Should the Draft be reinstated?

[queequek]

http://www.time.com/time/personofthe...m.html?cnn=yes

With U.S. forces stretched thin and many reservists on full-time duty, some urge a draft for reasons of fairness and practicality. Opponents say it's unnecessary and dangerous.

What do you think?

[RedMusiq4U]

Wow I personally would not want to be drafted b/c I have no desire to serve in the arm forces. I mean it's not fair for me or any other possible draftee to go and fight a war in which we had no hand in starting, if whoever started the war or sparked it w/ a few little words (I will not say any names, you know who you are) they should be on the front line ready to fight and back up their words. So I would have say no to the draft.

[PhiPsiRuss]

The draft should not be reinstated. There is too much potential for political upheaval that can stress our society, like in the late 6s and early 70s. Also, a drafted military does not perform as well as a professional volunteer one.

The underlying problem here, in my opinion, is that we have too many reservists and too heavy of a reliance on the National Guard. These entities are like a sacred calf to members of congress. Cutting back on reserve or guard, in order to increase the number of full time professional soldiers, is not a good political option.

The trend towards increased reliance on the reserves and guard makes sense during peace time, but this is when you don't need them. A well planned military does not build around peace time logistics. Changing this is expensive, but not that expensive. US military spending is under 3.5% of GDP and it should probably be in the 4-4.5% range.

[AlphaSigOU]

Personally, I would rather see universal military or government service instead of a draft. Everyone (men AND women) serves either in the military performs some kind of government service as soon as they turn 18 in order to become eligible for government assistance such as student loans.

No deferments or exceptions except for reasons of health. Conscientious objectors (with reasons that are verifiable) can perform their obligation in some civilian agency such as the Peace Corps/Americorps, or should they elect to serve in the military, perform noncombat tasks such as a medic.

My two cents' worth, before taxes take it all away.

[AGDee]

I do not agree with the draft, primarily because I don't think that every man has what it takes to be in the military. I do like the idea of service OR military being required of both men and women.

Dee

[honeychile]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Personally, I would rather see universal military or government service instead of a draft. Everyone (men AND women) serves either in the military performs some kind of government service as soon as they turn 18 in order to become eligible for government assistance such as student loans.

No deferments or exceptions except for reasons of health. Conscientious objectors (with reasons that are verifiable) can perform their obligation in some civilian agency such as the Peace Corps/Americorps, or should they elect to serve in the military, perform noncombat tasks such as a medic.

My two cents' worth, before taxes take it all away.

I am SO behind this! Only, I think that health should only play a part in WHICH type of service one performs, not excempt any one. In Israel, everyone serves a specific time (either 18 months or 2 years, I forget) when they turn 18 or graduate from high school - no deferments. You cannot be admitted into college without first serving.

They have a nation of people who know how to perform basic military operations - how to load, clean & use a gun, how to best prepare for attack, etc. Those who cannot continue in this area serve while doing childcare, record keeping or whatever. One branch is much like the CCC camps that we had here during the Depression - the guys who pretty much created a lot of the National Parks, made the benches, cleared the areas, etc. It's not ALL about violence - but it does stress military preparedness!

If a tiny country can do that, just think how much improved the USA could be!!

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by honeychile
I am SO behind this! Only, I think that health should only play a part in WHICH type of service one performs, not excempt any one. In Israel, everyone serves a specific time (either 18 months or 2 years, I forget) when they turn 18 or graduate from high school - no deferments. You cannot be admitted into college without first serving.

They have a nation of people who know how to perform basic military operations - how to load, clean & use a gun, how to best prepare for attack, etc. Those who cannot continue in this area serve while doing childcare, record keeping or whatever. One branch is much like the CCC camps that we had here during the Depression - the guys who pretty much created a lot of the National Parks, made the benches, cleared the areas, etc. It's not ALL about violence - but it does stress military preparedness!

If a tiny country can do that, just think how much improved the USA could be!!

Good luck getting people who are like 4'10 and 90 lb to do any form of heavy lifting. My cousin is around that size (ok, a little taller, she's 5 ft...or claims to be. I think I'm more than two inches taller than her), and always has to go to the grocery store with at least another person. Otherwise, she won't be able to take everything home.

[honeychile]

Originally posted by Taualumna
Good luck getting people who are like 4'10 and 90 lb to do any form of heavy lifting. My cousin is around that size (ok, a little taller, she's 5 ft...or claims to be. I think I'm more than two inches taller than her), and always has to go to the grocery store with at least another person. Otherwise, she won't be able to take everything home.

Have them work in child care. Or filing. If my mother-out-law could do it (she was 4'8", 85#), I'm sure someone 18 or 19 could do it much better.

You do manage to carry your school books, don't you?

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by honeychile
Have them work in child care. Or filing. If my mother-out-law could do it (she was 4'8", 85#), I'm sure someone 18 or 19 could do it much better.

You do manage to carry your school books, don't you?

Nope, neither my cousin or I carry heavy loads of schoolbooks to and from classes very often. We do if we're going to and from the library. Otherwise, we bring a notepad and pen.

[justamom]

Originally posted by honeychile
Have them work in child care. Or filing. If my mother-out-law could do it (she was 4'8", 85#), I'm sure someone 18 or 19 could do it much better.

You do manage to carry your school books, don't you?

MY MOTHER-OUT-LAW!
This deserves a "special smiley!!! LOL!

I'm very torn on this issue.

[sherbertlemons]

Originally posted by AGDee
I do not agree with the draft, primarily because I don't think that every man has what it takes to be in the military. I do like the idea of service OR military being required of both men and women.

Dee

I absolutely believe that no one should be forced to fight in a situation like this. I would be more than willing to serve in a noncombatant position, but I know that I would be such a mental mess in combat that I would be more of a danger than a help.

I would agree with any sort of mandatory military service that allowed plenty of noncombatant positions for people that wished not to fight to serve in other ways.

[AGDee]

Originally posted by sherbertlemons
I absolutely believe that no one should be forced to fight in a situation like this. I would be more than willing to serve in a noncombatant position, but I know that I would be such a mental mess in combat that I would be more of a danger than a help.

I would agree with any sort of mandatory military service that allowed plenty of noncombatant positions for people that wished not to fight to serve in other ways.

That's why I don't agree with the draft too. I don't ever in my life even want to see a gun, let alone hold one, learn to use it, etc. It's just me (and I don't think nobody should have guns... so don't bother letting this get into gun control). When I say "service", I'm referring to some sort of community service, whether it is the Peace Corps, tutoring kids in the inner city, feeding the homeless, hospital volunteering, or cleaning up trash on the roads.

The biggest road block to it, as I see it, is financial.

Dee

[honeychile]

Originally posted by justamom
MY MOTHER-OUT-LAW!
This deserves a "special smiley!!! LOL!

I'm very torn on this issue.

Thank you!! The way I see it, they used to be my in-laws, now they're my out-laws. Somehow, it takes some of the sting out of a bad situation.

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by AGDee
That's why I don't agree with the draft too. I don't ever in my life even want to see a gun, let alone hold one, learn to use it, etc. It's just me (and I don't think nobody should have guns... so don't bother letting this get into gun control). When I say "service", I'm referring to some sort of community service, whether it is the Peace Corps, tutoring kids in the inner city, feeding the homeless, hospital volunteering, or cleaning up trash on the roads.

The biggest road block to it, as I see it, is financial.

Dee

That sounds good. Kids in Ontario have to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate from high school. That works out to 10 hours per year of high school, which isn't much. Yet some kids still complain. In any case, if I were a high school kid today, I'd get everything out of the way either in Grade 9 or the summer between Grade 9 and 10. That way I wouldn't have to worry about it afterwards, and spend the rest of my high school years concentrating on school and only school. Leaving things to the last minute is just BAD BAD BAD.

[The1calledTKE]

No way not many people want to be drafted for something they never wanted to join before. Especially if it for a war they disagree with. That would cause problems like it did for Vietnam. It will never happen, it would be political suicide for the party that endorsed it.