[Rufii]

John Taylor, a former aide to Richard Nixon during his post-presidential years and the former director of the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif., is an Episcopalian clergyman. Taylor is a wonderful person, and I agree with him on many issues, but not on this one.

[oh8eleven]

I believe it should be a universal draft—men and women. Many would probably be in the military but there might be other ways to perform required service.
I agree - minimum two years in the military or "Americorps" type service.
I would also require at least six months duty in a third world country.
That'll teach the ungrateful SOBs what a great country America is.

[Tax-chick]

This was a crazy idea when Bill Buckley floated it, and it’s still nuts. We do not need a draft for the military, and schools should all be privatized, anyway. Staff inner-city schools with Marines, and those kids will learn!

[mbynack]

I bet this guy never served in the military. It’s a bad idea. The US military is doing great as an all volunteer force. It doesn’t need to be someone’s social experiment.

One or two years of service isn’t even long enough to learn most trades. It would suck money from the defense of the country and use it to train a bunch of kids who don’t want to be there on jobs they’ll never perform.

[texmexis best]

And the budget for this behemoth would be?

[verity]

"...is an Episcopalian clergyman..."

You have inadvertently identified the problem.;-)

[chesley]

Conscription is slavery.

Maybe if the country is attacked, it would be acceptable.

But look how Vietnam tore the country apart. Why hasn't Iraq and Afghanistan done the same thing despite the best efforts of the Left? lack of conscription.

Dems were against it in Vietnam, and for it during the Bush era. In both cases it was to destroy their hated political enemies rather than for any principled reason, however wrong.

[Rockingham]

Just what the modern US military needs: an influx of unwilling recruits for short term service. It would cost a great deal and contribute little toward any worthy goal. And many of the people at the bottom — mostly minorities — would be chronic discipline problems. It is far better to keep them out of the military and leave them free to follow their chosen career path of school to dropout to gang to prison.

[alarm rider]

The training facilities no longer exist to handle a massive draft, the logistics would be daunting. It would cost millions and millions of dollars to even begin.

Should we enter into a very large world war, the first line of call-up is prior service people. Once an all volunteer Army was established, the facilities to handle large numbers of draftees disappeared.

Anyway, even knowing this I do not agree with conscription. I didn't want to risk my life with someone who didn't want to be with the military when I was in, and I don't want them defending me and mine now.

Exceedingly short-sighted and naive idea.

[Billthedrill]

No, or at least not for this reason. It amounts to holding unwilling civilians hostage against interventionist foreign policy. It also dilutes the talent pool and lowers morale - I happen to know, I served in the last years of the draft military and the first few of the all-volunteer. Huge difference.

[forgotten man]

If there were a draft it could be avoided by flunking the drug test. In order to make the draft universal the military would have to draft dopers.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

The calls for a draft all seem to come from people with motives unrelated to having the best military possible. Some on the Left want a draft because an all-volunteer military makes Vietnam-style opposition to US military actions difficult. Some on the Right want a draft to make young people do their part for the US and appreciate it more.

Neither reason has anything to do with what's best for the military - it's all about using the military in order to reach their particular social goal. Pentagon officials have stated repeatedly that they prefer an all-volunteer force - until they state that a draft is needed, I think both sides need to butt out.

[the_daug]

With repeal of DADT would you be able to opt out?

[fightinJAG]

*

[fruser1]

We’d pay more attention to decisions about where, when, and how the government spends if we all paid the same tax rate.

[PeterPrinciple]

This sounds good on first thought. It was a good thing in the past so it would be a good thing now.................

But now is differenct. Does the military want a draft? NO.

It is a well intentioned idea but go get your Thinking Cap(tm)

[stylin19a]

when the RATS had a super majority, they resurrected Charlie Rangel’s draft bill. It was an epic fail. I think Rangel even voted against it.

a draft I can take it or leave it. (I was drafted)

I wonder what would happen if an automatic draft enactment was added to the War powers Act ?

[Jonty30]

This sounds a back-door way for Obama to get his shock troops that serve the state.

[blueunicorn6]

All should be drafted to work for the government. From each according to his abilities. To each according to his needs and I’ll tell you what your needs are. It’s time for the grey jumpsuits.

[KrisKrinkle]

We’ve had involuntary military service in this country practically since the beginning.

Consider the Militia Act of 1792 which required military service of most males within a certain age range.

Consider the Federal Statute that places many within a certain age range in the unorganized militia even today.

Consider the various State statutes that place many within a certain age range in the unorganized militia even today.

Consider that the militia requirement if for decades, not just years.