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Save America: Restore the draft
The Washington Post ^ | November 29, 2013 | Dana Milbank

Posted on 12/02/2013 3:20:23 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

At this time of Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the U.S. military — not just for the usual reason that it protects us from our foes but also because it has the potential to save us from ourselves.

As I make my rounds each day in the capital, chronicling our leaders’ plentiful foibles, failings, screw-ups, inanities, outrages and overall dysfunction, I’m often asked if there’s anything that could clean up the mess.

My usual answer is a shrug and an admission that there’s no silver bullet. There are many possibilities — campaign spending limits, term limits, nonpartisan primaries, nonpartisan redistricting, a third party — but most aren’t politically or legally feasible, might not make much of a difference or, as with Harry Reid’s rewriting of Senate rules, have the potential to make things even worse.

But one change, over time, could reverse the problems that have built up over the past few decades: We should mandate military service for all Americans, men and women alike, when they turn 18. The idea is radical, unlikely and impractical — but it just might work.

There is no better explanation for what has gone wrong in Washington in recent years than the tabulation done every two years of how many members of Congress served in the military....

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bush; congress; conscription; draft; military; selectiveservice; statism; veterans
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To: Yosemitest
No one in their right mind would serve one day in the military under this Kenyan Turd !

No one in their right mind would make such a statement.

21 posted on 12/02/2013 4:31:19 AM PST by Misterioso
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"This is the lowest percentage of veterans in Congress since World War II, down from a high of 77 percent in 1977-78, according to the American Legion."

Because the Congress of 1977-78 had so much to be admired. Let's see, at that time, we were in recession, the Soviet Union was on the march and it looked like we were losing the cold war and we had an idiot in the White House. Yeah, that's a good year to hearken back to. Good thing Reagan won the cold war or that year would look exactly like now....
22 posted on 12/02/2013 4:35:19 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
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To: Misterioso
I'm a retired military veteran and I have the right to say it.
I meant it!
23 posted on 12/02/2013 4:48:56 AM PST by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This has been the one fool-proof way for the Ruling Class to get rid of excess unemployed young men that has worked throughout human history.

All we need now is a war.


24 posted on 12/02/2013 4:56:36 AM PST by EricT. (Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength. Big brother is watching you.)
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To: EricT.

“I’m often asked if there’s anything that could clean up the mess.........”

Perhaps a revolt?


25 posted on 12/02/2013 5:02:31 AM PST by DaveA37
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

File this in ‘going no-where’ file!


26 posted on 12/02/2013 5:02:48 AM PST by sickoflibs (Obama : 'If you like your Doctor you can keep him, PERIOD! Don't believe the GOPs warnings')
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To: EricT.

War? Yep. Indoctrination? Yep.

Personally, I’d suggest we bring back the MILITIA, not the draft. Of course, this would make certain coastal “elites” s__t their pants.


27 posted on 12/02/2013 5:55:09 AM PST by RKV (He who has the guns makes the rules)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

This is part of the leftist mindset. Even when they stumble upon a good idea (serving in the military) they have to ruin it by making it mandatory. But that’s how collectivism works and how collectivists think. They don’t understand nor appreciate the concept of freedom.


28 posted on 12/02/2013 6:30:40 AM PST by MNnice
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"I also think there are prices too high to pay to save the United States. Conscription is one of them. Conscription is slavery, and I don't think that any people or nation has a right to save itself at the price of slavery for anyone, no matter what name it is called. We have had the draft for twenty years now; I think this is shameful. If a country can't save itself through the volunteer service of its own free people, then I say : Let the damned thing go down the drain!"

Robert A. Heinlein, Guest of Honor Speech at the 29th World Science Fiction Convention, Seattle, Washington (1961)

29 posted on 12/02/2013 6:31:10 AM PST by Kip Russell (Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors -- and miss. ---Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Only one % of the population are defending the 99%. Soon that 1% will reflect in Congress. All our FOUNDERS had “skin in the game”. How does a legislator make decisions in areas he has no knowledge of. I’m against a full draft but maybe a 1/3 “lottery” . Get your number at 18 and show up the day after your 19th. NO DEFERMENTS except for physical/mental DISABILITIES. Eventually ALL areas of life, (business, politics, etc), will have people who have served.


30 posted on 12/02/2013 6:54:12 AM PST by capt B
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

A free country doesn’t need a slave army.


31 posted on 12/02/2013 9:03:21 AM PST by jimt (Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed.)
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To: jimt

It seems we do need a mercenary army though...


32 posted on 12/02/2013 9:27:05 AM PST by refermech
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To: Yosemitest
I'm a retired military veteran and I have the right to say it. I meant it!

Maybe we should start an Idiot's ping list for those that wouldn't serve this CIC, because I would not serve voluntarily either. I am not retired from the military but I served 9 years, 11 months and 16 days.

When I left the Navy in 1965, women were beginning to be assigned to line ships, Homos were still locked in the brig, and I still cared, not so much anymore.

33 posted on 12/02/2013 9:32:10 AM PST by itsahoot (It is not so much that history repeats, but that human nature does not change.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Restore the draft?

Only if women are included this time. That would get it overturned pretty rapidly, I think.

Besides, women can do anything a man can do, can’t they? And there are no significant differences between men and women, except minor plumbing details. Right?


34 posted on 12/02/2013 10:31:06 AM PST by chesley
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To: chesley

No. The draft is wrong for a “free country”.

Mandatory servitude to master government should be a big NO


35 posted on 12/02/2013 10:39:32 AM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: Gaffer

I agree


36 posted on 12/02/2013 10:40:55 AM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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To: EricT.
This has been the one fool-proof way for the Ruling Class to get rid of excess unemployed young men that has worked throughout human history.

That is ridiculous, the draft was never about seeking unemployed men, it was probably more of a way to avoid the hard core unemployed.

For one thing, chronic or long term unemployed, would probably rarely qualify to be accepted into the military.

37 posted on 12/02/2013 11:07:39 AM PST by ansel12 ( Ben Bradley-JFK-- told me that "he was all for people's solving their problems by abortion".)
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To: wastoute

The military has become a big social experiment that will end up getting a lot of soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines killed as a result somewhere down the line.

Until the Republic is restored I have no desire to see my sons or anyone’s sons blood, sweat and tears shed for the current form of tyranny that is Washington DC.


38 posted on 12/02/2013 11:42:10 AM PST by sarge83
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To: GeronL

Check your sarcasm meter. It doesn’t seem to be calibrated right. :)


39 posted on 12/02/2013 11:47:39 AM PST by chesley
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To: chesley

draft Democrats and send them all overseas for good


40 posted on 12/02/2013 11:49:10 AM PST by GeronL (Extra Large Cheesy Over-Stuffed Hobbit)
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