Military draft. . .Rangel wants it back . . .Do you???

Question

Would you support/encourage your boy(s) to participate? given the history of our government, utilizing son's of citizens, to die in place of their own offspring? for 'causes' such as Iraq?

There are soooooo many good, insightful answers here . . . I simply can't choose a 'best' one - therefore I'm putting this question to a vote! May the BEST ONE win the most points. . .

Answer 1

End the war today, and any arguable use for a draft evaporates.

Bring them home

Answer 2

I turned 18 in 1969.
I went to the draft board and registered.
Didn't think anything of it other than I could now use my draft card as ID to get into bars in NYC.
NY drinking age was 18 at that time.

The draft hung over all of our heads.

Didn't like it.
But there were ways around it.
Some people went to college and got deferments.
A small number claimed conscientious objecter.
Some split to Canada.

Anti War people opened draft counseling centers in store fronts to help young guys get documentation together.
Give advise.

Could join branch of military where being shot by VC less likely.

All sorts of options.
But you had to do your homework and be willing to take the heat.

Or you can wait to see what happens.

What are they gonna do about pay scales?
Military pay increased dramatically when force went all volunteer.
Will pay scales be lowered?
Will volunteers be payed more than conscripts.

I think Rangel making a good point with his talk of re- instating the draft.
See how many people chant "stay the course" when they themselves or a relative or someone they know is dragged off to fight war that benefits business interests.

excerpts from link
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Charles Rangel introduced a bill in Congress Tuesday to reinstate the military draft, saying fighting forces should more closely reflect the economic makeup of the nation.

The New York Democrat told reporters his goal is two-fold: to jolt Americans into realizing the import of a possible unilateral strike against Iraq, which he opposes, and "to make it clear that if there were a war, there would be more equitable representation of people making sacrifices."

"I truly believe that those who make the decision and those who support the United States going into war would feel more readily the pain that's involved, the sacrifice that's involved, if they thought that the fighting force would include the affluent and those who historically have avoided this great responsibility," Rangel said.

"Those who love this country have a patriotic obligation to defend this country," Rangel said. "For those who say the poor fight better, I say give the rich a chance."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/01/07/rangel.draft/

ELVIS GOT DRAFTED
excerpt from link
By December of 1957, Elvis Presley was twenty-three years old, healthy, rich, and more famous than he could ever dreamed. Everything he touched turned to gold. It was as if nothing could get in his way. That is, until December 10, 1957, when Elvis received a letter from the Memphis Draft Board notifying him that he was up for the next millitary draft. Army, Navy, and Air Force recruiters immediately called to offer him special enlistment opportunities if he signed up before being drafted. The Navy even offered to form an "Elvis Presley Company" that would include soldiers from the Memphis area. Elvis declined all the enlistment offers and decided to take his chances with the draft.

http://www.epgold.com/highlights/army.htm

I am ambivalent about restoration of draft.
I see Rangels point and I think draft would go a long way towards making leaders think twice before giving thumbs up to another Invasion of country based on faulty intel.
Had there not been a Mc Carthy'ish knee jerk reaction to any questioning of the war in Iraq.......
traitor....coward.
It might have occured to them that the main source of the governments intel of IRAQS supposed WMD'S was based on word of neferious shady character and probable bank embezzler ...CHALABI

Answer 3

Charlie Rangol is an idiot...they will never get enough support from Congress to start the Draft back up! So, don't worry about it! If there was a Draft You have no choice...if they had to go; it wouldn't matter what I want. There are alot of Senators' sons in the Military; so that comment about our son's dying for their sons is BS! They are in Iraq because they need to be; and if they weren't Iran would just move in and take over the entire region!

Answer 4

Everyone was afraid GW would institute it but has been the goal of the Dems for a while. Political tool nothing more Rangle is playing again... See he pushed this 3 years ago and it went to a vote WHICH HE Voted Against. The best Military is a volunteer service. People that want to be there are get it!

Answer 5

Bringing back the draft would be a disaster for the government. It would almost certainly receive a massive backlash against the government.

It is one thing to sacrifice the lives of people who have agreed to put their lives on the line. It is something else to simply drag someone off the street and force them to risk (and lose) their life in a foreign country.

For similiar reasons it would also be terrible for the military morale as people who had been drafted are likely to actively not want to go to war in the first place.

Answer 6

No, the draft is a horrible solution. Rangel thinks congresspersons would be less likely to vote for us to go to war if there is a draft, a very backwards way of thinking that is not likely to work.

My son is already in the VOLUNTEER army and is currently in Iraq.

Answer 7

When has a draft ever prevented a war? It hasn't. This idea that a draft would prevent war is just silly. I'm against a draft. I want the best, the bravest, and the willing to defend this country.

Answer 8

bunch of unpatriotic...hide behind the freedoms the soldiers have given us. I am a patriot...i served my time in Iraq. I wish they would instate the draft. That way all you anti-war...Bush's fault..blah blah blah people could get a taste.

There would be no need for a DRAFT if people would serve the Nation and support its goals. No matter how you feel politically. War is never nice.

I guess: Suppose you lived in Dec of 1942....You would whine and complain about why we are fighting Hilter....Hilter never attacked America Directly...The Japanese did of course Dec 7th 1942. Hitler had nothing to do with it... Why are we fighting him???Bring our troops home from Germany. Hilter deserves to rule Europe...

Geezzz...You anti';s drive me nuts. Now i know how my father felt after SIGNING up to fight in Vietnam and coming back to this.

All the Anti's can go wherever it is you need to go!!!


Thanks

Answer 9

I am kind of tricky in my thinking. I support having a draft and I don't want my child to serve. The thing is I believe that if we have a draft and all Americans are potentially involved in the death and dying that results from war we would only go to war as a last resort. We would have never let this government become involved in an Iraq type war of choice.

In short, I think a draft would keep us out of wars.

Answer 10

I don't support the draft. Not because I don't think it's every able American's duty to protect their country. But because I don't want some weak minded a$$hole that was forced to enlist watching my back. I don't trust anyone who doesn't have enough pride in themselves or our country to join on their own accord.

Answer 11

IMHO of course,,, our society would benefit greatly is every young adult went through BMT.
The problem with a draft system is that it will always have loop holes for the advantaged few to leave the disadvantaged holding the bag.