A101 Team In the current climate, it seems like everything is politicized in America. Yet there are still a few apolitical institutions left – such as our military.
Or are there? A new survey of American troops indicates growing politicization in our armed forces:
More than three-fourths of troops believe the military has become more politically polarized in recent years, according to the results of a new Military Times poll of active-duty service members.
And that ideological divide is sure to be a major player at the voting booth next month.
About 64 percent of active-duty troops who took the anonymous survey said they are planning to cast a ballot in the congressional midterm elections in November, even though turnout among the general public in midterm elections usually falls below 50 percent. Only 7 percent of troops surveyed said they have no plans to vote this year.
The midterm elections could significantly shift the balance of power in the nation’s capitol, where Republicans currently hold control of the House, Senate and White House. They are also the latest benchmark in an increasingly fractured national political conversation which has seen escalating rhetoric from both sides.
“What this shows is that the military as an institution is not immune to that,” said Peter Feaver, a former adviser to former President George W. Bush and a political science professor at Duke University who has authored several books on military culture.
“And because of the value of the military as one of the few remaining apolitical institutions in America, there are concerns that the military may be drawn into these partisan fights,” Feaver said.
Only 4 percent of troops surveyed believe the military has become less politicized in recent years.
Check out the full poll results here.
