Bring back the draft ---- with options

[question everything]

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Bring back the draft ---- with options

By: Jerry Juntti - Commentary

Since Bush does not have to face re-election, and since the Army is strapped for manpower, it is a given that the draft will return in his second term. Since half the population (of voters) voted against Bush, and his Iraq war, it's safe to assume there would be plenty of marches, even riots, when the draft would return.

I did what Bush did back during Vietnam ---- I joined the National Guard to avoid the draft (I'm 61 now). I would hope that to avoid the huge anti-draft riots and demonstrations that a renewed draft would bring that Bush would have the sense to offer an alternative to the draft: a two-year stint in a variety of national service options, similar to a domestic Peace Corps.

There are countless inner-city schools (and most schools, in fact, not just inner-city) that would make good use of classroom aides to serve as tutors for the kids who are struggling with their studies. It would not cost the schools anything. The government would pay a stipend to the national service people ---- about the same money as they would get if they were drafted into the military. The national parks, for example, are always short on funds, and many national service people would be very useful in the parks to do a wide variety of things.

More..

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/01/11/opinion/commentary/1_10_0519_34_54.txt

[bowens43]

1. There will be no draft. It is not a given.

[noamnety]

2. 2 years mandatory slave labor?

Excellent BushCo strategy. That should drive labor costs even lower.

[Demit]

3. Actually I don't have a problem with mandatory national service on the

order of a Peace Corps, as long as everyone has to do it--no exceptions for the wealthy. But I don't understand why the author thinks that this concept would solve the Army's need for manpower--?

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. A CCC type service with few benefits, balanced against military

service that offers GI bill benefits, a good number of the drafted would choose the military option rather than the civilian option. If they're going to serve 2 years anyway, might as well make the most of it. Besides, as I vaguely remember, at that age you are immortal.

It think it is a option that would be effective.

[starroute]

5. But the Bushies can't do it because it would be "socialism"

And would fly in the face of their attempts to privatize everything.

[el_gato]

6. so we're all slaves now I guess?

enforced servitude? no thanks

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Conscription is not slavery.

It's conscription. Slaves don't get paid. Slaves don't work their way up through the system. Slaves don't get the option of leaving after the conscription period is over.

I have few problems with mandatory national service. There are many arguments for it, not the least of which is that it democratizes the military. No conscription military will ever back a coup. Professional militaries all get around to it, eventually. A conscription system that does not allow the progeny of the power elites to escape service would be used after much more reflection than a volunteer military who 'knew what they were in for when they signed up'.

It is a fallacy that draftees don't make good troops. Our military did very well with draftees in WW1, WW2, Korea. The draftees in Vietnam noticed early on that they weren't fighting organized armies that threatened our nation, but poorly armed insurgents whose main goal was to regain control of their own country for the first time in well over 100 years. And they still fared no worse than the professional French army did.

Draftees can be motivated to fight for a good cause, but are far less likely to be snowed by the propaganda that hides a bad cause. That's why the current, politicized military doesn't want to hear about the draft. They know it won't serve their agenda.

But I still think the draft is coming. After all, since when had * listened to the military?

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Been Fishing]

9. Conscripts won't have a choice either.

"Slaves don't get the option of leaving after the conscription period is over."

During the Cuba Missile Crisis, military personnel being processes out were extended for 6 months. This happened at Angel Island in San Francisco, CA. The processing line was divided and those who hadn't reached that point were turned around and reassigned.

The point being that the military could extend the term of slavery.

[Gusto md]

10. How about this....

A reverse-draft.... when people reach a certain IQ (enough to determine that the whole war is a completed farce), they are de-listed from the army...!

[newyawker99]

11. Hi Gusto md!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Gusto md]

12. Thanks....!

I had a few coins lying around, so I thought it was about time I put my $0.02 in.

Love this site btw. Been here everyday for the last few months.