Who deserves a higher salary: A soldier, or a doctor?

But thats an unfortunate fact of what we have to do in todays world to defend ourselves, we must always be prepared for war even in peactime to ensure that our country is safe.UrbanSpartan125

The militarisation of society is never a necessity. Otherwise you end up with hyper-militarised and brainwashed nations much like what happened in Europe throughout the early-mid 20th Century. The value of an army is unquestioned. The value of militarising and idolising soldiers which is what joao-22990 is stating is part of a far larger insidious indoctrination to make society accept war, even when other alternatives are available. The militarisation of the political and economic spheres is also something that has taken place recently as well. See history of the Industrial-Military complex since WW2 in the US. If you're not careful you endup with war and militaries as nothing more than businesses and revenue streams.

But thats an unfortunate fact of what we have to do in todays world to defend ourselves, we must always be prepared for war even in peactime to ensure that our country is safe.UrbanSpartan125

Doctor.........

it would suck to bea soldier, but it isnt realist them being paid well

[QUOTE="Bloodbath_87"]Doctors, for sure. The work they do is much more important than what anyone else does.UrbanSpartan125

Soldiers for sure.

Doctors are already loaded, soldiers are underpaid as it is.

Last time I check, they both should be getting paid since one of them saves lives and the other one gives his life.

Both are admirable occupations; lets even the score a little bit.

[QUOTE="UrbanSpartan125"][QUOTE="Bloodbath_87"]Doctors, for sure. The work they do is much more important than what anyone else does.Bloodbath_87

I don't know, there are plenty of medics and doctors in the military. They could probably do a lot to help you if you've been in an accident.

Doctor easy....(this is coming from one who's dad is a cardiatric surgeon and from someone who wants to do ROTC)

The whole entire thing about soldiers and the trauma of having people die is not only related to their field. People die both on the operating table and in battle. Imagine operating on someone and then having them die, because they were too old or too unhealthy, and then getting sued. They then could lose a huge chunk of their income that is needed for year to year life. Plus, they have to pay for college and med school loans.(Just saying, but I hate the flak that doctor's get. Everyone wants to be one, but VERY few can. THat is just one reason why they get paid so much. Also, everyone else thinks that they know more than the doctor when they can't tell what bones comprise your legs. I'm pretty sure if you told the doctor the right information, he'd give/ provide you with the right prescription. Plus, the human body is so complex that there is no one same problem, like there is a plethora of types of the common cold.)

Also, the crap about doctor's needing to be from rich families to succeed is total crap! I know someone who after his dad died when he was young and his mother was only a teacher in Oregon in an area and time where you either work at a mill, military, or your lucky enough to get out of state. He ended up going to Brown for college and med school.)

While a soldier does have to deal with physical labor and grief, average joe is capable of handling the job. A doctor has to save lifes, knowing that if he screws up, he'll have someone die and he'll face lawsuits( My dad actually got our family comp by advising on cases for other doctors getting sued.) One of the problems that the average joe doesn't understand is that by making it easier to sue the doctor, the doctor runs more of a risk and therefore the surgery costs more. Basically people dig their own graves in medical costs since the hospitals and doctors have to pay for the one 95 year old man with diabetes and is vastly obese to the point where it is extremely hazadous because he flat lines for obvious reasons and the family sues. Infact, he told me once that after three years, some one finally settled with one of the many people who they sued. The person that was sued just so happened to be an anesthialogist who only put the guy under and had nothing else to due with the surgery and the guy's death.

Essentially to close this up quickly, doctors have many years of school that are beyond ardourous and have to retain and use that knowledge, while preventing deaths and being sued. Soldiers just have to obey orders and deal with the consequences of those orders(which at times can be extremely bad) with only basic training and sometimes not even a high school diploma. A Doctor should of course be paid more, not even including the supply and demand debate.

Soldiers for sure.

Doctors are already loaded, soldiers are underpaid as it is.

Last time I check, they both should be getting paid since one of them saves lives and the other one gives his life.

Both are admirable occupations; lets even the score a little bit.

Deathxcore

Physicians are paid at an acceptable level currently. Although, Medicare cuts will significantly hinder the type of patients that they will see in the future. A physician has to go through 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and at least 3 years of residency to get into Family Medicine or Internal Medicine. Coming out of residency, the average Internist will make $180,000 -200,000 with hospitalists making another 20-30,000 dollars on top of that (in the midwest). For another two or three years of fellowship training, the amount that a physician can potentially make can up to triple easily. Especially, in Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine, Heme/Onc, etc.

If a soldier in this military wants to have a higher pay, then they should have to get more schooling (training) such as an Army Ranger, Navy Seal, etc. with the eventual outcome being a nice desk job at the Pentagon with a large paycheck (wait, that can already happen). That's fair and quite obvious. Besides, a soldier chooses to go into the military this day in age, which means that he or she is quite aware of the salary and benefits. The same holds true for physicians, which is why we work so hard (~80 hrs per week during residency) to get our lives back and live comfortably.

Who is more expendable? The individual who can not be easily replaced should be paid more. Soldiers are a tad easier to replace than doctors in my opinion, that is not to say that the job of a soldier is less valuable. Doctors need years of training and education to practice while soldiers need only a few weeks or a few months depending on their branch of the military and their position within that branch. (someone correct me if I am wrong)

A doctor. Though, both of them should have a higher salary than an athlete.the_foreign_guy

Private Military Contractors. Those fine, brave, mercenaries.Hoobinator

A doctor. Though, both of them should have a higher salary than an athlete.the_foreign_guy

I think a doctor, that's my personal opinion.
I believe both should be paid more than a sportsperson.

-Richie

[QUOTE="the_foreign_guy"]A doctor. Though, both of them should have a higher salary than an athlete.clayron

People need heroes to look up to. The days of great adventurers and whanot are over, so athletes are the best we have in terms of heroes, which is why society puts such a high value on them.

Hmmm, tough question for me. As far as pay...

Soldier not deployed = regular doctor

deployed soldier = medic*

deployed soldier > regular doctor

Soldier not deployed < medic*

*Doctor in a war zone

i believe the doctor should get paid more because they save lives and use science and medicine to help instead of using violence and warleonard88

"Those who want peace should prepare for war." Soilders save lives, they use bullets instead of medicine. Currently our militia is the only thing preventing us from gettting attacked (not talking about the Iraq war just in general as if we didn't have any military force, people would attack us left in right. Also doctors help people? Dr. Mengle? Ever hear of him, yeah sure he was from the 1940's but he did horrible things to people as a doctor. Science is no more helpful than it is harmful. Science invented swords, guns, and nuclear bomb.

Well this is like mental vs labour. Usually people who use physical labour get paid less... compared to the guy who uses intelligence (in this case.. Medicine).

But to be honest they should be paid the same.