{"version": "1.0", "type": "rich", "title": "Conventional history of veterans associations as mass membership fraternities & good government advocates goes like; \"Order of...", "author_name": "kontextmaschine", "author_url": "https://kontextmaschine.com", "provider_name": "kontextmaschine", "provider_url": "https://kontextmaschine.com", "url": "https://kontextmaschine.com/post/656086346527555584/", "html": "<div class=\"question\"><strong>talkinggorillabutler</strong> asked: <p>Conventional history of veterans associations as mass membership fraternities & good government advocates goes like; \"Order of Cincinnatus>Grand Army of the Republic>Veterans of Foreign Wars>American Legion>GI Bill Era \"But how about veterans associations as garrisons of previously victorious faction and/or shadow army of currently out of favor faction. Then you get \"Order of Cincinnatus>>Filibusters>>1st KKK//Pinker tons>>Conscription Era>>Soldier of Fortune>>Michigan Militia>>Blackwater</p></div>\n<p>The American Legion verged on a freikorps and were the ones actively promoting the veterans-as-a-favored-class system (and ideology!) of backloaded benefits. Which after another mass-conscription world war and a Cold War of large standing armies was kind of what America built instead of a welfare state to distribute prosperity among the citizens. Which actually gets pretty iffy in an era of narrow, &ldquo;all-volunteer&rdquo; and thus self-selecting militaries. </p><p>Also, where&rsquo;s Black Rifle Coffee fit in?</p>"}