I am all for it But it has to be 100% no deferments and if you have a disability you should serve in another capacity such as the CCCs did with the same rules as the Military.
Look at all the loafer we could get off the Government dole in the park system alone.
And after their 3 or 4 years of service the should have the first four years of collage free at State Schools and tuition assistance at Private Schools tot to exceed whats being paid to the State Schools.

 

Email Warns of Sneaky Bush Attempt to Draft Young Americans
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Morning Editor
September 27, 2004

(CNSNews.com) - One of those "come-out-of-nowhere" emails now circulating in cyberspace warns about a sneaky administration effort to begin a "mandatory draft for boys and girls (ages 18-26) starting June 15, 2005...just after the presidential election."

The email says the Bush administration "is quietly trying to get these bills passed now, while the public's attention is on the elections."

In fact, the bill in question - HR 163 - was introduced by liberal New York Democrat Rep. Charles Rangel on Jan. 7, 2003 - almost two years ago -- and it does not have administration backing.

The companion Senate bill is S. 89, was introduced by Democrat Ernest Hollings of South Carolina, also on Jan. 7, 2003.

The legislation was introduced by lawmakers who oppose the war in Iraq. The bill, according to Rep. Pete Stark, (D-Calif.), "will ensure all Americans share in the cost and sacrifice of war."

Anti-war Democrats introduced the legislation, knowing it would be unpopular. They wanted to make the point that the burden of fighting the war in Iraq would fall disproportionately to poor and minority populations unless a mandatory draft is imposed.

According to the alarmist, pre-election email now circulating, the mandatory draft bill "eliminates higher education as a shelter and includes women in the draft" It says "crossing into Canada" as a means of avoiding the draft has been "made very difficult."

Readers of the email are urged to send it to "all the parents and teachers you know, and all the aunts and uncles, grandparents, godparents. . . And let your children know -- it's their future, and they can be a powerful voice for change!"

The email urges readers to "write to your representative and ask them why they aren't telling their constituents about these bills, and write to newspapers and other media outlets to ask them why they're not covering this important story."

It also warns readers, "The Pentagon has quietly begun a public campaign to fill all 10,350 draft board positions and 11,070 appeals board slots nationwide. Though this is an unpopular election year topic, military experts and influential members of Congress are suggesting that if Rumsfeld's prediction of a "long, hard slog" in Iraq and Afghanistan (and permanent state of war on terrorism) proves accurate, the US may have no choice but to draft."

It concludes, "We must voice our concerns and create the world we want for our children and grandchildren."

Last week, at a campaign stop in West Palm Beach, Sen. John F. Kerry said in response to a question:"If George Bush were to be re-elected, given the way he has gone about this war and given his avoidance of responsibility in North Korea and Iran and other places, it is possible" that he would support a mandatory draft.

The Bush campaign called Kerry's statement "irresponsible."

According to recent press reports, members of Congress are trying to debunk rumors that the draft will be reinstated.

Even the Selective Service website has posted a statement, saying it is not getting ready to conduct a draft. The Selective Service statement reads as follows:

"Notwithstanding recent stories in the news media and on the Internet, Selective Service is not getting ready to conduct a draft for the U.S. Armed Forces -- either with a special skills or regular draft. Rather, the Agency remains prepared to manage a draft if and when the President and the Congress so direct. This responsibility has been ongoing since 1980 and is nothing new. Further, both the President and the Secretary of Defense have stated on more than one occasion that there is no need for a draft for the War on Terrorism or any likely contingency, such as Iraq. Additionally, the Congress has not acted on any proposed legislation to reinstate a draft. Therefore, Selective Service continues to refine its plans to be prepared as is required by law, and to register young men who are ages 18 through 25."

 

Ihave mixed feelings about a mandatory serivice.
I agree with all the posts about the values and lessons taught by military service, it was one of the best things that I ever did.
However in todays politicaly correct military( I work at KSNG Headquarters)
I dont beleive mandatory service would benifit those who need it the most.
DI's arent allowed to hurt someones feelings....they did away with the stress cards, but a recruit can still tell a NCO to F-Off and nothing is realy done about it.
The disipline has gone to heck. In that atmosphere, I think we are better off with troops who WANT to be there, and come in with a sense of pride in themselfs and what they are doing .

 

I didnt, and dont need the military to teach me how act right. Thats what I had parents for. If would have had to serve 4 mandatory years in the military like some of you suggested, then I would not be where I am in my life right now.

I chose to do right. I chose to go to school, and get an education. I know the value of a hard days work. I didnt need anyone in the military telling me how live a life that I was already taught how to live by my God fearing parents.

I think it would not be right, but I do agree that most teenagers need the direction the military provides that their parents are to ignorant to give them. If thats not a run-on sentence, then i dont know what is.....lol.

Phillip

 

Rather than a mandatory hitch in military, there are other ways of learning discipline and how to do things right. There's the Job Corps, Peace Corps and a whole lot of other Corps (other than the Marine Corps) that folks can learn a lot about themselves.

I had the opportunity to work with some folks from the German AF back in the 80's. The difference between the conscripts and the volunteers were as plain as night and day. Hated working with the conscripts. All they could talk about was how much they hated the military and how many days or months they had until they got out. The volunteers were like working with US volunteers. They knew their stuff and took pride in what they did, just as our folks do this very day.

The draft is a bad idea. Want to see the overall moral of the military hit the toilet? Start drafting folks. If we need more folks, all Congress has to do is raise the end strength caps for each service. We'll fill 'em quickly enough by those who want to serve their country.

 

When did the Peace Corp teach disapline? A Bunch of Red Diaper Doper babies and the bigest stoners i knew were in the Job Corp

 

As a 17+ year military man, I believe that the draft is the right idea IF, and only IF, our personnel resources are dwindled away to dangerous numbers due to defending our country in combat.

I raise my children to respect their country and will encourage them to do their part for their country when they reach the age to do so.
I strongly support a nation of free people who have the option to volunteer to serve their nations military.
When I was 18, I would not have wanted to be in the military if someone was forcing me, unless I knew there was no other option to keep our freedom.
I have talked to many retired military who suffered through working with draftee's that weren't there because they wanted to be. I have served with many of the slackers that have been talked about earlier and for the greater number of them ... they don't do any better here than they did when sponging off of mom and dad.

People are under the misconception that the military is the last resort, fix-all for a disruptive youth. This may have been true back in the day but it couldn't be farther from the truth now. Our young military are far smarter than we ever were (check the ASVAB scores) and are tasked with doing things that we never imagined. We aren't running onto the battle field with slingshots ... (to coin a phrase from a Democrat). These people are running systems capable of tracking multiple targets and taking them out with surgical precision.

There are other options that the military is using that will keep things from getting to the point of the draft. For example, Operation Blue to Green is a program giving people getting out of the Navy an option to continue serving in the Army with possible bonuses and increases in paygrade.

Bottom line ... I am in favor of volunteering and not for the draft unless it is the last option.

PISTOL

 

I am all for a draft of all able bodied persons to do a stint for their country. Not necessarily armed services but any of a variety of options that have been mentioned previously. I am not so sure that it even has to do with teaching people how to act. Though that would be a benefit for some. How about the general populace giving something back to their country, supporting their country and helping make their country even better. Many people sit out there and want some or all the benefits of living in the USA: protection, freedom, programs, handouts etc but are unwilling to do anything for their country in return except grudgingly pay taxes. You can still do "right" after you get done with your stint (by the way Palmetto kid not a slam against you at all just read your word choice and liked it). Although for me doing your stint would be doing "right" as well. You may learn a lot, you may learn nothing but you can at least find solace in the fact that you did do something for your country and are proud of it. You were involved and that is one thing that is sorely lacking in America, involvement by the general population in our country. Patriotism is not just about joining the military.

Dang better get off this soap box before I hurt myself looks like a long way down.

 

There is no reason to institute the draft. The enlistment numbers are really good, and our all volunteer military is the best in the world. Why mess with a good thing?

 

I agree with PistolWhipt. Parents should teach their children and we should not rely on the government to straighten out the messes we parents make. The Soviets tried to use the government to raise their children and they ended up with a mess. Also remember Hillary suggested "It Takes A Village" which is nothing more than socialism.

I think the volunteer service that we have now is working just fine but if we had another world war that required additional personnel then the draft might become necessary. With the technology we have today I don't think the military needs to be as large as it did in previous wars but the soldiers need to be smarter. Can you imagine how some slackard, loafer, drug head, or what ever else you want to call them would do with some of the technologically advanced weaponry we have today?

 

First, let me state that Hillary is the anti-christ But what I gather from the phrase "It takes a village to raise a child" is the type of town I grew up in. Small town where everyone knew everyone, all the adults cared for all the kids in the town and I personally have been yanked up and whipped by adults other than my parents on more than one occasion. I also knew that any bad behaviour on my part was going to beat me home and that I was going to get a butt busting when I got home. To me, this is the ideal community. I know, with lawsuits etc. this just aint gonna happen anymore..... It's a shame though, isn't it?

 

Yeah, I was raised like pogorules. A town of 1200, but we are the local farm equipment dealer, so ALL the farmers new who we were, what we drove, AND my dad's cell phone number (which he has had since 1990).

Now, I'm not saying that I am the best kid out there, I'm not! BUT, If I was called up in a draft, I sure hope they could find a way to put me to use, without me having to listen to some old coot yell at me about how worthless I am, --- My dad has worked for 40 years for that privledge ---, and just let me learn the stuff I NEED to know to be a benefit to them. My parents have already taught me the important stuff, they would need to tell me the information specific to my TASK.

At least that's my take on it,
Chris

BTW, I'm 19, and was in college this morning 10 months away from my Associates in Electronics and Computer Technology, so I THINK they could find some use for me, other than a human shield (I'm fairly large )

 

Like everyone, There are merits and negatives to the draft. I wanted to serve and was turned down for health. Maybe some other types of serving are good, but not necessarily mandatory? I really think we need more Civil Defense training. Asking our local police forces to fight crime, protect our safety, AND manage all of our disaster preparedness is too much. I have worked as a public employee for 6 years, following my Bachelor's Degree. If I can be of service, let me!! Whether people want to believe it or not, we are a big, juicy target. We used to have a very strong sense of individuality and almost defiance that has been softened by years of Politically Correct doctrine. Our work places are ripe with it -- I was brought up to listen to the boss. These days, you can have the boss fired/sued because he didn't take your feelings into account before discipline! Many things need to change, some are looked at as backward steps, but I feel they are more of a "course correction" than backward.

Back to the draft: Depends how it is administered and what capacities, alternatives, and exemptions are allowed or created whether or not I am in favor or not. I am perfectly comfortable on the fence regarding this issue right now.