I Have an Idea for a New Law

[Angry Dragon]

It seems that there are many people in this country that feel we need to spend a lot of money, time, and bodies on war. This includes people in the administration and congress.

I propose that for every person killed in the military that the two senators and the district rep. are required to attend the wake and funeral of the deceased military personal. The vice president would also be required to attend. If they feel so strongly that we need to fight all these wars then they need to stand up for that war. What better way to show the families and friends that they stand behind the wars and the military personal.

They will also be required to answer any and all questions that the family or friends may have. No ducking out early because they have important things to do. What is more important than standing up for the wars that they vote for.

Failure to attend or answer any and all questions will be subject to a $10,000 personal fine paid by the congressional person out of their own pocket and possible jail time. The vice president is subject to the same penalties.

If war is so important then it is time for these elected officials show how important it is.

[Drale]

1. Dick Durbin has attended funerals when he is in Chicago

and he came to visit one of my friends who was wounded in Iraq, but Mark Kirk would not be caught dead at a military funeral and neither would my rep Judy Biggert.

[baldguy]

2. Simpler: re-institute the draft.

And include women in it.

[Drale]

4. I don't know why people think that would do anything

all its going to do is piss of a whole generation of young people, because I for one will not serve and I know plenty of other people who won't either. That is basically mandatory military service and that is a road which leads to fascism.

[baldguy]

7. "...all its going to do is piss of a whole generation of young people..."

Exactly.

[customerserviceguy]

15. Nope, not the entire generation

There will always be exemptions, if this idea EVER came anywhere near becoming law, both the Dems and the Repukes would make sure there were exemptions for their young Tads and Muffys.

[JoePhilly]

11. If EVERYONE has to serve, no exceptions ... war ends ... If the Bush twins HAD

to go to Iraq ... Iraq does not happen.

If the kids of the super rich had to go, war ends.

That's the only way a draft works. No deferments. If we go to war, everyone goes. Or no one does.

[customerserviceguy]

16. Show me anywhere where such a draft existed in this country

and you might be able to convince me that it could possibly happen again, especially with women included.

[JoePhilly]

18. It has NEVER existed in this country.

But that is the point. The RISK must be evenly distributed. If the kids of the wealthy are just as likely to get called up, no exceptions (including the women), the dynamics change.

[customerserviceguy]

20. Well, being as the rich

own the very same Congress that would have to write a law establishing a draft, we will never see your perfect-world version of one. Given that, I'd just as soon not see any draft. Playing games with people's lives is something only Republicons should be seen doing.

[Drale]

17. You really think Bush would have cared?

I don't in fact I think it would have given him the troops to start even more wars.

[JoePhilly]

19. His corporate handlers would have said otherwise.

Imagine a draft with NO EXCEPTIONS (that is the hard part I know) ... but with that, the pain is distributed evenly across Americans.

Today, the only people really "at war" are the families who signed up. Sending them is easy. You can hear right wingers say "well, they signed up".

If every kid was at risk of going, every time, Americans who abstractly support a war, but who know their kids aren't going, now have skin in the game.

I suspect that the support for wars of folly would decrease. We'd only go to war when we all believed it was indeed necessary.

[phasma ex machina]

3. I propose that people who vote for war lead troops into battle from the front line.

Another step necessary in this fight to smash the war racket is the limited plebiscite to determine whether a war should be declared. A plebiscite not of all the voters but merely of those who would be called upon to do the fighting and dying. There wouldn't be very much sense in having a 76-year-old president of a munitions factory or the flat-footed head of an international banking firm or the cross-eyed manager of a uniform manufacturing plant – all of whom see visions of tremendous profits in the event of war – voting on whether the nation should go to war or not. They never would be called upon to shoulder arms – to sleep in a trench and to be shot. Only those who would be called upon to risk their lives for their country should have the privilege of voting to determine whether the nation should go to war. - War is a Racket

[Drale]

5. At one time that was the case

Many senators and Representatives gave up their posts during the Civil War to join the army and lead troops. But that was back in the day when you could raise a company of men yourself and go to join the war.

[hobbit709]

22. That is the definition of leader-guy up front.

[Ian David]

6. I would schedule the funeral for 3 AM on Sunday for optimum senatorial inconvenience. n/t

[Mnemosyne]

8. Do families of soldiers get the fine money? I would like to see them

have to face the results of their choices by attending every funeral also.

Thanks for asking, Angry Dragon.

[Angry Dragon]

10. I did not think of that

the families would get the fine money

[Mnemosyne]

12. Very good. I can definitely get behind this then, AD. n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

9. gonna see one big mass funeral every 4 months or so if that one passes

which it won't

[cali]

13. My reps do that- and they're all very muchh against the wars.

[Terra Alta]

14. I would love to see this happen.

Maybe this way it will be more personal to our elected officials. Make them realize this is a human being who was killed, and not just some number. I'm sure such a law would eventually lead to all our troops being brought home.

[hobbit709]

21. How about anyone who is for a war automatically signs their enlistment papers.

No exceptions for age, social status, physical status or anything.