Posted on 08/12/2007 5:46:07 PM PDT by ConservativeofColor
The draft of WWII was unnecessary. Korea, too, the draft was basically unnecessary. It wasn’t until the draft dodging lefties of Vietnam that this became an issue. Now, we have an all volunteer military; the best military the world has every seen, and this moron is interested in nothing less than the destruction of that military.
Just turned 48. I’m not in the greatest physical shape, but I could with time get in better shape. I’d already inquired with an Army recruiter about enlisting, and was told I am too old. If they’d let me, I’d go in place of my son (or even stand with him) in a heartbeat to defend my country and my family. Rangle can go to hell. We don’t need a draft, just people willing to fight for freedom and liberty.
Inductions (by year) from World War I through the end of the draft (1973)
1972 - 49,514; 1973 - 646. “The last man inducted entered the Army on June 30, 1973.”
Your link says, “This lottery was conducted for men who would have been called in 1973; however, no new draft orders were issued after 1972.”
I take that as orders for the draft continued into June of 1973 from earlier and no new ones were issued.
I also recall when the draft ended we were gathered in formation and told that if we were drafted we had the choice of remaining in the Army or being released.
I will agree Edwards’s lottery number wasn't that low, but according to the chart at your link, it was about in the middle. Still, he claimed he came along too late to be drafted, which I see as not entirely accurate. The likelihood of his being drafted was lower than others, but he still could have enlisted, which was his choice not. Amazing that he recently said all Americans should be subjected to a “Mandatory National Service.”
I also will note that my inclusion of him in my initial comment was due to the comment of Rangel’s of, “All you had to do is what Cheney did, what Bush did. All you had to do was know a politician and get deferments.”
Democrat politicians also could have served back then and in one way or another, did not. It is selective to point out only Bush and Cheney, especially given that Bush did serve in the TANG as a pilot and volunteered for Viet Nam, but didn't have enough points earned and the war was drawing to a close by then.
As to the protesters, I've always felt the intent there was so they didn't have to serve. By the time of our exit from Viet Nam, protests were nonexistent that I recall, but I was in Germany by then.
Finally, not doubting the discussion on Swiftvets, but I don't readily recall that one. I'd like to look it over again, if you saved a link or recall the thread. If not, no big deal.
I’m with you. I’m 51, healthy, could work into a good shape. I’d lay in the sand with that old AR-15 in the place of one of my daughters if it came to that.
I’m with you.
Even if a draft were immediately enacted, how long would it take for those draftees to be ready for deployment? Furthermore, how much more would it cost? Somehow I doubt it’s worthwhile or helpful at this point. The potential cost would be better spent on recruiting and retention efforts.
I know some in their late 50s and early 60s in pretty good shape, and a hell of a lot wiser, and more intelligent than most in their 20s. Lots of jobs they could do.
I have one neighbor that just turned 61 and this guy is no one to mess with, and very intelligent.
Trust me, if sh*t every really hit the fan, they'd find your telephone number in short order.
I guarantee you he will not vote for his own bill, if his Dem friends even allow it to come up for a vote.
Charlie is a manure salesman with a mouth full of samples.
I just came back from the swifites forums...
forum is still going.
sorry...I was wrong...I cudda swore we had a decent discussion on edwards/draft.
damned if I can find any lengthy discussion on edwards. Your link to the newsday article was used...but they didn’t give edwards too much thought that I could find.
I even searched for all my posts and nada, bupkus, zippo, zilc, zero on edwards.
maybe the conversation was in my head.
I still think Edwards should get a pass..
.
I understood exactly why you commented...Charley’s been selling that one-sided horse-crap for years.
sometimes i go off down a different rabbit hole.
sorry....
No big deal. I’m still active there so I knew it was still going, barely.
Personally, as I said, Edwards has no room to complain about others, but that is politics.
No need to say sorry, I feel the same about Rangel and I too go off somtimes over a memory that isn’t always accurate.
LOL, maybe we are getting old?
What do you do if these people are parents of young children?
What do you do if these people have mortgages on homes or run businesses?
Do they lose everything to be drafted?
I’m gonna leave aside, for the moment, whether we should have a draft. If we must have one, this is the draft I would like to see.
Everyone serves. No exceptions, no exemptions, very few deferrals. If you are physically and mentally capable, you’re on. And when I say physically capable, there are plenty of productive and accomplished people in wheelchairs — that’s not an out.
Military service is voluntary and subject to screening for fitness. If you choose not to serve in the military, or are rejected, other options could include serving in the Peace Corps, cleaning up trash n the highway, building bridges, teaching in the inner city or rural areas, hosing off graffiti, helping the elderly, cleaning up state and national parks, producing educational materials, and so on. There are plenty of areas of need.
When I say very few deferments, here’s what I mean: Obviously, if you’re ill, you can defer until you’re healthier. If you’re a med student, you can defer until you’re a doctor — you’ll be more helpful that way. If you’re a new mom, you can defer until the kid’s ready for day care.
If you fail to serve, you are permanently ineligible for any government assistance aside from the bare essentials — no mortgage programs, pell grants, student loans, SBA loans, and so on. Ever. For life. You are also permanently ineligible for any non-elected government job (I don’t like restrictions on elected offices, because that’s what voters are for).
Permanent resident aliens are required to serve under the same rules as citizens. At the conclusion of their service, they move to the front of the line for citizenship. They still must complete all the requirements for same.
I’m not sure what to do about foreigners on visas — it doesn’t seem quite right to impose service on, say, an Israeli student who’s already done his compulsory service in israel. So I’d say if you’re here on a visa, with asylum, or for that matter illegally, service is voluntary. But you will not be eligible for citizenship or a green card until you’ve finished.
Really, I think you just haven’t thought the social consequences through. You would bring on either force or intimidation against millions of Americans who who have a real belief in mothers being the ones to provide the early childhood training to their own children — not just till they can be placed in a day-care system. By the way, who would chose the daycare? MAN! You sound like you believe that all mothers already do put their children in day care. Millions have a solid conviction against other people raising their little ones for them.
Your plan could completely destroy the home school movement in this country, which is a very successful alternative to the social engineering centers called public schools. It would also very negatively affect the availability of teachers for the thousands of church schools which depend on volunteer help daily from the students.
At any given time, there would not be adequate numbers of people available to function in civilian capacities. So the government would have to begin going through the rolls of draftees and deciding who among them will be transfered to civilian training for civilian functions. Or, the whole nation could simply be one huge military complex. A fully Marxist-socialist society or a revolution would follow.
You have not threatened anyone with prison (yet), but only a denial of some benefits that many would not use anyway, and many would ignore. But I believe that if your plan were to be carried out, it would not stop there, because there would actually be millions of Americans who would not be affected by the availability or lack of availability of such government “benefits” (which all appear to be socialist-style programs to begin with).
When the social planners see that millions of Americans are carrying on just fine without government programs, other tactics will be used to force your plan. Eventually it will be things like, forced removal of children from the home. Then prison, of course.
Well, we see your plan coming down the road. I expect to see things like what you have written very soon in official government publications, or campaign material, or in political party leadership training syllabuses. Such IS coming.
I don’t know how this happened, but I am not the one proposing the ultimate universal draft. That was ConservativeofColor who proposed that. Then I thought I was responding to ConservativeofColor, but evidently my post went to you.
You are,though, absolutely correct. The universal draft proposed by ConservativeofColor would cause millions to lose their homes and many business owners would have to be snatched away from their businesses. Not his plan would not work favorably for the military or for the nation, unless his real intention is to turn the nation over to the Marxist-socialists of our day
I’d be at the recruiting station before my phone could ring.
The draft is a triple header victory for the left-
1) It FORCES people into service instead of it being voluntary, leftists love coerced activity over voluntary activity.
2) It damages the effectiveness of the military.
3) It makes the public VERY reluctant to use the military in America's best interest.
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