Would you support a draft of some kind?

[Guaranteed]

Poll question: Would you support a draft of some kind?

Whether it's a regular lottery or mandatory two years service, or something else?

[mike_c]

1. never....

No ambiguity whatsoever.

[sazemisery]

2. I am the mother of 2 sons aged 27 & 25

NO, never

[Guaranteed]

9. I am 27.

I think there's definitely something to the idea.

[shanti]

12. 4 sons here

and i say NO! too!

[RedStateShame]

3. Only a draft beer

It's cheaper that way.

[BOSSHOG]

11. Ice Cold

draft Budweiser from the Tropical Isle on Bourbon Street. Yeah, I'll vote for that.

[handsignals4theblind]

29. USA is military obssessed and naive of it's countries many crimes

AT least in the 70's they made movies critical of the US Imperialist army.
Since Top Gun, Hollywood and the Pentagon have worked hand in hand to make mostly simplistic formulaic drivel that never questions the role of the military; the history of it's many crimes, and simplistic nonsense about defending freedom abroad


If they bring in the draft-good luck---come to Canada

[Acryliccalico]

4. NEVER!!!

[LisaM]

5. Maybe - if rich people keep getting us into stupid wars

and as long as their own kids had no way whatsoever of getting out of the draft. In fact, put 'em at the top of the line.

[Guaranteed]

10. That's my opinion, too. nt

[AndyTiedye]

26. If You Believe That Any Draft Will Take The Kids of the Rich and Powerful…

…then perhaps you would like to make me an offer on this fine New York landmark:



Special for you today only…

[LisaM]

34. LOL - no, I don't think their kids would be exempt

and that is the ONLY way I'd support a draft, so I think you can surmise I really don't support one.

[merwin]

6. Mandatory draft for those who support the war

[Philosoraptor]

27. DITTO. you wanted it, you fight it

[SteppingRazor]

7. Absolutely not...

I appreciate the argument that a draft would end the war. And I truly believe that without a draft, the antiwar sentiment about Vietnam would not have existed, at least not in the same sense. But I'm not willing to send more poeple into the meatgrinder for a quicker end to the war. It doesn't make sense to me.

[DixieBlue]

8. no way

[Warpy]

13. Why do people keep flogging this dead horse????

The arguments are beyond stupid. A draft and suburban mommies and daddies getting their sons home in boxes didn't stop them from supporting unjust war during Vietnam. It didn't then and won't now.

The children of the rich had loopholes. They did then. They will now. No child of the rich, even if drafted, will ever see service beyond the walls of an office in a peaceful country.

Putting a huge amound of involuntary manpower into the hands of a maniac like Stupid is beyond stupid, short sighted and EVIL.

The volunteer army is working the way it's supposed to, clipping the wings of Empire with reduced recruitment during wars of corporate convenience.

I don't care whether or not you loved your time in the military. A draft is just plain stupid, as our present circumstances should show beyond a shadow of a doubt.

[Guaranteed]

18. You like the idea of having career military personnel?

I've talked with my step-father about this quite a bit- he's a Democrat and a Vietnam Vet. He's not all for a draft, but the one thing he said to me about it is that draftees are real no-nonsense soldiers.

They want to get the job finished and go home.

Would be nice to have that kind of an attitude in our military right now.

[Warpy]

25. I've found that attitude among careerists

so that argument doesn't hold up, either. Nobody wants to be away from home, sitting in mud and dodging shrapnel. They all want to finish the job and go home.

However, giving a maniac like Stupid unlimited manpower would ensure that there would always be the next war to ship out to.

[bookman]

14. I've tried to rethink my position

I suspect a draft would make the American pubic think more seriously about Iraq. But I'm opposed to the draft except in a national emergency (such as a legally declared war).

So "no" to draft.

[maxsolomon]

15. i support cutting the pentagon's budget by 2/3

i want the american war machine dismantled.

[gaspee]

20. Agreed

Even though I would support a draft to end this misadventure, I am definitely 100& with you to killing the military industrial complex.

[Ron Green]

16. Definitely, if it were fairly administered.

This is the only way to take back our country: to make the sacrifice that's been hidden from us for the past 30 years. As long as we have cheap gasoline (yes, it's still cheap at $3 a gallon), fast food, junk TV and private militias keeping it all flowing to us, we're divorced not only from democracy but from reality itself.

A draft would get this country off the couch so fast it'd make your head spin.

[Obamanaut]

30. What are the chances of fair administration? Selective service

board members are volunteers, generally appointed by the governor or director of selective service. This opens the door to an accusation of cronyism, IMO. Additionally, the process starts out discriminatory, in that I, as a military retiree, am not eligible to serve.

http://www.sss.gov/fslocal.htm

U.S. citizens
at least 18 years old
not a retired or active member of the Armed Forces or any Reserve component
live in the area in which the board has jurisdiction
be willing to spend enough time at the position.

edit: spelling

[Ron Green]

33. It's not rocket science, though.

We could set up a system of randomly-called young people within the established age limits, with deferments only for legitimate medical reasons. My view is that ALL between 18 and 20 should serve, with essentially no pay other than housing, board, clothing and money for incidentals. A real time of service to the country, with some of it military and some of it in other forms.

[AndyTiedye]

44. Even That System Could be Gamed

How did Rush Limbaugh get out of the draft again?

You can't make it fair. Medical exemptions will be games by rich folks
who have infinite access to cooperative doctors, while the poor have no
such access. Sending the disabled into battle is not just either.

People are willing to volunteer for service to our country
WHEN WHAT THEY ARE ASKED TO DO IS A SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY!

As long as that was the case, the armed forces were turning away recruits
because they had more than they could use.

As for non-military voluntarism, look at all the people who turned out to
help after Katrina. Even more would have done so if they had the means to
get there and help, and some coordination with the disaster services agencies,
or at least if FEMA had been willing to get out of the way.

[gaspee]

17. Hell yes!

I support a draft to end this war. I think it's the only way to get people in the streets and to end this misadventure. I think the kids these days would not show up for a draft. I think people are less afraid of getting a mark on their "permanent record" than they were in the 60's and 70's. There weren't enough role models of non-conformity back then (besides the Beats) to let the young men know that if they fought the draft and went to jail, the rest of their lives would not be ruined.

I think young people today know that for the fallacy it is and would rather be arrested than drafted.

I don't buy the argument that the rich kids would get drafted too, but I do buy the argument that it would get people to finally speak up about how wrong this war is.

YMMV

[AndyTiedye]

28. It WON'T End The War. It Wil Let Them Start More Wars

It won't be fair, either. No draft ever is.

[Brigid]

19. Yes.

It may be the only thing that will get most people off their butts and into the streets to oppose this illegal, immoral war.

That said, a draft should be instituted only if Jenna and Barbara Bush go first. Them, and all their rich friends. They're the ones who think this war is such a great idea, and they're the ones who are reaping the benefits.

[warrens]

21. You give them unlimited manpower

Those nazi fucks will use it. Make no mistake. We'll have four or five wars going on at all times.

[ovidsen]

22. Yes

But not like the Vietnam War draft, where the students, the fathers, the rich snots got a bye. Trust me, I was there.

Send draft notices to EVERYONE 18-26. Show up, strip down, show us what you've got, pick up that rifle and get trucking.

Watch how fast the shallow support for this "noble war" evaporates.

I can't wait for the Bush twins to show up.

[OhioChick]

23. Hell No n/t

[Ohio Joe]

24. No, not a chance - nt

[Armstead]

31. YES -- But only if.....

...America keeps elececting warmongers.

That's a spiteful thing to say, but it's what I feel like. If America keeps putting people with war fever into power, then they ought to pay the penalty, which is not having the luxury of letting the next guy (or the next guy's son or daughter) pay the price for it.

I'm not saying I want that. I'd much prefer to see us elect sane leaders who don't have itchy trigger fingers.

But if Americans insist on being stupid and electing Neo-Cons and otehr brands of Hawks, it'd be the only way to pound some sense into our collective heads. I grew up in the Vietnam era, and I know how the prospect of being drafted can alter your views on such things. These apathetic or right-wing kids today and their parents have to made to see the consequences of their political decisions.

[Freedom_Aflaim]

32. With a Draft, we could invade Iran !!!

Instead of just bombing them.

Yea, thats the ticket, we need more man power so that we can invade more countries!

I voted NO.

[Xithras]

35. Yes, but a public service draft, not just military.

Many nations, including modern western nations, practice variations on the mandatory service draft. I'd like to see a system where everyone gets drafted at 18 (or when they graduate HS, if they haven't graduated by 18), but where they are given a chance to choose how they want to serve. Some might choose the military. I'd like to see the WPA brought back, so some might choose that. Others might elect to go into a domestic "Peace Corps-style" organization to work with the poor in the more backwards parts of the country.

When their two year stint is done, the govt should provide them with a free 4 year education at the public university of the students choice. That way there is a benefit to both society AND the individual.

[catnhatnh]

36. Yep...

Unfortunately a real combat draft without "Get out of jail free" cards for the rich is the only way to go, to tie the top 1% interests to ours....I'll see your son and raise you two daughters....

[rep the dems]

37. Being as how I'll be 18 in not too long

I don't want there to be a draft, but I'd feel the same even if I were older. I don't want to see or hear about people getting killed in a war they never wanted to fight in. It's just wrong.

[porphyrian]

38. If and when we ever have a war I can support and believe in, maybe.

However, there hasn't been a war like that in my lifetime. Under this administration? Fuck no.

[SmokingJacket]

39. I understand Rangel's reasoning...

and agree with him. If our country is going to have a war, EVERYONE should contribute to it. We would definitely think twice about supporting a war if our own asses were on the line.

That said... I wouldn't give up my sons or myself for a Bush war, so forget it.

[Swamp Rat]

40. No, unless it's only college republicans

[madokie]

41. NO I will not support a draft for our brave in a WAR of choice, sorry

[unhappycamper]

42. Under one condition:

[ThomWV]

43. Yes, I do support manditory National Service.

That does not necessairly nean military service, but that would be one option.

I think it would do the nation good to have young people working for it and then I think it would make sense for the nation to start treating its young people well for doing so.

Not only do I think there should be manditory National Service but I think there should be the equal of the GI bill for all those who have served - once again, not necessairly in a military function. I think the Stipend paid should be something on the order of 150% of in-state tuition at the most expensive state school in the nation and that it be given without restriction as to use other than the student must remain a student. How far? Ph.D .....

[upi402]

45. Draft Republikids!

Yellow elephant kicks ass!