General Discussion

NickB79

(20,316 posts)

71. That war was unpopular BECAUSE OF the draft

Mon Sep 22, 2014, 12:17 PM

Sep 2014

It was the threat of being drafted that got many of those protesters out on the streets marching. Since it pulled from every part of the country, and (theoretically) every walk of life, everyone got the chance to see a friend, family member, or loved one sent off to possibly die in a rice paddy halfway around the world.

It put it in people's faces. It prevented them from turning away and ignoring it. The draft brought the war home, and made it real, not just some articles in the newspaper or video on TV.

Today, without a draft, most Americans seem content to just sit back on their asses and "let the troops do their job", because they don't have much invested personally. And that's what let us keep grinding on, and on, and on, in the current wars we STILL find ourselves embedded in.

I respect your opinion, but I think you have it backwards here.

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Rangel: It’s Time for a War Tax and a Reinstated Draft [View all] IDemo Sep 2014 OP

seems fair to me nt grasswire Sep 2014 #1

My Concern About The Draft Is In Rangel's Write Up ProfessorGAC Sep 2014 #69

don't you think it's time to share the mental anguish? grasswire Sep 2014 #74

I really get pissed at statements like yours! upaloopa Sep 2014 #77

thank you for your service, and peace to you grasswire Sep 2014 #79

You should not be involved in sending kids to war upaloopa Sep 2014 #83

And on a side note, you don't have to thank me for my service. upaloopa Sep 2014 #84

Wow Egnever Sep 2014 #93

Well the PC bullshit gets hard to take sometimes. upaloopa Sep 2014 #96

I Fear The Percentages Will Get Even Higher ProfessorGAC Sep 2014 #78

Upper crust children don't get drafted liberal N proud Sep 2014 #80

a lottery with no deferments... grasswire Sep 2014 #81

And you think that would change? liberal N proud Sep 2014 #82

why would we ever presume that the rich would not have a way out? reddread Sep 2014 #97

Common sense sounds so refreshing. JaneyVee Sep 2014 #2

It comes so rarely from Congress Aerows Sep 2014 #18

I agree 100%. eom Purveyor Sep 2014 #3

I DISAGREE 1000%. The reason we got rid of the draft was because it was only the draft pnwmom Sep 2014 #4

Thank you. tazkcmo Sep 2014 #6

Our service people served tour after tour in the last Oil War BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #24

The whole war should never have been fought. But if we had a draft, we'd never have pulled out. n/t pnwmom Sep 2014 #25

But we're going back, so what's the difference? BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #26

Maybe fifty thousand American lives or more. nt pnwmom Sep 2014 #29

You want to add piles and piles of bodies and ensure the war lasts even longer? n/t kcr Sep 2014 #56

It's silly to imply no draft is making it shorter BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #57

It's just as silly to think as draft might end things Lurks Often Sep 2014 #58

It will wake people up out of their stupor, that's what I'm saying BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #59

It won't wake people from their stupor Lurks Often Sep 2014 #60

I don't think you get to make the rules BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #61

Lol, I see you're not much different from the politicians you claim to hate Lurks Often Sep 2014 #62

No, I'm implying no such thing. kcr Sep 2014 #75

A draft, or the threat of one, will wake people up BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #88

Wrong. Richard Nixon ended the draft; he's hardly a progressive. The draft made ALL Americans ... Scuba Sep 2014 #48

Progressives fought to end the draft. Nixon knuckled under when his life was falling apart. n/t pnwmom Sep 2014 #65

Well we need to get rid of old-time "cannon fodder" and not give exceptions for being wealthy and kelliekat44 Sep 2014 #49

They got rid of the academic deferments during the Vietnam war. And there will always be pnwmom Sep 2014 #66

It also helped stop that war. They learned from that, when every citizen has a stake sabrina 1 Sep 2014 #64

It would have stopped years sooner if they'd had to rely on a volunteer army pnwmom Sep 2014 #67

They now have MERCENARIES to take up the slack. There were over one hundred sabrina 1 Sep 2014 #68

If a war is justified, as in WW2, then people will also volunteer, on their own, pnwmom Sep 2014 #73

That war was unpopular BECAUSE OF the draft NickB79 Sep 2014 #71

There were millions of troops involved in that war, so of course it touched most people's families. pnwmom Sep 2014 #91

Agree as well. The well connected will always find a way not to serve. The 1% children will never Erose999 Sep 2014 #87

Everyone should have to think about it when our country decides to join or start a war loyalsister Sep 2014 #5

It already includes both sexes Warpy Oct 2014 #101

Oh, as if the general populace would have any say in the matter of war. djean111 Sep 2014 #7

I fought against the draft when we had one Dale Neiburg Sep 2014 #8

Not this "reinstatement of the draft" crap again Lurks Often Sep 2014 #9

I would like to rephrase your last sentence to sadoldgirl Sep 2014 #10

That's naive nonsense Lurks Often Sep 2014 #23

I'm not for feeding more lives to the Defense Industry. Giving them money too is insanity. chrisa Sep 2014 #11

NO! GitRDun Sep 2014 #12

It's called having skin in the game Joe Turner Sep 2014 #13

Agree BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #21

They got rid of the college deferments during Vietnam and it didn't lead to any shortening pnwmom Sep 2014 #27

With their kids and the kids of the rest of the rich out of play, I sincerely doubt it. chrisa Sep 2014 #38

Are you willing to fund a massive increase in the size of military? hack89 Sep 2014 #72

Fuck the draft. Warren Stupidity Sep 2014 #14

Bingo... awoke_in_2003 Sep 2014 #33

But they ARE going to fight these wars....so better figure who's gonna pay for it! TheNutcracker Sep 2014 #52

Rangel is 100% correct. 99Forever Sep 2014 #15

How would a draft cost warmongers personally when their family would be immune to the draft? chrisa Sep 2014 #39

It's fantasy anyway, so in my version... 99Forever Sep 2014 #43

We now have what amounts to an economic draft. JEB Sep 2014 #16

A draft is needed to get a well rounded military and not a professional army. CK_John Sep 2014 #17

Progressive taxes. - Yes. Forced to labor at killing people - No. n/t pampango Sep 2014 #19

Let's Draft Congressmen First Wolf Frankula Sep 2014 #20

He already did, he's a Korean War Vet n/t BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #22

Especially the Kochs and the big oil families BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #28

War tax yes, draft no. former9thward Sep 2014 #30

About a draft, it may be a good idea if it causes politicians to think twice about involving the US Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #31

NO DRAFT!! HeiressofBickworth Sep 2014 #32

I think he's bluffing. immoderate Sep 2014 #34

No, this is a near-constant refrain from Rangel... Chan790 Sep 2014 #47

"Greatest Generation" and Baby Boomers are the biggest supporters of war Shoulders of Giants Sep 2014 #35

Boomers protested against the Vietnam War Art_from_Ark Sep 2014 #55

If that poll is accurate, why do the older generations vote for the warmongers? Shoulders of Giants Oct 2014 #100

Not sure of anyone in the military for a draft. Separation Sep 2014 #36

I have an alternative proposal Man from Pickens Sep 2014 #37

We were just discussing this at dinner-hadn't yet read Rangel's words. War has to have the attention lunasun Sep 2014 #40

Democrats supporting a return to the draft is a really good idea. tritsofme Sep 2014 #41

Oh yeah....the DEBT. tblue Sep 2014 #42

Let the war profiteers pay the war taxes. SamKnause Sep 2014 #44

Agree about the war tax, hate the draft idea minivan2 Sep 2014 #45

Hell NO! Sorry Charlie reddread Sep 2014 #46

How about taxing the billionaire elite more? mb999 Sep 2014 #50

The military turns away volunteers madville Sep 2014 #51

Oh please.... sgtbenobo Sep 2014 #89

80% currently get turned away madville Sep 2014 #99

You must be talking the military of 35 years ago yeoman6987 Oct 2014 #102

I'll be with a draft the turnout for elections will be higher than 52% presidential, 17-30 midterms TheNutcracker Sep 2014 #53

PS...recipe for apathy TheNutcracker Sep 2014 #54

This dumb draftee is against the draft but the late Colonel Hackworth had an interesting perspective Brother Buzz Sep 2014 #63

We can't afford a fair draft hack89 Sep 2014 #70

Will Rangel Iamthetruth Sep 2014 #76

Lol, no BlindTiresias Sep 2014 #85

Can we pass the "war tax" on the oil men and the MIC since this is their war? I ain't paying for Erose999 Sep 2014 #86

So you are going to Tax me to help make wealthy people richer. dilby Sep 2014 #90

Hey Charlie! Give us a list of your eligible family members. Then we can talk. n/t. cherokeeprogressive Sep 2014 #92

Not just no but hell no. If anyone thinks they can get congress to pass a fair and equitable draft, uppityperson Sep 2014 #94

I have a better idea Egnever Sep 2014 #95

Yes, yes, yes, yes, 1000 times yes. n/t Hotler Sep 2014 #98