reinstating the draft

hopefully this hasn't been mentioned before, but it appears that there are two bills right now in the senate and the house of representatives that aim to reinstate the draft - for men AND women between the ages of 18 to 26. now this would obviously impact a lot of people on this site if this were to go down. don't bet on it before an election year, but if this should stretch on for much longer, i'm pretty sure bush or whoever succeeds him will have to face this. here's the documentation.

(Pasting the links because the Javascript app is screwing up for me on my computer

the house bill (proposed by charles rangel, who feels the current armed forces are unfairly staffed by minorities and the lower class, and that americans would think twice about war if their sons/daughters had to fight it.)

http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00163:@@@L&summ2=m&

the senate bill

http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:SN00089:@@@L&summ2=m&

I for one think this is a horrid idea I only just got that damn door sealed properly.



/ I hate being cold a draft just makes a house feel so, drafty.

i'm with rangel on this one.

I totally called it months ago.

It's okay, I'm crazy, they don't want me in their army.

Never happen unless GWB is trying to commit political suicide, but then again that might be a good thing.

I foresee an immediate dissolution of College Republican chapters throughout the country.

Another meaningless observation: I'm almost too old to be drafted. Don't know whether to be happy or sad.

This is lame (fortunately doesn't have a prayer before the 2004 election).

The draft age limit can be raised if needed. During WWII, men in their 40s were being drafted.

Let's hope the US decides not to occupy anymore countries....

isnt a draft actually unconstitutional?

13th amendemnt section 1:
"Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

draft=involuntary servitude ergo unconstitutional - maybe its time to kick SCOTUS up the arse?

i just skimmed the text, but it seems both bills call for mandatory national service for *all* young people. that's different that how the draft has worked in the past - sounds more like how the israelis do things.

Ok start sending the flames, but i don't see anything wrong with a period of mandatory national service.

flame away!

Everyone ditch the draft and come to Canada. We'll have a pool party. Heh.

I don't either, but it should be a choice between the military or civil service, such as Americorp, Peace Corp, etc.

I hope when the draft comes around next time they remember that they wouldn't take me when I volunteered four years ago. Asthma.

I like how this is supposed to solve the racial/class imbalance of the armed services. Why don't we go ask our local Vietnam vets how many poor black men were drafted in Vietnam, and how many rich kids were either in the National Guard in Texas or reporters a few hundred miles from the front lines.

couldn't agree more, great post.

if you can't see whats wrong with the 'mandatory' bit, you don't have a very good grasp of the concept of 'liberty'...

who provides you with those "liberties" again?

no one - libery is as part of me as my arm is. states, governments, religions or any other type of body do not give out freedom, by its very virtue and definition it's free and not reliant or dependant on any body.

and i posted earlier, check out the 13th amendment, a draft is in complete cointradiction to the constitution - you do not guarantee freedom by removing it

so there :p

"who provides you with those "liberties" again? "

according to the people who wrote the Declaration of Independence and their influences these liberties are inherent.


I, however, do think a draft would be kind of a good idea. I think it would be a great way to spark some actual passion and unified hatred and action against the Bush administration and conservatives. I don't mean in just other people, but myself as well. I can bitch about how much I hate W. and the system, but don't do much about it. If I had some crew cut army fuck telling me I had to go kill some impoverished Iraqi's I would surely piss on his desk. There would be a shit storm. There would be tons of news about people backlashing against this and the W. program. A draft bill would be ultimately destructive to any party that would institute it.

booooo to yoooooou. damn british think they're soooo smart...pointing out the "free" in freedom...hehe you get a cheeky


i'm just sayin' i see rangle's point.

"what are you anyway, some sort of rabbit scientist?" (sorry, tracy morgan popped into my domepiece)

I'm the only adult male in my family that isn't now nor has never been in the military. All of the military in my family are against a draft, they figure if you don't want to be in the service, then they don't want you in the service. There are enough people who love it and wouldn't want the pride they have in their jobs to be tarnished by serving next to someone who viewed it as a punishment.

In WW2, they ended drafting up to the age of 45. If things continue they way they currently are going, we might end up seeing that again.

should i have said "who protects your liberties" or what?

the nitpicking on wording here is worse than at law schools...

you get a for your post. weeeee.

[Edited on Nov 18, 2003 by whiterabbit]