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Our Opinion: Volunteer military has its drawbacks
The Wichita Falls Times-Record News ^ | February 8, 2012 | The Editors

Posted on 02/08/2012 5:46:40 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I would prefer the return of the draft, for four reasons: 1) it gives the military a good “slice” of the American population (including many in the universities who would not otherwise serve), 2) there is no reason for anyone of sound body and mind to serve their country in the most basic function, e.g. its military protection, 3) as pointed out in the editorial, it brings the American population as a whole in emotional contact with its military, and 4) I think that from the viewpoint of us supporters of the Second Amendment, it helps us since people in the military are not squeamish about firearms and thereby provides a populace sympathetic for our cause.

Amplifying upon reason #2, I think that all young people should serve their country for at least a couple years and I think that there is no reason why young women should be exempted.


41 posted on 02/08/2012 7:58:07 PM PST by OldPossum (ou)
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To: OldPossum

Oops, there should be a “not” after “mind to” in reason #2.


42 posted on 02/08/2012 8:02:56 PM PST by OldPossum (ou)
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To: OldPossum
It's politically untenable, which is why President Nixon 86’ed it. Mr. Obama wouldn't have the stones to bring it back.
43 posted on 02/08/2012 8:04:12 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (You can't invade the US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.~Admiral Yamamoto)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The military, in obedience to the elitists, have had to go globalist, pervert and aggressively anti-Christian-American.

I don’t think this is going to work out well for the volunteer military in the long run. The military will lose it’s reputation as defenders of American freedom and Western character and then that is that concerning the pool of patriotic citizens they used to draw upon for volunteers.

The elitists all know it and want to force military service on America. They need a big globalist military to boss around Americans and the world. But it won’t be the same quality and heart they used to have if the elite keep on the current path of amoral humanism and political correctness.


44 posted on 02/08/2012 8:06:19 PM PST by SaraJohnson
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

So does involuntary servitude.


45 posted on 02/08/2012 8:11:12 PM PST by DManA
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To: 2ndDivisionVet


It’s politically untenable, which is why President Nixon 86’ed it. Mr. Obama wouldn’t have the stones to bring it back.”

Oh, I know that. I was just giving my reasons for the desirability of the draft. Having served when the draft was in effect and working with Harvard and Princeton graduates I know that a lot of good men are no longer a part of the military, which is a shame.


46 posted on 02/08/2012 8:20:29 PM PST by OldPossum (ou)
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To: OldPossum

Problem with your scenerio is we will never get a purely military draft. It will be a “National Service” obligation with the option to join the miltary or to “give back” by serving the poor and underprivelaged in inner city make work scams.


47 posted on 02/08/2012 8:21:01 PM PST by DManA
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To: OldPossum

I went delayed entry as a junior in high school and then shipped out for basic combat training after graduating. That was 1978. Stayed in until 1983. I knew several people who were upper middle class or wealthy, but I assume those kind don’t join anymore. One was the scion of an uber-rich oil family.


48 posted on 02/08/2012 8:27:00 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (You can't invade the US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.~Admiral Yamamoto)
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Comment #49 Removed by Moderator

>> The challenge facing the American military today is...

The Left.


50 posted on 02/08/2012 8:45:18 PM PST by Gene Eric (C'mon, Virginia -- are you with us or against us?!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The way things are going with all of the cutbacks, I don’t think it will be very long before Americans will not be allowed to serve in the military. All the slots will be filled with homosexuals, warlock and witch wannabes and illegal aliens trying to get on the fast track to amnesty in order to receive a “U.S. citizen” diploma.


51 posted on 02/08/2012 9:03:55 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (So just where does the "buck stop" at the Department of "Justice"?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I wonder how this article would have been written four years ago?
Back in the days when GW Bush revered the members of the services; back when he visited his troops in stealth missions; consoled at Walter Reed. Back four years ago when service personnel came home to a respectful US citizenry and government.

Yeah, Zer0 plays b-ball with a couple of them, but deep down inside they know that they're just pawns, getting shot up on a mined chess field full of politicians, that don't really give a sh!t.

Respect and pride in your accomplishments begins at the top, and unless your CiC covers your six, all in our military forces become downgraded and disalusioned.

52 posted on 02/08/2012 9:12:44 PM PST by Noob1999 (Loose Lips, Sink Ships)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Bib BS. The main problem with our military is the Usurper in Chief, and politicalization of the war. The last thing we need is a draft.

The elites (especially leftist) would find a way out, and they are the one’s who treat our boys like crap. I’d like to send them all to a work camp in Antartica.

The USA would be better off. They can keep their freakin hands off our wonderful soldiers, and shut their stupid mouth.


53 posted on 02/08/2012 9:18:09 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: 386wt
Every where I go, airports, the VA clinic, the street, The military today are treated with honor and respect.

I agree. And if there are parades for returning Iraq/Afghanistan vets (and I have not been aware of any), to honor their service and sacrifice, not nebulous victories, there will be an outpouring of affection and appreciation from fellow Americans, not a disconnect.

54 posted on 02/08/2012 10:50:55 PM PST by luvbach1 (Stop the destruction in 2012 or continue the decline)
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To: luvbach1

There was a pretty big one a few weeks back in St. Louis. Drew more then 100,000 people. I think a few other places also have them in the works.


55 posted on 02/08/2012 11:20:40 PM PST by JerseyanExile
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To: 2ndDivisionVet


“Forty years later, the American people’s instinctive interest in their troops’ welfare has inevitably atrophied.”

40 years ago, I’m sure the returning Vietnam soldiers who got spit on appreciated the interest in their welfare.


56 posted on 02/09/2012 1:36:08 AM PST by zeestephen
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To: Noob1999
I wonder how this article would have been written four years ago? Back in the days when GW Bush revered the members of the services; back when he visited his troops in stealth missions; consoled at Walter Reed. Back four years ago when service personnel came home to a respectful US citizenry and government. Yeah, Zer0 plays b-ball with a couple of them, but deep down inside they know that they're just pawns, getting shot up on a mined chess field full of politicians, that don't really give a sh!t. Respect and pride in your accomplishments begins at the top, and unless your CiC covers your six, all in our military forces become downgraded and disalusioned.

Nothing much changed under Bush as far as repairing damage done in the Clinton years went. Yes it was good to visit injured troops. But the actual monetary and much needed substantial increases in End Troop Strengths were never asked for. IOW a few were ran ragged in over deployment and over extensions. Bush years were ran on Clinton administration End Troop Strength numbers set in 1996 and never increases beyond a low few thousand. When Rummy then Gates was chosen as Sec of Def no change was going too happen. Rummy was a Ford Republican who's tenure in same job under Ford left a lot too be desired.

57 posted on 02/09/2012 4:07:47 AM PST by cva66snipe (Two Choices left for U.S. One Nation Under GOD or One Nation Under Judgment? Which one say ye?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
supporting renewed conscription in the form of a three-year mandatory national service program (including civilian energy, education, infrastructure, environmental and urban service options)

When not at formally declared war, conscription is not duty, it is socialist slavery, pure and simple.

58 posted on 02/09/2012 4:32:08 AM PST by Theophilus (Not merely prolife, but prolific)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
This editorial author telegraphs their obvious bias against the military like a sucker punch thrown from the floor.

The REAL liberal complaint against the volunteer military is that they can no longer muster the kind of public outrage against the military that they could when a draft existed.

All attempts to bring back the draft have been started by liberals, and that is their ultimate goal. They want the Jane Fonda/John Kerry sit ins, just like the "good old days".

59 posted on 02/09/2012 10:10:53 AM PST by libs_kma (When I see anyone with an Obama 2012 bumper sticker, I recognize them as a threat to the gene pool)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Regarding your post 48, you can be assured that the upper class and wealthy, and, I might add, the educated, do not join anymore and the military services are poorer for it.

From what I can tell, the military services are chuck full of high school graduates and the very young (18-20 or so), and the very few college graduates in the officer corps.

Not a very good sample of the American public, is it? And that is exactly my point.


60 posted on 02/09/2012 11:16:57 AM PST by OldPossum (ou)
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