Pentagon plans draft of medics

The Charlotte Observer ^ | Fri, Mar. 21, 2003 | MARK LIBBON

[Kozak]

The Supreme Court has ruled (more than once, I believe) that conscription is *not* involuntary servitude.

Yeah, and paying Income Tax is "voluntary".

I hate being lied to.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Maybe Health Care Professionals could be drafted to fight the War on Poverty, too.

[Cate]

One thing that keeps sticking in my mind over this whole issue is: That after 9-11, we had a huge response from the medical community that volunteered to go to NYC to help. No draft or orders were needed, the docs went out of the goodness of their hearts. I think that if there were to be a huge need for medical personnel, the need would be filled by volunteers. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, docs and healthcare workers were being turned away as they had so many responders.

[huck von finn]

I thought that scare was mostly over...?

[huck von finn]

I'm assuming this is sarcasm, right? There are so many great doctors, nurses, and medics who volunteer their time. Doctors Without Borders comes to mind. I remember a doctor, a friend of my parents', who was involved with that organization.

[huck von finn]

Also, I think of those doctors who treat the poor free of charge. There are still some around who do that.

[Polycarp]

Plus you know what a 'cuboid' is.

OK, you gave me an idea:

Dear Uncle Sam:

At my age, weight, and general state of physical ineptitude, I am still ready to be involuntarily conscripted into the medical corps, though if I knew such was possible I never would have gotten married and had 3 kids.

By the way, what's a "Cuboid"? And I'm assuming you'll be paying off my $200,000 in student loans while I serve, of course, as well as supporting my wife and children (and inlaws, who I care for in the apartment over my office, and who will be homeless since I otherwise couldn't pay my office mortgage on a military salary.)

Always willing serve,

Sincerely,

Your loyal nephew,

Dr. Polycarp

[Kozak]

There are still some around who do that.

Yeah like EVERY ER doc, or doctor who takes ER call. Mandated by Federal Law (EMTALA).

[Cate]

baaaaaaaaaaahhhahaaaaaaaaaa.. be careful, the inlaws may be enlisted to help out wherever necessary.

[Snowy]

Just because there is a plan doesn't mean that it will be implemented. We probably even have an invasion plan for England...

Going through different scenarios, no matter how unlikely, is good practice. I wish someone would have had a better plan for action before the towers were hit. A lot of critical mistakes were made immediately after which could and should have been avoided.

[HurkinMcGurkin]

Any talk of conscription brings to mind an old saying. To paraphrase, "A country worth fighting for doesn't have to force its citizens to fight".

[AdamSelene235]

Ammendment XIII didn't slow 'em down even a little bit in the past when we used the draft. Not even a little bit.

Understood, do you know if the arguement has ever been made?

I think its tautological that drafting doctors for their skills is involuntary servitude.

I am curious how specifically the Constitution is evaded. For instance, you have no right to a jury trial in an IRS case because it isn't a "criminal" matter. You have no right to be free from a search of much of your vehicle because the courts have ruled that "reasonable" searches do not require warrants. You can't go duck hunting without the Fed's permission due to international treaties that have nearly equal footing with the Constitution itself.

And so on.

[HIDEK6]

Are they going to restrict the sex they draft to male?

[huck von finn]

Yes, but as a doc I think you know what I mean. It's a shame that people can't just go to their doc.

[huck von finn]

I agree. See my post #21.

[huck von finn]

That sounds great in theory.

[tracer]

Probably florists, jewelers, dry cleaners, TV repairmen, painters, tile masons, crossing guards, shoe repairmen, printers, upholsterers, picture framers, pet sitters, gardeners, and many others.....

[Austin Willard Wright]

Haven't you heard the need to police the world....err maintain "national" defense...trumps the 13th Amendment

[huck von finn]

No. But the whole thing is still just a plan--probably a precaution.