A humble suggestion...

[flotsam]

Most people agree that an income tax indexed to income level is fair. How about if we went to an indexed military draft? Suppose the entire military was draftees and every draftee passed thru basic with the best being offered military academies or officer candidate schools. By indexing the draft itself to family income levels it would be expected that both the quality of those drafted and the involvement of influential families would rise and that as a result deployment of troops would be much more fully debated. The quality of the military AND the level of civilian involvement in military oversight would be improved. And when rich kids got killed it just might matter a bit more...

[dchill]

1. "For of those to whom much is given,

much is required."

JFK

[jmowreader]

2. As a former NCO, I don't support this

We have a hard enough time with some of the people who asked to be there and went through all the rigamarole of security investigation, basic training, language training and job training. Forcing people who didn't want to be in the Army to be in it anyway would be a disaster.

[dlk]

3. When There Was a Draft, Not Everyone Wanted to Be There Then

How was it handled at that time?

[jmowreader]

6. There were high levels of desertion, lots of disciplinary problems...

heavy drinking, high levels of drug use...everything you do NOT want your army to be. And that's without the Trumps, Bushes and Quayles in the ranks.

Our army has not conscripted anyone since the end of the Vietnam Conflict...and unless our own soil gets invaded by some of our president's friends, there never should be one again.

[leftstreet]

4. So...rich kids would improve the 'quality' of the military?

Are you sure you want to suggest that?

Rich parents might have more influence, as you suggest, but a military peopled by trust fund kids and prep school fuckoffs just doesn't scream 'quality' to me

[scarletlib]

7. They might not improve the military but the military might improve them.

I support some form of Universal Service for all 18-20 year olds. Service to the nation and fellowship with fellow citizens from all parts of the country should be a good thing.

[Raine]

5. Rich kids rich parents

will pay there way out of the draft, that's what they've always done before.

[Hoyt]

8. The fact is, the military is over-rated in this country. We spend way too much so we can influence

and get our way in the world. I guess it is good for us, but not sure it's good for the world. Nor, is the military under our current leadership in the best interest of the world.

With that said, I think the active military is a pretty small number -- less than 1.5 million. But, our military is augmented by millions of people in the armaments and security business, and 900,000 or so in the reserves.

I do agree with the idea that involvement of "influential" families might help.

I don't think we need as many soldiers to invade countries and slog it out in the streets, jungles, deserts, nowadays.

And you are right. I bet we'd still be fire bombing innocent peasants in Vietnam had there not been a draft and people said "screw this war." On the other hand, I don't think the government should be making people into killers.

[HAB911]

9. Service by all but not forced military

Required service, take your pick from the following, would it seems to me, allow the cream to rise