Let the professionals and the ideologues fight it out; I think I could get behind that.
I don't really understand the evolutionary flow of mass conscription in military history beyond saying it's what humanity has done forever and a day; even in those cultures where only professionals fought, thy fought it on top of some dumb unfortunate farmer's land...I really do think there is more to it than corruptocrat manipulation of society, but I wouldn't bet on that judgement either
Population control, land grabs, etc. Consider land vaccuums left behind from dead soldiers. Free for the taking. Those most deserving of being put to the sword rarely set foot on any battlefield until long after the war when they are dividing the spoils.
there are sociopaths who do think in those terms
but there also highly aggressive folks and extroverts
I'm strating to drift off, so this isnt fully developed, but the earliest warlords were just robber barons...they HAD to put themselves on the front of the battle, and from what i've read, most of them liked it there
at some point the sociopaths take over the leadership roles
there is also chevauchee, total war before grant did it to the South. produtive property and humanity destroyed simply to deny acess to the enemy, not even to control it (think SJW ere)
This thought isnt coming togehter, so I'm going to leave it here; I know where I want to take it, but not how to get there and I'm gonna turn in. there is a post out of this
gnight!