Bring back the Military Draft....Think these asshats Republicans will keep playing games

[SIDURI]

9. It's a heart-heavy thought, but one I've had for different reasons

Toward the end of Bush-Cheney's regime I began to wonder about the difference in young peoples' response to Bush's war(s) and the Vietnam war, when I was a high school and college student. Every young man I knew felt the cold wind of the Draft, regardless of their place in the lottery. They all felt it. They all had to decide what they would do about it -- an existential decision.

The ones with skin in the game will NEVER be the 1% or even the top 5%. WW II, when families like the Roosevelts and the Kennedys both had offspring in the military services, was an exception. During the Vietnam war, the Texas Air National Guard and other cushy deployments was where the sons of privilege spent their time.

I participated in peaceful demonstrations against the invasion of Iraq many many times. All ages were represented, from grannies to infants in strollers. But the energy and anger of the youth was somehow lacking. Was it because they as a demographic group had no skin in the game? Was it because none -- and I mean none -- of them felt the Draft breathing down their necks?

I have no answer to this. I certainly never thought I'd be questioning the volunteer army concept -- well, until I realized that what we have is an economic Draft, one that makes the denizens of impoverished regions and impoverished schools look at the military as the only way to get ahead. Inequity, again.

Too sad.

Siduri