Clearly, the solution to war resolutions is an automated draft

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

Once congress makes the declaration of war or votes to give the President authority to declare war, a draft needs to be announced.

We keep the volunteer armed services but add to it a draft component. NO EXEMPTIONS. That ought to make war a little less popular, you think?

And it's perfectly feasible. We combine both volunteer and draft. The draft kicks in the moment Congress reaches its vote. Simple enough.

No war, no draft.

[Pobeka]

1. I agree in principle.

But rich and powerful people will always have a way to get their descendents out of harms way.

All in all, I think this would be a net gain, because all of the schmucks like me would get a WHOLE lot more informed about the reasons for war, and we would make a much bigger impact if several thousand of us were banging on the door of our representative's office yelling "NO WAY!".

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

4. Just say, NO EXEMPTIONS

with the exception of medical exemptions (and, yes, we all know that the wealthy benefit here--without naming names). Everyone's name is put into the mix. Everyone. In fact, I suggest, because middle-aged men seem to have such a raging hard-on for war, that the age of draftees be extended. Clearly there's a place for 40-50 year olds in semi-decent shape in the Air Force or the Navy (yes, yes, who is insulted more: the Air Force, the Navy, or the 40-50 year olds).

It's time to put up or shut up. We live in a Democratic Republic. So let my representative represent me. Then we'll see how votes go.

[BillZBubb]

2. I would add one thing to that very good idea

Also, add a surtax immediately based on 4 times the estimated next years cost of the conflict. The surtax stays for the duration of the war in any form (conflict, occupation, policing, etc). For instance if the government expects to collect $1 trillion in income taxes and projects the war will cost $50 billion per year, the surtax is 20%. Only one exemption: Those owing less than $5000 in taxes pay nothing extra.

Make people who support wars pay with both money and family members. Especially the overfed, self righteous Repugs.

[Cronus Protagonist]

9. Ooo I like that idea a lot.

Added to an automatic draft, it could end wars started by the US forever more.

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[theivoryqueen]

3. I love your concept - make war politically unpopular?

problem is the money men keep pushing the aggressive agenda with bucks and banging incentives....

[Don_G]

5. The Same Problem Remains

It's a BBV Draft with multi-billion dollar contracts awarded through unverifiable software where the public can't ask the Secret Service, FEC, CIA, FDIC, DoD, HHS, Department of Labor, Congress or Senate to look after our interests as a voter.

Transparancy in Government means no revolution and the Constitution still stands....

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

6. Well, I can't argue with, and won't try to, a hermetic

theory such as yours.

Something tells me, however, that if it's not even close, BBV won't matter. But I don't discount anything you're saying.

[Borknagar]

7. ....

Dude, sons and daughters the rich and powerful will never set one foot on Iraqi soil no matter what.

[flaminbats]

8. Who controls this automated draft...the President?

What a great way to get rid of the undesirable political elements...minorities, the disabled, the elderly, strikers, prisoners, illegal immigrants, the homeless, and the unemployed. Just put them on the front lines and get the credit for having them die to win the rich man's wars. Then there will be less Democrats to vote against you in the next election!

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

10. I'm not sure how to respond.

Perhaps we begin like everything else--with a bill ("I'm just a bill, yeah I'm only a bill, sittin' here on Capitol Hill").

Perhaps Rangel can begin; of course, he'd have to add a little nuance to his position as of right now.

My proposal is to quiet those who repeatedly say our volunteer armed forces is the greastest military invention in the world. We'd keep the voluntary element but add to it the political draft as well--seeing that war has become inherently political these days.

Your post is quite odd, almost as if you didn't read the original post and ponder the implications of its rudimentary ideas.

[flaminbats]

11. the draft is never random...

the draft boards work effectively. I know a man during Vietnam who got drafted at a younger age than most...because the draft boards began by drafting older men and working their way down in 1964. This man got drafted because his uncle was a General in the Pentagon and his father, who served in WWII, wanted him to be drafted! This would make him into a man they thought...

They pulled the necessary strings and then he received his draft notice. Then he burned it, and told them that he would shoot them before he would ever shoot at anyone in Vietnam...

He wasn't prosecuted, because in 1964 hardly anyone dodged the draft. But the point is that no draft will be fully automated or fair. Even if software is used, it can be written to exclude wealthier groups with more influence. Your idea sounds nice on the service, but over time it would rot at the core.