As a new member of this forum I have missed so much of the discussion. So glad a friend sent me!

[kathman-duzi]

The following has been on my mind for a very long time. I'm sure it has been discussed at length but want to bring it up once again. I think this is an issue we should put a load of effort into following the election. Is there a plan of action going forward regarding a draft?

THE DRAFT must be reinstated. If we are going to continue to engage in these wars of choice then everyone should get to partake. NO DRAFT NO MORE WAR simple.

These representatives trying to save precious federal dollars for their children and grandchildren are shirking their responsibility to our vets period, as the latest obstruction shows by last weeks vote. When their children and grandchildren are in the war lottery for bodies then their forked tongues will speak a different language.

Thank you for any direction to past discussions.

[DURHAM D]

1. I thought we were reducing the number of military personnel?

[hello larry]

16. No!

We are shuffling the chairs on the Titanic. Taking away some here, putting some more there. Obama doubled troop strength in Afghanistan, to say nothing of other military he's got in places as odd as Aussieland.

Glad to enlighten you.

[Melinda]

2. Welcome to DU!!

I have never not known WAR in my lifetime, and I am an old woman now. Google discussions on the draft and the Viet Nam War; it was that very draft that set the tone and future of politics for many of my generation.

Glad to have you aboard.

-Melinda

[JaneyVee]

3. I'm against war & against the draft. The process is too corruptible by the rich.

And once again, it will be an army of the poor fighting another army of the poor.

[99Forever]

7. And how would that be any different than what is..

... happening today?

I see both sides of this myself. Yes, the rich would likely game "the system." The rich ALWAYS game every system. But having a larger percentage of the population having to "put their own skin in the the game," certainly would raise the consciousness of everyone and hopefully result in a less aggressive and imperialistic foreign policy.

Just my thoughts on the idea.

[JaneyVee]

10. I believe it should remain voluntary. Although I do see your point.

The fear of their 'heirs to their throne' being on a battlefield will help sway opinion. But we can choose elected officials who are anti-war, or at least anti-war mongering.

[moriah]

4. Welcome to DU! But I beg to differ...

The Draft was a horrible idea.

Remember the songs?

Some folks are born to wave the flag,
Ooh, they're red, white and blue.
And when the band plays "Hail to the chief",
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, Lord,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no senator's son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no,
Yeah!

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, don't they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no millionaire's son, no.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, Lord,
And when you ask them, "How much should we give?"
Ooh, they only answer More! more! more! yoh,

It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no military son, son.
It ain't me, it ain't me; I ain't no fortunate one, one.
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate one, no no no,
It ain't me, it ain't me, I ain't no fortunate son, no no no,

-----

When the Draft existed, the people who were rich or influential got out of it. It's not going to change things for the better -- it would make it much worse.

[seabeyond]

5. and with that draft it must be both women and men, .... well, boys and girls.

actually, i oppose the draft in all forms. it isnt going to happen. the military does not want the draft.

[bluestate10]

12. Would you oppose a Draft is kids had a choice of military service,

the Coast Guard or non-military public service? All would get basic needs paid for and get a small amount of pay, and have access to educational benefits once them completed their service.

[seabeyond]

13. ya. i would. there has been a push two years at a service of some kind.

having two kids i did a lot of thinking about it. it would be advantageous for some. and a determent for others. i can see the youngest taking advantage of that. and i can see it as an infringement on the oldest. no, i do not like that idea, .... after thought, when it was suggested.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Welcome to DU!

[renate]

8. welcome to DU!

I agree with you in principle that if representatives had some of their own DNA in the game they wouldn't be so quick to start a war. But the process is too subject to corruption and loopholes (our last president and vice-president are living proof of that!).

I definitely think you're right that anybody with veterans in their families would have supported last week's bill. Boy was that a disgusting display.

Welcome!

[immoderate]

9. Hey! Welcome aboard!

From someone who managed to avoid serving in Vietnam. I knew people who had their heads blown off, but fortunately none of my friends.

--imm

[bluestate10]

11. I was old enough to register for the Draft and stand in, just before it ended.

This makes me better than the older Mitt Romney, who did none of what I did. Two older brothers were drafted years before I stood in the draft. My draw was a deferred number and I didn't go into the military, but was told to keep my draft card regardless, in case I was one day called.

I think that every child turning 18 should have to stand in a draft. If drafted, they can get a choice of military service, the Coast Guard, or non-military public service like working at publicly run hospitals or with the forestry and national parks service. Kids that get drafted into the military should have a first choice of service until that service files it's quota, then remaining kids would get to chose between what is left.

[Brother Buzz]

14. This dumb draftee agrees, in principle, with the late Colonel Hackworth

"Even when they pissed me off, I had to admit there was something I liked about the draftees who didn't want to be there and made no bones about it. I like draftees in general, even with the attendant problems. Historically draftees have kept the military on the straight and narrow. By calling a spade a spade, they keep it clean. Without their "careers" to think about, they can't be easily bullied or intimidated as Regulars; their presence prevents the elitism that otherwise might allow a Regular army to become isolated from the values of the country it serves. Draftees are not concerned for the reputation of their employer, the Army (in Vietnam they happily blew the whistle an everything from phony valor awards to the secret bombings of Laos and Cambodia); a draftee, citizens' army, so much a part of the history of America, is an essential part of a healthy democracy, one in which everyone pays the price Of admission." - Colonel Hackworth, About Face

That being said, this veteran of the venerable Army of the United States needs to point out the Ass, Rumsfeld's opinion of draftees and the draft. He spoke of the fact that many of those who were drafted were trained, served for a short time and then left the service. Rumsfeld first referred to the many exemptions issued to certain men in the draft and then said, "what was left was sucked into the intake, trained for a period of months, and then went out, adding no value, no advantage, really, to the United States armed services over any sustained period of time, because the churning that took place, it took enormous amount of effort in terms of training, and then they were gone."

[bemildred]

15. Dumbsfeldt thought the military should be "run like a business".

Which, militarily speaking, is immensely stupid. It is all very well to worry about costs, essential, but only in service to higher strategic ends, one does not pursue them for their own sake.

Given the propensity of the Pentagon to spend huge sums of money in pursuit of half-baked technical fantasies, it is doubly dumb to "economize" on things that matter like citizen-soldiers.

[Brother Buzz]

17. But, but, but, Rumsfeld explained to us troops are fungible