TWO CENTS: Should the United States reinstate a military draft? (SF Chron)

[bluestateguy]

Margy Eller, Mill Valley

I'd hate to see it -- a volunteer army is less of a discipline problem. It needs to be applied equally. Under these conditions offspring of members of Congress would be in the pool and it would never be implemented..

Larry Graeber, Alameda

Yes. All elements of a democratic society work better and promote equality and fairness when society's institutions are made up in representative numbers, in such a way as to mirror the society as a whole..

Oh that's so cute! You actually think the draft would work that way!

Michael Franzblau, San Rafael

A draft is essential if all classes are to be represented in the armed forces. By keeping the all volunteer army we force poor and other marginalized groups to bear a burden that all Americans should support.

All a draft does is force more poor and marginalized groups into war. You're naive if you actually think that the well to do and the well connected will have to serve.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/08/14/INGN3E62PN1.DTL

[still_one]

1. only for republicans

[rodeodance]

4. Yes, it will effectively close down stupid talk of more wars==puts the

scare in the repugs quick.

[ZombieGak]

12. did the draft stop the lunatic Right from wanting war in the 60's?

Hell... let's forget Barry Goldwater and all the other lunatic Right-wingers back then. The draft made the Vietnam war buildup easy for LBJ by providing an endless supply of cannon fodder.

[newyawker99]

20. Hi ZombieGak!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[liberaltrucker]

2. I'd be for a draft

But only to the extent that it'd FINALLY piss off the Sheeple

[still_one]

6. no, we shouldn't go there

[liberaltrucker]

14. You may be too young to remember 'Nam

It was the draft that turned the "patriotic" middle class against a BS war. BTW, I go into Canada sometimes. I'd be real happy to pick up a...uh....."hitch-hiker":)

[still_one]

19. no, I lived through Viet Nam

and it took 10 years, and 60000 lives

sorry, I will NOT be party to that slaughter again

your assumption is that a draft will turn the country against bush, will don't be so sure, when you have PEOPLE LIKE BIDEN and MCCAIN willing to commit that sacrifice

[brettdale]

3. Those people who wanted a draft

Should have to be the first ones drafted.

[SammyWinstonJack]

23. Oh YEAH!

First ones on the list! And those who want WAR should be the ones to fight it.

[growlypants]

5. Absolutely. Then these conservative lilly white rich people

can put the money where their mouths are. All these ASSES who voted for Bush and think this "war" in Iraq is so noble a cause and all that would NEVER allow their kids to go. NEVER. They'd send 'em to Canada so fast.....Anyway, it would make me happy to see them bitch and cry and protest. It's fine for some poor black kid to go fight THEIR war, but NOT LITTLE JOHNNY!!!!!

[liberaltrucker]

8. You got THAT right

poor and midclass folk fighting a rich man's war:patriot: on edit welcome to DU:hi:

[growlypants]

11. THANKS!!!

[liberaltrucker]

16. You're quite welcome

From the looks of you post, you've found an online home. One thing to remember, though, we all get flammed and locked from time to time:)

[Bassic]

24. If they come to Canada...

I'll do my best to kick them out :D

[loveable liberal]

7. If I felt our country was threatened by an actual invasion....

I'd sign up to be cannon fodder. Bush has abused the military, send them to steal Iraq's oil. I won't fight for some bs reason. There would be no need for a draft in that instance. There will be no draft, and there should not be a draft. Vietnam was bs too. Fighting communism, fighting terrorism. How do you kill a concept? Thats why * is an idiot. So are all his cronies. They are greedy f/heads. I wont fight for them.

[liberaltrucker]

9. Bingo!!! nt

[A Simple Game]

10. Yes.

Mandatory service for everyone. No exceptions, None At All. Even for the disabled. You don't have to make the tanks wheelchair accessible, but find something for everyone to do even if only to plant and water flowers out front of the barracks.


All a draft does is force more poor and marginalized groups into war. You're naive if you actually think that the well to do and the well connected will have to serve.

The poor and marginalized are the only ones serving for the most part. The well to do and well connected used to be able to at least say they financed the war, now they can't even claim that. Make them serve! Make everyone think a lot harder about the consequences of war!

[TahitiNut]

13. I completely agree. Democracy isn't a spectator sport.

National service should be a willing and obligatory part of being enfranchised in a democracy. No exceptions.

[A Simple Game]

17. Exactly, NO EXCEPTIONS.

I can't stress that enough, it's not a sacrifice if everyone does it. Well at least it is evenly shared. And frivolous wars and preemptive wars would be a thing of the past if the billionaires brats have to serve.

[stillcool]

15. Only after verified paper ballots are the law.

[liberaltrucker]

18. Damn, you just HAD to bring practicalty to the thread

Good for you:toast:

[evilqueen]

21. another choice

I'd like to see community/national service mandatory and the military as a viable option. What do I mean by that?

I mean mandatory, 2 years of service in such programs as VISTA, Peace Corps, Red Cross, etc. OR people could choose the military as an alternative.

I'd like to see a reward following such service in the form of a full 4 year college or vocational school tuition. Or, if a person already has a Bachelor's degree, they may apply the scholarship to grad school.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

22. Starting with the children of those that have received large tax-cuts....

...because those people haven't paid their fair share of this fiasco in any way.