandbags to prevent flooding or shoveling out basements after mudslides.
They also heeded warnings that changing the system would hit Austria's social sector, which depends on conscientious objectors to serve as ambulance drivers, attendants for the elderly and in other low-paid community jobs.
The referendum highlighted preferences between Austria's two uneasy coalition partners. The Socialists urged voters to follow most nations in the 27-nation European Union, where 21 countries have professional armies, while the centrist People's Party backed keeping the present system.
Austria's armed forces now consist of about 35,000 troops — 14,000 professionals and the rest conscripts who serve for six months — as well as a 30,000-strong part-time militia. The proposed reform wanted 8,500 career soldiers, 7,000 who sign up for an average of three years, 9,300 militia members and more focus on fighting terrorism and cyber-attacks.
"I voted to keep this status as it is," said Jono Englander, 62. "If this turns into a professional army, where people just go because they want to, then I think we are going to send ... our young people often to wars."
Others had a simple argument for opposing the present setup.
"I voted against it because I don't want to go into the army," said 16-year-old Johannes Schmidt.
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
"I voted to keep this status as it is," said Jono Englander, 62. "If this turns into a professional army, where people just go because they want to, then I think we are going to send ... our young people often to wars."
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
"I voted to keep this status as it is," said Jono Englander, 62. "If this turns into a professional army, where people just go because they want to, then I think we are going to send ... our young people often to wars."
Quoted Text
"The Unforgiven"
New blood joins this earth And quikly he's subdued Through constant pained disgrace The young boy learns their rules
With time the child draws in This whipping boy done wrong Deprived of all his thoughts The young man struggles on and on he's known A vow unto his own That never from this day His will they'll take away
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never be Never see Won't see what might have been
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never free Never me So I dub thee unforgiven
They dedicate their lives To running all of his He tries to please them all This bitter man he is Throughout his life the same He's battled constantly This fight he cannot win A tired man they see no longer cares The old man then prepares To die regretfully That old man here is me
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never be Never see Won't see what might have been
What I've felt What I've known Never shined through in what I've shown Never free Never me So I dub the unforgiven
You labeled me I'll label you So I dub the unforgiven
Quoted Text
"One"
I Can't Remember Anything Can't Tell If this Is True or Dream Deep down Inside I Feel to Scream this Terrible Silence Stops Me Now That the War Is Through with Me I'm Waking up I Can Not See That There's Not Much Left of Me Nothing Is Real but Pain Now
Hold My Breath as I Wish for Death Oh Please God,wake Me
Back in the Womb its Much Too Real in Pumps Life That I must Feel but Can't Look Forward to Reveal Look to the Time When I'll Live Fed Through the Tube That Sticks in Me Just like a Wartime Novelty Tied to Machines That Make Me Be Cut this Life off from Me
Hold My Breath as I Wish for Death Oh Please God,wake Me
Now the World Is Gone I'm Just One Oh God,help Me Hold My Breath as I Wish for Death Oh Please God Help Me
Darkness
Imprisoning Me All That I See Absolute Horror I Cannot Live I Cannot Die Trapped in Myself Body My Holding Cell
Landmine
Has Taken My Sight Taken My Speech Taken My Hearing Taken My Arms Taken My Legs Taken My Soul Left Me with Life in Hell
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
If you want to mimic my format, try to use actual sentences.
Just like the Box. Distract from the argument by arguing the stupid crap.
So your opinion on women being exempt from conscription is?
First let me help you with your format...you don't need to put bold in front of each line, just start with the bold insert and insert your words in-between...they'll all be bold, just like you like. Now to your silly comment again, you are the one that diverted. As for my opinion on women conscription, it's exactly that...MY OPINION. Not something I feel sharing with you has an ounce of value. So, you are the one that made the comments, about Austria's life, and as I said, why don't you do something to change it.
JUST BECAUSE SISSY SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO...BUT HE THINKS IT DOES!!!!! JUST BECAUSE MC1 SAYS SO DOESN'T MAKE IT SO!!!!!
First let me help you with your format...you don't need to put bold in front of each line, just start with the bold insert and insert your words in-between...they'll all be bold, just like you like. Now to your silly comment again, you are the one that diverted. As for my opinion on women conscription, it's exactly that...MY OPINION. Not something I feel sharing with you has an ounce of value. So, you are the one that made the comments, about Austria's life, and as I said, why don't you do something to change it.
I separate each sentence with a row space, not just sentence fragments.
I keep the lines short because unlike you, I want the text to be readable.
The website software has also developed word wrap issues.
You suggested leaving the country.
Look at your convoluted formatting of your actual post. You let the website slice your words up.
My sentences are clear and distinct. I manually word wrap everything so it isn't a jumbled mess.
I just wanted to come into this thread and say that, I too can type in bold
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
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