First Order of Business for Democrats: The Draft

The American Thinker ^ | November 10th, 2006 | Ray Robison

[yellowdoghunter]

No, I did not, that was in answer to a specific question. However, see post number 109 to see what I am really talking about when it comes to service, volunteering, learning, etc....whatever one wants to call it.

However, I don't wish to fight over this, as it is just my opinion.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

You speak of what you know little about....there was no war going on when I graduated from HS in 1961...but trust me all fit males would serve a minimum of 2 years on active duty. Contrary to other posts here the draftee in those days was much better than the punks, like me, who enlisted. One reason is they were much more mature because if they didn't volunteer for the draft they usually were in their early 20's before being drafted. They were a guiding light for us young'uns... I am indebted to the Military for letting me grow up...at a very young age partly because of the draft. I got out after my first enlistment...went to college...ROTC and then pilot training. It was good for me...

[Gaffer]

You're completely correct. It was a ploy to scare the population and never meant to be implemented.

[yellowdoghunter]

No one said your kids had to do any volunteering. I just think it is a good thing, but others do not. I can live with that.

I wish everyone had the chance to live for a year overseas and experience a different culture, but not everyone does.

[null and void]

I like what Robert Heinlein proposed:
If you don't serve, you can't vote and you can't hold any public office.
Citizenship should be earned.

Me too.

[Strutt9]

Sounds like the movie Starship Troopers.

[yellowdoghunter]

I agree. People should want to serve. (Before I get the hateful replies, I said should, not mandatory)....some people are so sensitive...:)

Most of these people would never make it in Israel. And before you say "that is why I don't live in Israel", know that things change and one never knows when we might be fighting for our very survival, if we aren't already.

[ANGGAPO]

I did three years in the Army Airforce during WW2 and from experience I can guarantee that you are right. The misfits contaminate the group and someone usually gets killed because of it.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

Earn the right to vote. Makes sense to me...but of course we would be in the minority here on FR

[Gaffer]

My favorite deuce dream is the movie, one of the "Tremors" sequels, where Burt (?) opened up at night on a bunch of walking graboids (the evolution stage before ass-blasters) with pedestal-mounted quad AA deuces....he laughed all the way through until he emptied the cans....(must have had one big woody.....).....

[ansel12]

"Don't want to turn this into a "boys vs girls"thing. I regret not enlisting in the Air Force right after high school back a couple of deecades ago, and I'm a "girl". I would have had a good disciplinary background and probably been able to pursue medical career training. and I danged sure would have loved to have flown one of those awesome fighters.(my niece got to do this) Do not assume all us gals are wimps, or Rosie O'Donnell types."



I know what you mean, believe me it isn't about thinking of women as wimps, But there are real reasons why armies have always looked the same, and those reasons didn't change because of the 60s.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

I did three years in the Army Airforce during WW2 and from experience I can guarantee that you are right. The misfits contaminate the group and someone usually gets killed because of it.

....and you think there is not misfits in a volunteer force?? Hell they are all dummies who can't get a job....the American people have spoken ala echoing the sentiments of the traitor skerry.. Seriously there are so-called misfits in all combat units.

[woodbutcher]

That would mean that Kerry, Murtha, McCain should run the country and that your mother, sister, brothers that did not or could not go have no vote.

Think first.

To have a navy, you must have ships, planes, missiles, subs, ..Army, Marines, same thing.

7,000,000 men and women to cloth and equip.

Or would you have them march with wooden guns?

The entire concept will never fly.

[Gaffer]

I remember some of my buddies stationed in Germany that they had to patrol their own posts at night with helicopters sometimes to keep soldiers from mugging each other. Draftees mostly....

[ANGGAPO]

Perhaps, but I doubt it. They have a fairly tight screen for enlistment.

[null and void]

Ah. I think Heinlein's point was that service was a requirement for full citizenship. Anyone could be a resident, but to be a voter or a office holder one had to serve. That filtered the parasites out of the body politic and voter pools.

[kabar]

I don't believe in the draft, but I would suppport some type of national service for all young adults.

Sounds good, but totally unworkable and it would cost a fortune to administer. We have about 30 million people in the 18-26 cohort. Imagine trying to administer such a huge system.

[Lil'freeper]

Sounds like the movie Starship Troopers.

That lame, ridiculous movie was only loosely based on the excellent novel by the same name. Yes, the Heinlein story referenced herein is Starship Troopers. I encourage you to read the book. It is short, but potent. Much food for thought.

[Gaffer]

....Hell they are all dummies who can't get a job....the American people have spoken ala echoing the sentiments of the traitor skerry......

If you really think the draftees of Vietnam were that much better, then there really isn't anything I can say to you other than it wasn't what I saw. I, for one, have worked with the military of today since 1980 and I have seen none of which you speak...

[RVN Airplane Driver]

I remember some of my buddies stationed in Germany that they had to patrol their own posts at night with helicopters sometimes to keep soldiers from mugging each other. Draftees mostly....

and what year would that have been?? That appears to me to be out and out lie!! Prove me wrong!! Oh by the way I was there.....