Reply #8: i think the point the OP is making is that

[Soylent Brice]

when better choices are elminated for you you're more inclined to take the only easy and viable options.

sure no one put a physical gun to the kid's head, but instead the gun was abstract: bad economy, no jobs, no money for an education, etc. but hey, come on over to the army. three square meals, GI bill, you just have to pick up this gun and do what we say. that's not a real choice.

those in power can only stay in power so long as the people are to remain poor, uneducated, and desperate. it's the only way to control or manipulate others to their own end.