In the United States, military interventions conducted for humanitarian objectives receive significantly higher public support than interventions serving security interests.
war support
Borrowing money to pay for war leads to greater social inequality and allows governments to shield the public from direct costs of war-leading to higher war support and approval ratings, and less budget oversight.
The United States has been fighting a war in Afghanistan Since 2001, costing thousands of lives and more than a trillion dollars. Today, many Americans are unaware of our continued presence in the country and much fewer understand why the U.S. is still there. Would a military draft raise people's awareness of wars fought by their country? How would this change war support in the U.S.?
War support is significantly reduced when war is financed through taxes instead of through borrowing money.
A large U.S. troop presence can be an effective tool in deterring war, but often provokes militarized activities short of war.
Instituting a draft would decrease support for war efforts, as it would leave fewer people insulated from the costs of war.
A person’s acceptance of war and support for defense spending is most consistently influenced by his/her beliefs, values, and life experience.
Using sunk costs to justify an ongoing war does not work—the U.S. public doesn’t support the ‘Don’t Let Them Die in Vain’ argument.
Increasing the number of democracies in the world does not affect the number of wars until democracies reach 60% of the global governments.
When people experience higher life opportunity, they become less willing to give their lives in service to their countries' wars.
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