Draft

[Jebus]

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/...ua_congressorg

I doubt this will pass, but it still worries me about the government's state of mind.

[DocFrance]

I doubt it will pass, but I think it's a horrible idea. We should only need a draft if a hostile force is actually on US soil, or directly threatening our people. Mandated military service goes against nearly every concept of a free society.

[Skogs]

I doubt that would pass, and if much publicity is made about it, it could spell the last nail in the coffin of Bush's presidency. I don't live in America so I can't really gauge the mood, but I can't imagine the reintroduction of the draft being very popular.

If I were ever to be called up, I'd go to all lengths to avoid it. But I guess I'm lucky because I can travel on two passports... And anyway, Australia and Ireland have no provisions as far as I know for the draft.

[The Captain]

If this passes, Bush won't get re-elected and neither would many of the Senators who might have voted for it, there would be way too many PO'd voters.

As DocFrance said very nicely:

"We should only need a draft if a hostile force is actually on US soil, or directly threatening our people. Mandated military service goes against nearly every concept of a free society"

I agree whole-heartedly.

Take care all.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

...

Morons!

I hate the concept of the draft, EXCEPT in times of great need. As we initiated this war ourselves and immediately proceeded to destabalize Iraq for all we were worth, I don't believe a draft is necessary or wise.

[Black Mage]

I think I'll like the idea of the draft more when I'm 40.

[Casey]

A draft is stupid, because drafting regular civilians and sending them with regular military personal is like putting nOObs, with professionals who know what they are doing.

[Dr Unne]

Our modern military would seem to me to be different than in the olden days. We have many more specialists, and war isn't so much about throwing huge numbers of bodies at a problem. At least it shouldn't be.

If they institute the draft, they'd better take girls too this time.

[bennator]

Good, someone else started this thread, because I wanted to bring it up, and that would break my no starting threads rule.

Anyways, as remote as a possibility that there is of a draft, it still scares me *blank*-less. The draft would go into effect 2 days after my High School graduation, and it scares me to think my "big plans" or whatnot may be interuppeted by me going off and dying for a cause that I don't believe in.

With this possiblity, and Vietnam, I see it as politicians ignoring the fact that draftees are human beings like themselves. I've heard comments about how the draft is supposed to make the armed forces "more representative" of america, or is necessary for foreign policy reasons, or, occassionally, that military service somehow benefits all that are called to it. What they forget, is that these are people, with hopes, dreams, plans, and a life of their own, that are being sacrificied, possibly dying here.

There is no reason to make the military "more representative" of America. Everyone in the military right now is there by choice, and to put people's lives on the line, for some social experiment sounds horrible to me. Plus, if the draft truly made the armed forces more representative of America, it would put people in there who are far worse (both as fighters, and morally) than those who are in the military now.

As far as foreign policy goes, again, I think it's crap that politicians put people's lives on the line for their ideas. I have enough trouble when they risk our non-draftee army in Iraq for vague concepts like "bringing democracy to the middle east." However, I take a little solace in the fact that being an all-volunteer military force, their job is to do what the president asks, whenever, and they chose that job. However, to make people on the street pay for their mistakes is nuts.

Finally, as far as bettering people goes, the military won't work for everyone. Some people truly grow through military service, and it is a positive influence on their life. But, other people who go in as sociopaths, emerge only as sociopaths trained to kill. Other people, quite frankly, (like me), will break down, as they can't get used to order taking and the heirarchy.

So, really, the draft is nothing but negative, and it scares me that people would even consider it.

[Dr Unne]

http://www.howstuffworks.com/us-draft.htm

Just in case anyone was wondering how it works. They take 20-year-olds first, by the way. From 20 up to 25, then 19, then 18. I'm almost 24, so I'd be going near the end, and one and half more years and I'm free completely.

[Shadow Nexus]

I just wonder....what happens if you refuse? I mean, resist to it, just don't go. You get thrown into jail?

Geez, if this happened in Spain, I'd get the next plane to Chile and stay there for a while. Unless Spain signed a Magical Frontier Pact with Chile, wich I doubt.

[Dr Unne]

Even avoiding REGISTERING for the draft can get you in legal trouble, let ago dodging it if you actually are drafted. This is for people who avoid registering:

[qq]The government may prosecute a potential draftee who does not register with the SSS. If convicted, the man would face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000. Today, the government is unlikely to take such extreme action. Instead, it encourages registration by withholding government benefits from potential draftees in violation. This includes federal financial aid for school, federal job training and some federal employment. Additionally, all eligible aliens must register before gaining U.S. citizenship. The SSS reports that in 2000, 88 percent of eligible men were registered.[/qq]

Also, if you're a "conscientious objector", you still get drafted, you just get assigned to a non-combat duty.

[Shadow Nexus]

Eeeergh, vomitive.

The idea of making military service for "my country" is among the most hateful things I can think of. I could see myself emigrating overseas before even having to register into anything related to the army. The simple idea of forcing someone to take military service, leading to imprisoment if he refuses, sounds fascist, in my opinion. Hell, just imagine ending up in jail for refusing to serve those in power. Argh!

Anyway, I hope it dosen't get passed over the US. It would not affect me, but I have some friends there.

[DocFrance]

Also, if you're a "conscientious objector", you still get drafted, you just get assigned to a non-combat duty.

Yep, most chaplains and medics during WWII and Vietnam were conscientious objectors. Which is sort of tricky in wars against countries like Vietnam, because chaplains and medics are only protected under the Geneva Convention - which the NVA definitely did not follow.

[War Angel]

I don't think the USA needs a drafting system (that is, recruiting people from a certain age, training them, having them do their duty for a while, then releasing them for future use), because America is in no immediate danger, and its army is an army of proffesionals (not to say they're any better than non-professional armies, simply that they get paid more).

So, no, this is a stupid idea. It would change the entire military system, and risk a few democratic values, for no good reason.