[Gordongekko909]

Stop! Sowell Time!

Ping coming later today, as per usual. Also, the comments on Townhall for this article are pretty cool, so follow the link and check 'em out.

Also also, sorry if this was double-posted. I tried searching, and I kept getting a "this document does not exist on this server" message.

[dead]

Patriotic and educated young Americans who want to serve in the military are available. We need to stop academia from sabotaging national defense by blocking them from R.O.T.C. and from even hearing what military representatives have to say.

That's one step. Also, a significant increase in military pay will help bring in qualified fence-sitters.

A draft would be a disaster, as Sowell notes. The absolute worst idea possible.

[Huck]

Sowell served in the US Marine Corps as a photographer and pistol instructor.

[GSlob]

In ancient Rome the cursus honorum for the aristocracy/elite ALWAYS included [and usually started with]a military stint at tribune level. One could say that they practiced selective conscription for the elite.

[taxcontrol]

I believe that the Selective Service needs to advance by a half-step. By that I mean that Congress should require every person who has to register for the Selective Service to report for 8 hrs of training in their birth month. For this 1 day, they would receive $50 as compensation.

The time spent would be used to:
1) update the registrant's records. Address, height, weight, education, job, medical overview, shoe size etc.

2) provide weapons familiarization with the M-16... dummy rounds only.

3) basic first aid. Treatment for breaks, bleeding, breathing, etc.

4) education on what a draft would look like, under what authority, provide a copy of the Constitution etc.

The processing centers could be run by Reserve / National Guard troops with assistance from IRR.

[JamesP81]

If a draft becomes necessary, I think it would also be necessary to conduct basic interviews with potential draftees just to see who and what they are. Some method would need to be in place to weed out traitors.

Although I seriously considered it, I admit, I didn't join the military because I didn't think that sort of life is what I want for myself (I see myself getting married, 2.5 kids, white picket fence, all that stuff) but if my draft card comes I'm not going to even think about dodging it. I'm gonna go, get my training, get my rifle, and kill terrorists until either a) the Army sends me home, b) God brings me home, or preferably, c) all the terrorists are dead. I don't think I'd necessarily enjoy that sort of life, but one of the responsibilities of freedom is registering for the draft. Just the way it is.

Not everyone sees this as I do. The pansy-a$$ed libs want to crawl up in their ivory towers and reason, diplomatize, talk, and fret their way out of trouble. Their contact with reality is questionable at best.

[llevrok]

I do not think you can create patriotism.

Those volunteering today have it. A draft will not create it.

A national public service draft will only become a brain washing school for liberals

[DustyMoment]

Today, a military draft would bring in large numbers of people who have been systematically "educated" to believe the worst about this country or, at best, to be non-judgmental about the differences between American society and its enemies.

Deserves to be repeated a 1,000 times. Everytime I listen to one of these dumbed down anti-war freaks speak, their ignorance of the military, warfare, and history is there for everyone to see. It's sad what our so-called public "education" system has created.

[paddles]

"Does it ever occur to them that their internationally broadcast comments will reach those who are doing the shelling, who can adjust their range accordingly and then kill more efficiently?"

Well, if he's referring to whacking the reporters, in the case of most of them, one can only hope so.

[AlaskaErik]

As usual, I absolutely agree with Dr Sowell on this one. Today's military is a professional organization that should not be considered a social strata equalizer.

[Ace of Spades]

I'm really getting sick and tired of people who didn't serve, but think it would be a fine idea to force others into serving.

[kellynla]

draft?

yeaaaaaaa...
that's the ticket!

Clinton was drafted...not once, not twice but three times and never showed up!

Those of us who have served don't want a draft and we don't need a draft!

What we need is an American public & media to support us and an administration to quit locking up Marines for doing their job! PERIOD

Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Wolfie]

Plus, a draft with the usual deferrments likely to accrue only to those who could afford would never fly with the American public again.

[A. Pole]

Just getting such people used to the idea of duty and discipline could be a major drain on the military

Imagine if 50% plus of draftees believed that they are being sent to war which they oppose or have no stake in. You would need to use fear of execution to make them fight. Such army would not be much more motivated that army of Saddam Hussein.

[Gordongekko909]

Thomas Sowell *PING*

FRmail me if you want on or off the Thomas Sowell Ping List.

[wolfcreek]

My Daughter is in the AF and after basics, I was a little disappointed at the amount of real warfare training she received. (even though she's in personnel) She said they were changing the duration of training in order to have more hands-on weapons instruction but, not until next year.

I would think a civilian militia corp similar to the NG would be appropriate for everyone. That would help weed out the 'don't wanna bees'.

[Billthedrill]

The question isn't how we build a stronger, more educated population, it's how we build a better military. I would be the first to admit that time in the military would be good for most of the population - it was certainly good for me - but that isn't what the military is for. That's what Scout camp is for. And even that, and JROTC and ROTC, are voluntary organizations.

However, I do think that some sort of service requirement might be a good prerequisite for voting. Don't see it ever getting past the inevitable screaming by the lazy that their civil rights were being taken away, though.

[GeronL]

actually legislators and stuff have family members in the military at a higher rate than average Americans.

I oppose a draft because it is another form of state slavery. Yes, SLAVERY.

[gogeo]

The fact that we could use a larger army of the kinds of people who have already volunteered to put their lives on the line does not mean that we can get it by adding warm bodies fresh from our politically correct schools and colleges, where standards and self-discipline are greatly lacking.

By comparison, going back to the "good old days" when you were given the choice of jail or the Army, seems more attractive.

[xzins]

Sowell makes good points about the patriotism of modern youth, but he ignores the Constitution.

The Constitution provides for Congress to call forth the militia (Art I, Section 8) and it is obvious from every usage of the term "militia" that it is NOT speaking of the standing army or navy of the US. (For example: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; .

Many have commented on the 2nd Amendment, and the best explanation of the militia is in public law. The militia is all able-bodied men of an able age. (I think it was roungly 18-50...or something of that sort.)

Given that Congress simply has to call them forth, there is always a "draft" that is enshrined in the Constitution.

[El Gato]

It doesn't help that even though we are at war, we are cutting the Air Force by some 40,000 slots, including active, guard, reserve, and DAF civilians. Some of those cut will go to the other services, primarily the Army, although even the Army can't bring on any new civilian employees, nor can they even pay the utility bills, or have the offices cleaned at stateside bases, for lack of funds. AF ROTC graduates are being denied entry on to active duty, unless they switch to the Army, which can at least bring some of them on board. How that will work out remains to be seen.

Kinda disappointing if you spend 2 or 4 years expecting to be given a shot to fly jets and are instead told you can be a support type in a different uniform or a ground pounder.