Charlie Rangel - His Efforts to Bring Back the Draft Deserve Support

[stevenleser]

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_l_061123_charlie_rangel___his.htm

November 23, 2006 at 21:08:58

Charlie Rangel - His Efforts to Bring Back the Draft Deserve Support
by Steven Leser


I love Rep. Charles Rangel. His courage concerning bringing back the draft is the stuff too rarely seen among our elected officials. He faces condemnation from both the ideological right and the progressive left for his proposal.

I have just one caveat. If the draft is brought back, it must have NO exceptions.

There should be no exception for college. People can wait and can save their salaries for tuition.

There should be no exception for physical disability. The disabled can still serve albeit in supportive and non-combat roles. A different basic training could be developed for these folks.

There should be no exception for people who intend to join the National Guard. People who truly yearn for a career in the Guard should be required to serve their two years on active duty first, then be transferred to Guard duty.

There should be no exception for gender. Women should be required to serve just like men.

Assuming these issues, and any other potential loopholes are handled, Rangel's idea is great.

I would like to add something to his proposal. If the President or Congress commits to military action, any children of the President or any sitting member of congress who have served but are no longer on active duty in the military, who are above 20 years of age but below 40, should be immediately recalled to active duty to participate.

How many wars do you think we will fight then? My guess is we will only go to war if that is the absolute last resort. If Jenna and Barbara along with the kids of the Republican congress would have had to suit up in BDUs (Battle Dress Uniforms) what do you think the chances are that the Iraq war would have ever happened?

Representative Rangel, if you see this article, you have my support if you make sure EVERYONE has to serve. If Representative Rangel's bill stipulates to no deferments or exemptions, every Democrat should support it.

[Erika]

1. The Marine Corps says they need to grow

Grow from where? Marines did not sign up for a career in guerilla warfare in the midst of a civil sectarian war.

Go, Rangel!

[MaraJade]

2. It really could be a great idea

If no exceptions were granted. I think the idea of spreading the pain and the cost of war
to all Americans is an excellent idea. Only when the rich elite and the privileged in this
country are really forced to "pay" for the wars they want will war end.

I'm recommending this for greatest. I hope others read and agree.

[elocs]

3. No exceptions--right! If wishing made it so, but welcome to the real world.

The rich, powerful, and influential will always have exceptions. Always. I am one Democrat who will not support it. I don't buy the brilliant maneuver theory either. If that is the case, why didn't our Democratic leaders all jump on board? Just because we will control the House doesn't mean any and every idea a committee chairman comes up with is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[otherlander]

4. Mr. Rangel is in his 70's.

What he proposes would end a certain injustice based on class. Instead, it would be betrayal by generation. Let's send them all to die equally young for the old racketeers' delusional dreams of an empire.

Yes, by all means, let's have equality for men and women. Let's have equality for the disabled. For the rich and the poor. And what better way than a draft? After all, skeletons have neither sexism nor class divisions.

The ones who come back in one piece can get jobs as grave diggers. There will be lots of jobs in that field, what with all the ones who get killed; it'll be great for the economy. The ones who come back alive but unable to function can wind up living on the streets after being abandoned by the V.A. If they become a problem, other mentally unstable vets can become our new police force and keep them in check. See, everything works itself out!

:sarcasm:


Don't heed the call-up, my friends.

[silverojo]

5. Screw the draft!

There would be no need for one if Bush wasn't spreading the military too thin. The answer isn't to give Bush more people to kill...the answer is to stop Bush from killing unnecessarily in the first place!

[davidwparker]

7. Click the link inside to read Hartmann and Jefferson's thoughts on how

national service is a deterrent to war.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2792613

Nice * as Damien Thorn picture.

[otherlander]

8. But we controll Congress now. We don't have to make sense.

:)You're right. It seems to me that it should be obvious.

[davidwparker]

6. Link to Hartmann's thoughts. He and Jefferson agree w/ Rangel.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2792613

[yurbud]

9. PROBLEM WITH RANGEL DRAFT: Democracy doesn't function perfectly

It is easy to snooker people into it on the front end, and then it takes OVERWHELMING public opposition to get us out.

In the time between snookered, overwhelming majority, and finally ending the war, a lot of draftees will die.

Even with the draft, it took a hell of a long time and lot of public unrest to pull the plug on Vietnam.


And I would hate to see Bush sign this bill just as Cheney is starting the attack on Iran.

[Duke Newcombe]

10. An interesting proposition...

but I'm still having a problem why we'd need this in an modern, V . O . L . U . N . T . E . E . R armed forces..

Duke

[lcordero2]

11. NOPE

The idea deserves to be discarded. I want to take away powers from the govt; not give them any new ones.

FUCK THAT!

[classysassy]

12. Why not

why should the poor be used as cannon fooder,so the rich can get richer.Its the patriotic thing to do,but I forgot patriotism is only for the poor.WAKE UP AMERICA,THE POOR PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF SENDING THEIR CHILDREN OFF TO WAR,AND FIGHTING YOUR BATTLES.