Citizenship ... The Heinlein Way

Immigration is a huge problem in many parts of the world. Here in the US, we question why we allow children born of illegal immigrants to have automatic US citizenship just because they are born in this country. Well there was a science fiction writer last century that questioned why citizenship was ever given to anyone, rather than earned.

In 1959, Robert A. Heinlein wrote a science fiction novel entitled Starship Troopers. This book was later made into a major motion picture. While this was basically a spaghetti western set in space, there was a social message incorporated into both the book and movie.

It seems on 22nd Century Earth, no one is born into citizenship, it must be earned. The major way that citizenship is earned in Heinlein's world is by military service. Is this really such a bad idea?

Now, the only rights a citizen has over a legal resident in the United States are, the right to a Federal Job and the right to run for political office. The only two obligations that a citizen has are the duty to vote and the duty to serve on a jury.

So, would it be so terrible to embrace Heinlein's idea? I'm thinking many would think it was a terrible idea (the book was called fascist when it came out), what do you think?

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