There was small talk of this happening in Australia, but I don't see it happening: 1) We have a decreasing and ageing population. By sending nearly all the young males to war, we are basically saying good bye to the future. 2) The Aussie Government doesn't have the cash to fund it. 3) They can't force me to do anything. I live in a democracy! 4) I would fail the physical, no doubt about it. 5) If I was a soldier, I would rather have another trained soldier by my side. Not some guy who has never shot a rifle before. 6) It sucks.
Selective service for 2 years would be great. I wish they had it when I was 18....I did not get serious about education until 21 anyway, and could have used the extra money in college from the GI bill. I think it is a great idea, and would help out with our "ME FIRST" generation. A good way to see the world while you are young and grow up some before college. Good idea. DD
Exactly. I think there are worse things than making a bunch of PSII playing poop for brains wake up at 5:30 in the morning for two years straight. Unfortunately this is just an attempt to draw attention to the disconnect between the citizenry and the elitists that we elect to office. Though mandatory enlistment would never pass, I think in practice that it would fulfill Rangel's goals. Hell, look at the break down right now, concerning Iraq: If you served in Vietnam - you tend to be hesitant to start wars (Powell/Clark/every other general). If you were a draft dodging p***y, you tend to be a war mongerer (Clinton/Bush/Cheney/insert 90% of politicians here).
I'm in favor of the draft. However, it should be extended to everyone including 65 year old politicians. If the senators would be possibly called up for two years of pushing paperwork or somesuch within their physical capabilities thus disrupting their careers and paying a price, it would make them weigh the decision better. It is way too easy to be in favor of wars when you use other people's children, it doesn't interrupt your lifestyle and you make money off of it.
That's the principle of the proposal. http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/12/29/mandatory.military/index.html Rangel calls for mandatory military service Monday, December 30, 2002 Posted: 1:46 PM EST (1846 GMT) WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Democratic lawmaker said Sunday he will introduce a bill in the next session of Congress to make military service mandatory. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-New York, said such legislation could make members of Congress more reluctant to authorize military action. "I'm going to introduce legislation to have universal military service to let everyone have an opportunity to defend the free world against the threats coming to us," Rangel said on CNN's "Late Edition." "I'm talking about mandatory service." The Korean War veteran has accused the Bush administration and some fellow lawmakers of being too willing to go to war with Iraq. In October, he voted against a joint resolution authorizing military action against Iraq. It passed 296-133 in the House and 77-23 in the Senate. "When you talk about a war, you're talking about ground troops, you're talking about enlisted people, and they don't come from the kids and members of Congress," he said. "I think, if we went home and found out that there were families concerned about their kids going off to war, there would be more cautiousness and a more willingness to work with the international community than to say, 'Our way or the highway.' " Rangel did not provide specifics of his proposal.
So he can't make a convincing case to the public that war isn't necessary, so he decides to try to scare them into agreeing with him. Nice.
Maybe we should develop a weapon that looks just like an xbox controller. We'd be an unstoppable army. Honestly, I never thought I would have complete command of six buttons, two triggers, three different directional knobs with buttons on the top of those knobs... and a start and pause button. Holy crap! I'm a machine!
Well...I'm not going to serve in the war. I'll serve as a chaplain. But I'm not fighting. They probably wouldn't want me anyway. When they draft me, do I HAVE to go?
for the record...the bush administration isn't calling for a draft, permanent or temporary. this is rangel's idea...not the administration's.
He should've called them un-American and questioned their patriotism. I mean, if it worked for one side, it can work for the other . . . . Anyways, much ado about nothing - the bill won't pass because conscription is a bad idea and that's not the point of the bill anyway.
That's crazy, it'll never pass, but if it does, I don't know if I'd pass a physical. I can pass one for football, but I lost 40% of my hearing in one ear. I'm kind of offended by this quote, and there is something that makes us wake up at 5:30 for WAY more than 2 years in a row: it's called SCHOOL. I would be willing to go if it were a big war and my country absolutely needed me, but if it were in times of peace, I see no point in a draft.
This is true. But according to the website, more states are cracking down even harder n those who would not register. For example, you could not apply for (and in some cases renewing) a state id or driver's license!
I have no qualm with mandatory "government service" for all citizens between the ages of 18 and 20. However, since I am not a big proponent of the military, there should be a choice between military and non-military service. I believe spending 1 or 2 years in government service is a very good way for Americans to serve their country. Although this would cost big $$$, the payoff would be worth it. Just deduct the cost of a couple of B-1 bombers to fund the non-military portion. There's a pot-hole on my street that needs filling.
Here's from the Selective Service website that is even more interesting: link "Registration is the law. A man who fails to register may, if prosecuted and convicted, face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison term of up to five years. Even if not tried, a man who fails to register with Selective Service before turning age 26 may find that some doors are permanently closed." Assuming a person isn't tried for not registering, the other things would apply.
