Is reinstatement of the draft at hand?

Various | Aug 4, 2002 | The Duke

[The Duke]

Lately, even as I hear the war drums incessantly beating with regard to Iraq, I've heard numerous radio ads reminding all "young men" that registration for "selective service" is "the law".

Could it possibly be that a ressurection of the draft is being contemplated? And if so will this draft be "selective" in the sense that it won't "select" the children of our national leaders(?) (as apparently was the case with Vietnam?)

My own three boys are a few years from being eligable for such a draft, and I've shared with them my belief that the integrity of our leadership (Democrat and Republican alike) is highly suspect. I've also shared with them that the eight years prior to the current administration was proof that one can dodge the draft and even get elected President.

I would like to know what other Freepers think of the prospect of resurrecting the draft?

[The Duke]

Personally, I think the politicans and their corrupt crony media should go fight their own war against Saddam Hussein, because the only words I've heard on the subject have for the past ten years been coming only from the mouths of fools and liars.

[sinkspur]

There's no indication that a re-institution of the draft is being contemplated. There's no need for it.

I've shared with them my belief that the integrity of our leadership (Democrat and Republican alike) is highly suspect.

Nice. Injecting your kids with your own cynicism.

Do you tell them the cops suck because you don't like the speed limits?

[EggsAckley]

After 9-11, if I were younger, they wouldn't have had to draft me, I would've enlisted.

[Gritty]

I doubt it. We have no need for millions of men in the armed forces. Besides, women would have to be drafted also, and that would be too divisive so the Administration wouldn't want to open that can of worms at this time.

[AM2000]

Nice. Injecting your kids with your own cynicism.

We're talking about the yahoos who run things in Washington - cynicism is called for.

[cmsgop]

Good One Sink!

[Hugin]

I think we should not have a draft, as we do not need one, and it would degrade the quality and morale of the armed forces.

I don't know what the h*ll you are saying about going to war with Iraq. Are you calling Bush, Don Rumsfield, Condi Rice, etc. fools and liars? Are you for letting Saddam continue to work on building nukes?

[The Duke]

Nice. Injecting your kids with your own cynicism.

Cynicism is a much more effective life preserver than naivete', wouldn't you say?

[Polonius]

Injecting your kids with your own cynicism.

Are you suggesting that healthy cynicism toward government is a bad thing?

[Pining_4_TX]

Old politicians always send young men off to die in wars, just not the ones in their own families. That's all we need, a little "selective slavery" to go along with the proposed "neighbors spying on neighbors" corps. Looks like we'll have to remove the words "land of the free" from the national anthem.

[The Duke]

I don't know what the h*ll you are saying about going to war with Iraq. Are you calling Bush, Don Rumsfield, Condi Rice, etc. fools and liars? Are you for letting Saddam continue to work on building nukes?

Oh, no, I don't believe anyone in our current administration is a fool. But then I *do* believe that most politicians are liars, and that a geat many are corrupt.

I leave the "fool" label for the Democrats and the media (am I being redundant here?)

With regard to Saddam and nukes, I have no way of knowing whether he's a threat or not - because I've had no input from anyone I consider to be both informed and trustworthy.

[johniegrad]

Lately, even as I hear the war drums incessantly beating with regard to Iraq, I've heard numerous radio ads reminding all "young men" that registration for "selective service" is "the law".

Those ads have been on the radio for several years. But I suppose because you've just started to hear them that justifies your vanity post and your worries about your children.

[sinkspur]

Are you suggesting that healthy cynicism toward government is a bad thing?

No. But telling your kids the President lacks integrity is, IMO, like telling them that their teachers are rotten liberals.

Undermining an authority figure in front of children is just not something I do.

My boys are adults now, and they can reach any conclusion they want, on their own.

[The Duke]

Are you suggesting that healthy cynicism toward government is a bad thing?

To come to the defense of Sink for a moment (who, I suspect, needs no one to defend him), I must say that I myself wonder if the degree of my cynicism might be beyond healthy, and yet perhaps not to the degree that it's unwarranted.

[Hugin]

With regard to Saddam and nukes, I have no way of knowing whether he's a threat or not - because I've had no input from anyone I consider to be both informed and trustworthy.

Ignorance is bliss. You have the luxury of being happy and cynical.

[rb22982]

The parent is THE authority figure, all others should be below their parents, and if what they say/do goes against the parents personal belief system, its no business of yours to stop them or to ridicule them for them telling their kids. After all, the government indoctrinates love for socialism through the public schools, with no parental consent, they're just doing the reverse, of course with their own consent

[Hugin]

The parent is THE authority figure, all others should be below their parents, and if what they say/do goes against the parents personal belief system, its no business of yours to stop them or to ridicule them for them telling their kids.

That's a rather gross generalization. What if the parents are evil?

[sinkspur]

The parent is THE authority figure, all others should be below their parents, and if what they say/do goes against the parents personal belief system, its no business of yours to stop them or to ridicule them for them telling their kids.

Teaching young people to view adults as lacking integrity because one opposes their politics is the height of cynicism.

I'm not ridiculing anybody; I'm just disagreeing with The Duke. He can raise his kids however he wants.

If my boys become disillusioned with politicians, let them do it the way I did it: on my own, as an adult. I taught them to respect adults and their opinions.

No wonder young people don't vote; why should they if all they've heard from their parents is that elected officials are crooks and untrustworthy?

[ghostrider]

I agree with you. Folks better realize "upfront" what they are getting into. There is nothing more demoralizing to a soldier than to have "let it all hang out" only to find that he/she is being used as a pawn by cynical, double standard, hypocritical politicians not committed to and unappreciative of the soldiers sacrifice. This is especially true, now where soldiers are being placed under command of foreign military commanders, UN commanders and may be hauled before the superpolitical international criminal/war crimes courts.

[spectre]

Fat chance.

Don't need it.

Congress has not approved, nor the administration asked for, an increase in military manpower ceilings.

The military is chock full up to authorized strength.