Mandatory Draft & Mandatory War Tax

[JWS]

I don't know how serious I am about this idea, but who knows?

The United States should have an all volunteer army for defensive purposes, and for light policing efforts, but for the nation-building that the Neo-cons envision, Congress should pass a bill saying that a large scale draft necessarily accompany any large military action. This would make it sufficiently difficult for politicians such as Bushco to start a war to get his polls up, and make the U.S. population sufficiently interested to demand hearings on the war's progress, to demand responsibility for false intelligence, and demand reasonable timetables for the war's end.

Additionally, a mandatory draft accompanying any large military action would spread the hardship so that it is not predominantly lower income households who have soldiers going to war. This would do more than prevent unnecessary wars, it would mobilize families to make sure that soldiers are getting the equipment that they need. Many politicians (John Murtha, John Kerry, and Wes. Clark included) believe that the job of securing Iraq could have been done very early on if sufficient troops and resources were committed.

The mandatory war tax should be geared toward the Military Industrial complex who benefit from any war. It should make it so that Halliburton etc. aren't so greatly rewarded by the country engaging in war, (but not necessarily hurt by a nonformal declaration of war either).

I may be way off base with this one, and wouldn't be surprised if I change my mind about this upon hearing compelling arguments or information to the contrary, but as someone who is worried about unnecessary wars, AND jus cogens violations, this doesn't seem such a bad idea.

[niyad]

1. I think the best way to insure that there are VERY few unnecessary wars is

not to reinstitute the draft, but to make it a law that when congress authorizes a war, the prex, vice-prez, cabinet, every single member of congress who voted for, and each and every one of their relatives who are of age, are the FIRST to go--NO exceptions (except for those offspring who are clearly antithetical to their progenitors)

[JWS]

3. That's not a bad idea...

But I doubt Cheney would hesitate to offer his children up as sacrifices for a political gain :).

Seriously though, I do agree with you 100%, the politicians who declare the wars have to know and feel the effects on american families.

[msongs]

2. I think the last "declared" & constitutional war was WW2..

never since then has the congress had the nerve and/or decency to actually "declare" was as they are charged to do.

presidents have been personally responsible for all the wars since WW2 so far as I know.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/liberaltshirts.htm

[JWS]

4. You are right.

I forgot that congress so rarely actually declares war. I will edit my post accordingly. Thank you.

[TheFarseer]

5. I think we should have a war tax

They could tax any non-business vehicle getting less than 20 mpg.

Then they could draft anyone and/or the children of anyone still blindly supporting this abomination.

[JWS]

7. and not just tax...

They should make people with such vehicles get out and push to make up the 20mpg difference.

[PsN2Wind]

6. I inquired of McCain

long ago as to why??? if we are at war as he and the pResident say, there is no draft, no surtax on all income to put the war on a pay-as-you-go basis and no anti-profiteering law. The silence has been deafening.

[JWS]

8. McCain

I do really like many of the things John McCain has done: his torture bill, taking Rumsfeld to task for lack of progress in Iraq, etc. However, he still truly is a Republican, just one that is on the right side of some issues that I respect. I like John McCain as a legislator who is often willing to work with people across the aisle, but the fact is that he is no true friend to liberal causes.

[niyad]

9. not to mention, a complete suck-up to the bushitas--after what they did to

him in south carolina in 2000-- one would think a person of integrity would never go anywhere near the boy king.

[az chela]

10. response to email

Someone called me a couple of months ago regarding a nasty email I sent to McCain and when I told him the war needed to end now he said that the senator doesnt agree with that ,that we need to continue with the war.Mccain is so full of double speak,he says what he thinks the people want to hear, at the time he is talking to them ,then he changes it all around when he knows the people disagree with him.