US needs more veterans in politics

Forty years ago, military veterans made up roughly threequarters of Congress. By 2017, the proportion had dwindled to fewer than 1 in 5. The number of veterans on Capitol Hill will dip slightly again next year, because of retirements — but the elections of 2018 were nonetheless a turning point of sorts. At least 170 veterans received major-party nominations for national office and at least 75 won office. Of these, at least 18 are new to Congress — the most in nearly a decade.

Until an age of peace and harmony dawns — little sign of this yet — Congress needs the perspective and experience of former service members, particularly those who’ve served in the post-9/11 era. A shared background in the armed forces might help check the excessive partisanship that hobbles America’s system of government.

And with polls showing Congress to be deeply unpopular, an influx of members from the institution Americans continue to respect the most certainly can’t hurt.

So it’s good news that increasing numbers of the 3.3 million veterans who joined up after the Sept. 11 attacks are opting to take on “second service” in politics.

Maybe the new influx can give veterans’ issues a bit more of the attention they deserve.

Beyond veterans’ particular interests, former service members would carry extra weight in pushing for a new legal authorization for America’s sprawling conflicts against terrorism. The existing 2001 measure is badly out of date.

Veterans in larger numbers can’t fix what ails the country — but one expects that, as a group, they’ll bring discipline, duty and a commitment to country before politics. Congress has been lacking in those traits lately. couple of months has been so popular with readers and advertisers that we are dedicating the section to stories about pets on the first Saturday of each month.

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Alan D. Miller is editor of The Dispatch. amiller@dispatch.com @dispatcheditor