Senate passes defense bill including women in draft

[democrattotheend]

The Senate approved the National Defense Authorization Act 85-13, but some Republicans voted against it because it contained the requirement to register women with the Selective Service System. The proposal was not considered on the Senate floor, since it was included in the bill that emerged from the Armed Services Committee.

But the issue loomed large over the final vote. Heritage Action, the conservative advocacy arm of The Heritage Foundation, deemed the defense policy bill a “key vote” that would count on its annual lawmaker scorecards because of the draft language.

“It is a radical change that is attempting to be foisted on the American people,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said. “The idea that we should forcibly conscript young girls into combat, to my mind, makes little or no sense. It is at a minimum a radical proposition. I could not vote for a bill that did so, particularly that did so without public debate.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/senate-passes-defense-bill-including-women-in-draft-224316

I never thought I would find myself agreeing with Ted Cruz, but I do here, though probably not for the same reasons. My understanding is that in the 1980's, one of the main arguments against the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) was that it would mean women could be drafted. So they never passed the ERA, but now they want to draft us anyway? No dice! If they want to draft us pass the ERA first!

[imanamerican63]

1. But their family members will be excluded from this?

[peace13]

2. As a person who is peace loving and has raised a son, I am good with this.

If you don't want your young women to serve then elect people who are not war mongers. That will take care of your problem! When my son signed up for the Selective Service he did not want to be drafted either. It is about time!

[PoliticAverse]

3. So instead of eliminating one of the arguments against passing the ERA, you want to keep it

as an obstacle against passing the ERA?

[democrattotheend]

7. No, I want to pass the ERA

But I don't think it's fair to draft women unless and until they pass it.

If I'm going to have equal responsibility I want equal rights too, damn it!

[PoliticAverse]

8. So you're intentionally keeping something that's an obstacle for the ERA's passage

making the ERA less likely to pass.

Also there isn't a draft at the present time it's only registration.

[DURHAM D]

9. You have it backwards. nt

[uppityperson]

4. I'd prefer the Selective Service be dismantled instead

[surrealAmerican]

5. Draft registration is not the draft.

I do not foresee a time when it will be politically possible to have a draft.

[LostOne4Ever]

6. We need to just do away with the entire concept of involuntary conscription. nt