No matter who's elected in Nov. - the draft will be reinstated

[mandyky]

I've been saying this for months now, if we continue this "war on terror", we'll have to have the draft. Granted, I doubt Kerry will ever lie us into a mess like Iraq, but Iran is a horse of a different color, and then there's N. Korea.

And then there's Sudan, and any other humanitarian crisis that erupts. Our troops will revolt if we keep up with stop loss, bringing back inactives and multiple "visits" to Iraq or Afghanistan.

[demnan]

1. I agree

I feel sorry for Kerry. If he is elected and allowed to serve there will be so much damage to repair. He will have to reinstate the draft. Prepare yourselves and don't blame him.

[fujiyama]

67. If he did

I WILL indeed blame him.

If we need the troops to fight an unexpected battle, we should get them the hell out of Iraq to fight it (granted we should withdraw anyways).

There is no excuse to reinstate the draft just in order to occupy a nation based on a war of choice based on lies.

The draft should only be reinstated in the absolute worst circumestances to actually defend the US.

[RoeBear]

2. No way will Kerry institute a draft...and...

...I don't think it's smart politics to suggest that he would.

[goodhue]

3. I agree

eom

[emulatorloo]

4. Kerry War on Terror - law enforcement, cooperation between intel agency

cooperation between countries, cutting off terrorist funding, special-ops

Bush War on Terror - Invading countries

[Stew225]

5. I agree. haven't heard it stated in a while. Glad you

did, though.

[mandyky]

6. Tenet said it will take 5 years to fix the Intel

Kerry - or anyone else for that matter - is NOT a miracle worker. We need a definite clear concise plan for overcoming terrorism.

[Sterling]

7. That is great and all but....

It does not change the fact our conventional forces are over extended and I forsee the geopolitical stage to become more chaotic not less.

We can't even occupy Iraq for much longer without a draft. Anything more happens and a draft will be automatic.

[SheilaT]

8. I've likewise been saying this

every chance I get.

Unless you believe Kerry (if he actually gets to take office) will promptly pull out all our troops from Iraq, it seems to me that a draft is inevitable, perhaps sooner than later. Kerry has proposed upping the number of enlisted personnel -- I gather there's a cap at this point -- but what if not enough volunteers enlist? I mean, it doesn't seem as though the various services are turning away qualified volunteers in large numbers.

Plus, do not put it past the current regime to manufacture another war and therefore a "need" to draft young men (and perhaps women too). It just depends on how cynical they are, and what they think is the best way to drum up the kind of "patriotism" that will lead to W's re-selection.

[Blue Wally]

37. Cap

Each year, when Congress votes the Personnel portion of each of the armed service budgets, they not only vote a total amount, but they also vote an "end strength" to each service by rank and grade. Ther eis no wiggle room in that budget line, no slush fund.

[merh]

9. I don't know how any one can seriously say one way or the other

that there will or will not be a draft when Kerry is elected.
The admin that is in power now has kept so many secrets and has hidden so many things from congress and the public, that no one can say what Kerry will find when he gets in office.

That is why he doesn't come out and say, pull the troops, no drafts, et cetera.

Who the cheney knows what he will find when he gets there and/or how long it will take him to restore the international communities confidence in the U.S.

Too many psychics on this board and not enough realists.

When bush loses, he still will have a couple of months to further cheney things up for the nation.

Get the job, evaluate the situation and then determine what steps need to be taken to restore the nation.

If it were only so easy -- don't you think Kerry would like to say, when I get in, I am going to bring all of the troops home and give everyone mondays off. He knows he can't, he can't begin to try to fix things until he has the job and he will not make false promises (read my lips). His is a cautious campaign. The Bull in the china shop has done enough damage. He will gingerly enter the shop and determine what shelves have not been devastated by the bull and which ones have been weakened and are near collapse. (IMHO)

[Cat Atomic]

10. I agree.

Anyone who thinks Kerry won't do this is deluding themselves.

The only way to stop it is with a popular movement; ALOT of people just refusing to go.

[mandyky]

11. I am not anti-draft

But I think it should be a draft for national service, for anyone - man or woman, 19-35 - to serve 3 years either in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Intelligence (translators), and military. No deferments, even the handicapped could be trained to do community service work.

[goodhue]

12. I am

eom

[mandyky]

14. Even if it does not have to be military?

I see you are a Kucinich person - would you allow yourself to be drafted in the Dept. of Peace?

[goodhue]

16. I'm against involuntary conscription of any sort.

It's human rights issue to me. But I'm certainly all for voluntary conscription into service, particularly if the service promotes peace.

[mandyky]

18. Everyone needs to KNOW how it feels to leave their home

and make substandard wages, while serving their country. I am not talking about a draft that is pure military - we need National and State Park folks, Peace Corps people, teachers, healthcare people, etc. If people do not want to serve in the military, they could do community service, getting the same pay and benefits as military folks. This would reduce unemployment and expand the tax base at the same time.

My point is, if we are going to draft people for the military there should be NO exemptions, and there are plenty of things that serve our nation that can be done other than miltary service.

[RoyGBiv]

26. Hmmm...

If I were drafted into National and/or State Park work, they'd have to kick me out to get me to leave.

[mandyky]

28. It would be a great way to encourage

history, geology, and ecology majors.
It wouldn't cost much to build a barracks type building to house the people. Also, brush clearers, tree planters, and custodial folks would be needed.
People from all walks of life could be "thrown" together, and it woould be culturally enriching, as well.

[RoyGBiv]

31. I agree...

The idea you're proposing isn't a great stretch from some of the programs begun under FDR. (Much of the work done under the WPA is still showing benefits.) I don't have a problem with cumpulsory paid service to society, as long as there is some level of choice involved in what a person does. It's cumpulsory service to the military that rankles me.

The problem, as you've sort of noted in other responses, is how the thing gets administered. They're can't be general deferrments for any particular group.

As for the park services, I've been trying to get a job with some park service for years now, even to the point of being willing to be a grounds keeper, trash collector, whatever ... just something permanent. But park services are horribly underfunded, and politics (personal and "official") plays too big a part in whether a person can get hired.

Anyway...the being drafted into the park system would be a dream come true for me. :-)

[mandyky]

33. Our state park in Laurens, NY

Gilbert Lake was built by the Army Corps of Engineers in a WPA type arrangement.

[merh]

32. There are plenty of people working in this country serving just as you

suggest, for low wages at at risk, and they chose to make their livings that way. Teachers, police, fire, emt, park rangers. The said thing is, the admin now has cut the federal funding that was once provided to the states to help in these efforts and the states cannot afford to provide or properly fund all the services that are necessary.

But, our government just awarded Creative Associates International a $50 plus million dollar contract to be consultants to the Iraqi Education Departmant.

Benefits to military - what benefits, low pay, if given house subsidies, they are taxed on that.

Okay, I am ranting - but the bottom line is service should be a matter of choice (not mandatory like it is in Israel) and a draft should not be instituted unless we declare war (which has not been the case - use of force is not the same as a declaration of war) and a declaration of war should only occur if we are attacked.

[SheilaT]

42. I love the NO exemptions part.

How do we take care of the young children of the women who've already had three kids by age 19? Would the LDS kids who do a 2 year mission at age 18 (or whatever it is) be exempt? Would all colleges be willing to put scholarships on hold while young people do this service?

Imagine the impact on colleges alone, if EVERYONE went into some kind of service thing for a year or two at age 18 or 19.

[mandyky]

43. Women with children would be allowed to do

community servicein their home towns - for instance maybe even be encouraged to open a small day care center.

The LDS thing could be negotiated, not sure how we'd do that - they could do both anyway.

As for college and scholarships - this national service draft would have to be staggered. The age is between 18 and 35.

Not only that I think all these recruits should be encouraged to go to college either before or after their service. When it comes to needed professions such as inner city school teachers, we could send them to school first and then they could do their 3 years.

[Blue Wally]

39. "voluntary conscription" ????????????

Is that like dietetic pure cane sugar??

[DemBones DemBones]

48. Or perhaps "military

intelligence."

[Blue Wally]

61. You know.....

When I was young, i thought that things were screwed up in the military because of the "military mind". After serving in the military and dealing with other government bureaucracies, I found out that the military is screwed up because it is run by the government. Military officers are far more likely to cut accross some regulations in favor of common sense or getting things done than are civilian bureaucrats.

[DemBones DemBones]

62. I grew up in a military family and my dad

was often annoyed at stupid things that went on but I've seen plenty of stupidity in the civilian workplace, too, working in business, industry, and academia, and a lot of it does come from the government. So I always hesitate a bit about using "military intelligence" as an example of an oxymoron. Then again, I know what "jumbo shrimp" are, too. Must find better example of oxymoron. :think:

[flaminbats]

17. What incentive will the government have to reimburse these people?

If service becomes mandatory there will be no reason for the government to provide adequate funding for things like the GI bill, VA benefits, or helping with those serving with cost of living expenses. A draft would mean that the government would no longer have to be careful how it treated people in the service, and it would become increasingly reckless when involving the U.S. in more wars.

People who serve their country do this for the taxpayers, but when this service is complete..the taxpayers owe them something more than just yellow ribbons and worthless praises. They deserve no less than to have a government which keeps its promises and rewards them. Whether voters accept it or not, this takes more money..and ultimately higher taxes. Strange how so many Americans are willing to call for war, criticize those who oppose war, yet few are willing pay the high cost of war in a personal way!

Another draft will only reduce the value of national service to all who are interested, cause another explosion of cynicism among young Americans, and create a dangerous level of bitterness already felt by those serving our country. If you feel so strongly about this..then why haven't you signed up for military service?

[mandyky]

19. Anyone who serves a full 3 years

should receive help with a college education and/or outstanding loans from already acquired college education.

[flaminbats]

22. They should also receive help with other college expenses

and those who don't serve should not face imprisonment.

[WHAT]

24. I like your ideas...

It would work in a lot of ways:

better than tax breaks for the wealthy to stimulate the economy
educational and cultural enrichment outside of the boundaries of formal education
teaching social (as to many coming together) collaboration as opposed to collusion (the few conniving)in setting goals and solving problems
teaching, learning organizational structures that do work
mini ambassadorial functions if organized not for war but for remedy

I know there's more, too.

What might bother me is if the draft was reinstated not to relieve our soldiers who are being unfairly burdened with bad policy but to further that same bad policy. That's what I find scary about the draft. If congress really did have to vote for war, I'd feel much more comfortable about a draft.

[Scooter24]

65. So what about those...

...whose parents paid for their entire tuition up front? What incentive would there be for me? Travel? Adventure? I've been all around the world. Social skills? Working together? I couldn't get thru college without those skills so no problem there. Learn a new culture? Expand your horizons? I consider myself very cultured, having grown up in Paris and thru my internship at the UN years ago.

Could I accept a cash bonus that is retroactive?

Undergraduate $35,000/yr. x 4 years ($140,000)Class of 2004
Law School $50,000/yr. x 3 years ($150,000)Class of 2007

$290,000. That is the accumulated amount my parents will have paid out-of-pocket by 2007 when I graduate from law school. You see, tuition repayment programs aren't always so appealing to those of us who come from affluent familles that have no loans to repay. Unless the size of the stipend awarded is proportional to those who decide to attend a public university. Example: If the government is to cover on average 75% of tuition costs to attend a public university, then the same average should apply to those who attend a private institution. Flat rates of $20-$25,000, though could easily relieve the burden associated with a public school's tuition, are hardly noteworthy to those who have excelled academically and have been accepted into an elite-level institution like Yale, Harvard, or Princeton. I would reconsider my opposition if the government was willing to pay 75% of my undergraduate tuition ($140,000 x 0.75 = $105,000) to allay my burden to be equable of those who individuals who chose public institutions. However, until such a reality exists, we shouldn't have a national service program. Any future program needs to be centered in a strong moral and ethical foundation with supporting logic. We don't need a social plan designed to be a de-facto punishment on the rich under the guise of equality.

I have also completed almost 3,000 hours of volunteer service. It is insulting to think that all the work I have completed in the past is practically worthless (in the sense of societal burden) because I'm not under the umbrella of the military or government. I like Kerry's idea of requiring high school students to complete a mandatory community service requirement to graduate from high school. I would even support a law that would extend that requirement thru college. Conscription should not be used as a device to planate the socioeconomic classes; It should only be used in the event of a national emergency to expand our forces and nothing more.

Also, what makes you think that by paying all draftee's a mediocre wage, that their standard of living will be restricted to that of which is provided by that amount's economic rubric? What would stop someone who is wealthy from driving a Mercedes to work or live off base in a nice apartment and be exposed to almost all of the same luxuries he or she is awarded to at home except under usage restrictions by time or location? You can strip an individual to his or her bare essentials, but you can't remove something that isn't removable (i.e., wealth).

Excuse the snobbish tone in this post, I have been thru this avenue of debate many times before and have argued to the point of exhaustion.

[DemBones DemBones]

51. There was a draft when the GI Bill was started.

It was first available to WW II vets. Many enlisted (women as well as men) during WW II, but many others were drafted.

[Amarant]

23. So

Will this community service work pay? If not - what will the hours be? 8 hours a day? Or what 4 hours a day?

Unskilled workers can't even get by on a full time job right now. You think the non-upper classes will be able to do this AND work to surivive? Give me a break.

I have to work 10 hours AT LEAST daily just to support my self right now and not go in to debt. I make minimum wage. You are telling me I should have to work additional hours (what 4 maybe minimum?) for a total of 14 hours a day? No thanks pal - my lifes already largely work - I don't want the few hours I have in the day that are NOT work to be work as well. People (even those of us who are poor) actually live to do things OTHER than work for the rich. How much do you make a year? Somehow I have feeling it's a hell of a lot more than I make to be so out of touch.

Oh of course you mention the military. I guess that one will pay. Of course it will only be those of us who are poor and minorities that go that way.

If the rich think we will go a long with this mandatory "community serivce" (read: free labor) with out resistance you're living in dream land.

[mandyky]

25. "Community service" people should be graded and paid the same

as military.

All healthy folks should do 8 weeks of basic training - read that teach people work ethics. Non-military basic would be different than military, but same length of time. All these people should be paid the same rates as military personnel. (Govt workers are graded).

I am not suggesting "slave labor", but I don't think anyone who is trainable should be exempted from service. All these paid service people would also have wages taxed.

What better way to get better pay for our troops than to have everyone have to live on these same budgets for 3 years.

[Amarant]

27. This idea sounds about as credible

and idealistic as total world peace in 5 years.

[mandyky]

29. If you don't at least aim for world peace

we'll be stuck with perpetual war.

[flaminbats]

44. Why should the U.S. do it alone...

and why should those who do not serve have a criminal record?

FDR at the end of WWII saw the U.S., China, the British Commonwealth, and the Soviets as being the four policemen of the world. I agree with this..why should we do this alone? Let the EU deal with the Balkans, China and Japan deal with Korea and southeast Asia, Russia and Pakistan deal with bin Laden, and the U.S. and Canada deal with protecting America against terrorism.

If we give up our dreams of empire, then America simply doesn't need a draft! ;)

[Sterling]

49. I don't think your idea is as worthy as world peace.

What you talk about is state slavery.

[Heddi]

46. Do you know how much the military gets paid?

Not very much. THere are STAGGERING numbers of enlisted men and women who depend on FOOD STAMPS and WELFARE to make ends meet.

Gee--just like MILLIONS OF AMERICANS already do.

So let's say I'm a nurse and I make $60k a year in the civilian world. I can tell you that a nurse in the military would make NO WHERE NEAR THAT without years of service.

So by your proposal, what would I get paid? Would I still hold the pay I make as a civilian nurse? Or would my pay rate DROP to whatever I'd be making were I in the military?

(For the record---a friend of mine is a military nurse, been in for 10 years, and only makes $45k a year. Had she been a civilian RN with 10 years experience, she'd be making close to double that salary, if not more than double)

Why do *I* have to suffer a decrease in household income because we need to 'pay for our troops'? I ALREADY PAY FOR THE TROOPS VIA MY TAXES. The troops aren't paying for me. They're not saving my ass. They're not defending any liberties that I have, and certainly no liberties for the Iraqi's.

WWII--yes. That was different. There was a threat. People were willing to sacrifice. Now, there is no threat. There is no need for ME to sacrifice because some asshole in a top position though it would be fun to play Little Army Men with real live people.

Fuck that.

You join some peace corps shit for 3 years. YOU decrease your income. YOU volunteer for your community. I already do. I already make sacrifices. I will be making a difference in MANY people's lives through my choice of career. I don't need the military or the government to come in and forcibly suggest that I change my lifestyle, change my life, and "sacrifice" for the good of the troops. Fuck that noise.

[ButterflyBlood]

13. If Kerry wants a snowball's chance in hell of being reelected

he won't

[MoonRiver]

15. He won't reinstate the draft. No way.

We also will not be unilaterally invading Iran, North Korea or any other country. And it would be next to impossible for any American president at this point in time to organize an international coalition of the willing (to invade). Most of the world now thinks we are the greatest threat to peace. Let's face it, we're down shit creek without a paddle. At best Kerry will begin repairing all the damage caused by * and his neocon gang of thugs. After 4 years of demonstrating that this country is sane and non-threatening again, we will probably be accepted back into the world community.

[Sven77]

20. kerry will not stop the draft or the war

kerry will not stop the draft or the war, we are stuck cleaning up W's mess. We should just get out totally and let the U.N. cleanup.

[MattNC]

21. i just don't see it

While there's no question we're stretched thin, the Army doesn't need to be increased to an extent that a draft would be required. Such a small # of people would be drafted that it would be seen as incredibly unfair.

The best ways to solve the current manpower crunch I think are:

1. Increase the size of the Army by about 40,000 over the next few years through increased enlistment bonuses. It will be difficult but I don't think it's impossible -- especially if Kerry's president and not Bush.

2. Restructure the Army so that some positions that are now within the Guard and Reserves would be shifted to Active Duty.

3. Further internationalize our current commitments around the globe. If we can't work out an agreement with NATO to expand operations in Iraq, I'd like to see a compromise that would withdrawl more U.S. forces from the Balkans and replace them with more troops from NATO countries.

4. Marginally lower recruiting standards. This is obviously a last resort, but I wouldn't totally rule it out.

[Sugarbleus]

30. I've been hearing this. I've been fearing this.. I hope it

DOES NOT HAPPEN. I'm raising my grandson. He's almost old enough to be in the draft age group when this country gets itself involved in some other conflict.

I'm not anti military. I'm not a pacifist. I'd prefer to see how Kerry handles the mess we're in right now before sending any more soldiers to god knows where.......... Too much needless death, no beneftis, lousy generals, and way too much cost has been squandered already.

If Kerry and his picks have any smarts, they will find another way; a better way of handling any terrorist threats from here on out. Just my opinion.

[Jacobin]

34. Yup.

Since he plans to send more targets to IraqNam and be the new LBJ, I'm afraid you are right.

Once I help to get him elected, I will be out protesting if he continues on the course to do an LBJ.

[Sterling]

50. Kerry's position is almost more like Nixon than LBJ.

It kinda has a "peace with honor" feel to it.

[Jacobin]

57. Increasing troops is an LBJ

Nixon of course bombed the bejesus out of Cambodia and Laos after he promised to bring peace with his "secret plan to end the war".

More troops won't fix this. Fewer troops won't fix this. It's a disaster either way.

[mandyky]

35. Mark my words

kick

[Walt Starr]

36. If Kerry reinstates teh draft

I vote Republican in 2008 regardless of whther or not the Republican candidate's last name is Bush.

[mandyky]

38. Unfortunately, I think all of the candidates on our side

would have had to do that - except for Kucinich and maybe Sharpton.

Personally I like the ideas of a draft for National Service - not just military, but general service.. military if one is so inclined..

[Walt Starr]

40. All volunteer is the only acceptable method to me

Anything else, and I go to the opposition regardless.

I had been placing a caveat of refusing to vote for a Bush if Kerry doesn't get us out of Iraq, but if the draft is reinstated, any Bush would get my vote over Kerry.

[DemBones DemBones]

53. Walt, think abou what you're saying: if Kerry

is forced by circumstances (due to W's screwing up massively) to reinstate the draft, you'll vote for ANY Bush? Don't you think there's a high likelihood ANY Bush would only send our troops into more places and increase the need for draftees?

[Walt Starr]

64. ABB taught me I have only two choices. I cannot support a return

of the draft. If a draft returns under Kerry, I will truly be for Anybody But Kerry come 2008.

[MallRat]

41. A War on Terror doesn't require 135,000 troops.

You have to fight Al Qaeda by coordinating with law enforcement and international and foreign intelligence agencies (you see, THIS is why it's important to keep good relations with the rest of the world).

This war SHOULD BE fought in the shadows, with small teams of quietly-deployed special forces, striking quickly in specifically-targetted operations anywhere in the world. You don't invade a nation and dethrone a government unless they're obviously, actively, officially condoning and harboring Al Qaeda (i.e., Afghanistan). And even then, you have to think carefully about your exit strategy. Rebuilding is a bitch, and we haven't been good at it since World War II.

This administration is fighting terror with a hopelessly 19th century mindset. Conquer and occupy, and then the problem will disappear magically. History has proven this approach to be counterproductive.

[Heddi]

45. What about people like me who are already working in their community

I'm getting ready to go to nursing school. In two short (or long, depending on my classes) years, I'll be an RN.

I don't need involuntary conscription, asking me to serve my countrymen and women, blah blah blah. I'll ALREADY be serving them. I'll be a nurse--the absolute MOST NEEDED JOB--not just in this country, or in North America--but ACROSS THE GLOBE.

As it stands, if there's a military draft, I'd be considered Essential Personnell and be forced to serve at a military hospital or in battlegrounds as it is, and I don't like that one bit.

Let the military woo nurses and Dr's to serve in battle. Let the military woo and cajole Dr's and RN's to serve in military hospitals. I could EASILY get the military to pay my way not just for an RN, but for a BSN (bachelor's) or ARNP (master's level). But I choose not to do that. Now or ever.

I am becoming a nurse because I want to help people LIVE, not assist them in dying. And by being in the military, no matter how germaine my intentions are, I am assisting the military in finding new and unique ways of creating death and destruction. I want no part of it, and I would take very drastic measures if it ever came to that.

Later in the post, you go on about how there would be no deferrments. Single parents would be encouraged to work in their communities, perhaps even open a day-care center :wtf: These people already ARE working in their communities. They already ARE operating a daycare--for their own children.

So single parents will be stretched even FURTHER than they are now by having to work their normal jobs, then find time to add in the 'voluntary conscription' time, as well as find time to be a parent to their child/ren, raise child, have spare time to just sit down and BREATHE....

what about people who are forced to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet? I suppose they can do without one job and go into section 8 housing just so they can fit this idyllic version of yours regarding voluntary conscription.

SOrry. It may work in some situations, but having a 'no exemption' policy is just bunk. What about old people? I guess we can always put them to work making something, right? Because if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem, right?

ANd children have fingers small enough to clean the insides of shell casings. Hooray! Forget about school, Johnny! You're goin' to the factory with maw and paw to make guns and ammo! Hooray for all!!!

Sorry. Not gonna work. not without exemptions and not without looking at the way people already live their lives and the struggles they have to face NOW---imagine those struggles once you add "voluntary conscription"

[lovuian]

47. Had a friend in the Peace Corps stationed in Sao Tome'

She came back with Malaria
and her health with never be the same plus she was almost raped and killed

So I Hate to pop any bubbles but working in the Peace Corps can be dangerous to your health too

If Kerry gets in we might have a draft....UN might Help us if he is in

If Bush is in WE Definitely will have a draft..Nobody is going to help us

Just my thoughts on it and No I don't believe in forcing a person into service
3 years out of a person's life is along time

If we have it make it for a year at the most

[DemBones DemBones]

55. Since you don't want to serve your country under any circumstances,

you might want to rethink going to nursing school. They're already talking about drafting medical personnel up to age 45. They may even already be doing it. Check it out and get the facts. Draft boards have been restaffing.

[Heddi]

58. OH I know that's a total reality

I guess I try to look at the bigger picture and not dwell on a possibility--a very real possibility no doubt. But I guess I'm not going to not do something I absolutely desire to do on a chance that I'll get called into the military if there's a draft.


Even if I was drafted, I'd be drafed as a nurse and would most likely be more valuable as a nurse than to be trained to go out on the field and kill people. So even though I would loathe the idea and probably would move to another country (I'm planning on being a nurse out of the country upon graduation to begin with, so it wouldn't be an unreasonable thought to me), I would still be employed as a nurse, and would be doing nurse-y things. Which is better than having to kill people.

And I suppose that it's not that I don't want to serve my country under ANY circumstances---quite the contrary. I feel that by being a nurse, I'm serving my country in the most important way possible. EVERYONE gets sick at some point. There's ALWAYS going to be a situation where someone with medical knowledge is needed to save a dying person. I'm not being a nurse for the glamour of it (har har har). I WANT to help people regardless of race, income, gender, religion. I WANT to work in community health settings. Emergency rooms. Family Planning.

What better way to serve my country than to service the citizens DIRECTLY? And when they absolutely need it most. I'm not just being a nurse to the kid with a broken arm. I'm a nurse for his mom, dad, sister.....It's not caring for the injury, but caring for the body and family whole.

Oh I'm more than willing to serve my country. THat's what I'm devoting my life to. But I don't need someone to FORCE me to hold a gun to serve my country.

Service to country can exist without a rifle in one hand and a grenade to another. Being a part of your community and helping those in need is just as much service as is blowing the face off of "the enemy"

[tinanator]

52. two things will not be an issue in this election

war and the draft.

[DemBones DemBones]

54. Says who? nt

[tinanator]

56. a bipartisan commission nt

:P

[realisticphish]

59. There is only one occasion when I would agree with a draft

and that is an actual armed invasian of United States soil. Even then, I think enough people would volunteer to make a draft unneccessary. I am dead on the desired demographic for drafting, and I am completely fucking terrified of this, regardless of the unlikeliness of me personally getting drafted.

btw, I do like the idea of national service, though. As long as it could be chosen as an alternative to the military; i.e., not have it randomly assigned to draftees, and the rest to the infantry



:hippie:

60. GOOD

Did that get your attention?
I don't really support a draft, but sometimes I am ambivalent about it.

Let this generation deal with what my generation had to deal with.

Maybe it would get some real change in motion and we'd stop invading oountries.

I am and was a conscientios objector also. Draft status 1-A-O at the tail end of the Vietnam War.

[mandyky]

63. The only way to turn the tide is the draft

Charlie Rangel is right on this one. Personally, I favor a draft for national service so that CO's can join the Peace Corps or do community service as a replacement for military service. If everyone, no deferrments, has to serve somewhere, this whole thing will get a second look!

[Crash]

66. I hope not.

I really hate the thought of a draft. It scares me a lot. :scared:

I think it's morally wrong to force people to fight, especially wars that cannot be won.

[Scooter24]

68. Welcome to DU!

Join the party!

:toast: :party: :beer: