I want Rangel to introduce the draft bill and I have a son

[Skidmore]

that would fall into that age group. I want him to push the envelope. Our military is stretched to the max and they are returning injured soldiers, pregnant soldiers, and enlistees with dubious qualifications in to fight this war. If the Rs want to make war, then force them into a position where they also have to provide manpower. I'm sick of porky, frat boy types spouting slogans and homilies who don't have the courage to step up. Provide them with an equal opportunity to be heroic and don't allow them to opt out. Couch the bill in terms our decimated forces and troop shortage. I'm becoming convinced that the only way to get the public's attention on this war is to call for the sanctimonious right to pay a price too.

[Adelante]

1. I don't have a child

But I think you are right and Rangel is right.

[flpoljunkie]

2. The trouble is the Rethugs would provide an out for the sons of privilege.

And, of course, they control both houses of Congress.

[Skidmore]

4. The Rs need to be shamed into supporting it and the public

needs a lesson in what actualizing all that sacrifice and service they are constantly thanking others for means. Add to the definition of what it means to support the troops.

[stevedeshazer]

21. You honestly believe they feel shame?

It just means that your kid and mine will be drafted.

[Vickers]

12. So let the "sons of privilege" get out of it...but open the eyes of some

Republicans down around MY level that the fucked up policies of this crazy administration will get you KILLED.

Not just poor people, but middle class. Us. We the people.

[Lone_Wolf]

17. Many fortunate sons don't bother registering with the selective service...

They know the most likely penalty they face is not being eligible for college financial aid...

It looks like they have to depend on mommy and daddy to pay for their college bills which is not a big problem for people with a few extra million lying around.

[KansDem]

26. You've raised an interesting point...

...and one, I expect, will become a rallying cry:

...not being eligible for college financial aid...

I know it'll be easy for neo-Cons to use college financial aid as a "carrot and stick approach" for getting poor and middle class college-bound kids to sign up for the draft, but is that the original intention for offering government-backed student loans?

I think we need to separate draft registration from college financial aid. We need to make it plain and clear that not signing up for the draft does not disqualify a student from receiving federal financial aid.

Student financial aid: provides college-bound kids with financial help to go to college...

Selective-service system: provides for a draft to augment armed forces...

...we need to keep the two separate...

[Hello_Kitty]

3. Rangel is spot on

I think if we had compulsory military service for young people of every social strata people would be a lot less eager to support the military adventures of greedy corporate pigs.

[raccoon]

7. I think so too

I agree with whoever posted above, there probably would be some kind of an exemption from the draft for the children of the powerful.

But a lot of the Bush supporters would be less supportive of his junta if they/their relatives had to go fight imperial wars.
At present all they have to do is give lip service to their support and slap yellow ribbons on their vehicles.

[election_2004]

22. Are you aware of what military culture is like?

Why should ANY young man or woman be forced into a narrow lifestyle where they must shave their heads, be stripped of personal freedoms, and be indoctrinated into a mysogynistic, heterosexist institution against their will?

[Hello_Kitty]

24. As a matter of fact, I am

I served 10 years in the U.S. Navy.

So what are you saying? That only poor kids with no other options should be "forced into a narrow lifestyle where they must shave their heads, be stripped of personal freedoms, and be indoctrinated into a mysogynistic, heterosexist institution..." ? Because that's how it is now and that's the point Rangel was making with his largely symbolic draft bill. Unfortunately, the point was lost on most 'Murkins.

[election_2004]

25. What I'm saying....

Is that NO ONE (regardless of their socioeconomic circumstances) should be forced to serve in the military. Ever.

If Rangel reintroduces this shit, one of two things will happen: either Republicans will rebuke it and paint the Democrats as trying to push a military draft; or the Republicans will reword and restructure the legislation in committee to make sure there are loopholes for the wealthy and the privileged.

[wakeme2008]

5. I want Rangel to shut his yap up over a draft

I do not want a Democratic Party Pushed Draft....

[MsTryska]

27. i see your point......

i also agree with the op that a draft is the only way many of these wingnuts will see the light.


so maybe we jsut need to keep starving the beast, and force the republican hand on this matter.

[wakeme2008]

29. Right I want Bush to come out and say we have to have a DRAFT

Or whatever Wrap it around the Flag title Rove calls it....

[MsTryska]

30. Freedom is on the march!

and every last God-fearing American will be marching to God's Drums!

[TahitiNut]

6. Democracy requires participation.

Without participation, it's not democracy. Every citizen must bear an equitable part of the burden, and there is no more signficant form of participation than national service. I'm strongly in favor of a Universal National Service obligation of 18-48 months in the military, the Public Health Service, the Peace Corps, VISTA, or a limited range of other service options. Unless institutionalized, there should be no exemption - male, female, gay, straight - everyone should serve.

[leesa]

8. I don't have kids and I'm too old for the draft so I probably don't have

much of a right to say so, but I am almost hoping it comes soon. I think the draft is the ONLY way to wake up selfish Americans.

[July]

9. And those who are already awake must also send their sons?

I'm not really on board with that.

I don't even want the unenlightened's kids to go. War sucks, and needless war sucks more.

[leesa]

18. But it won't end until their is an outcry. It will come anyway.

[July]

19. How many will die before it does end?

We were very slow to end things in Vietnam and haven't learned anything from that war, it appears. Do you think a draft is the only way to end the debacle that is Iraq?

[Cerridwen]

10. Unfortunately, as we've seen, many folks don't "get it" until it

impacts them personally.

Nancy Reagan backing stem cell research comes to mind as one of the most obvious examples.

I don't want to ever see a draft - but it may be that many people who support this war, young rebupublicans specifically, may need something like this to impact their own life before they understand at least part of the reason the rest of us don't support the horror or war.

[fasttense]

11. The problem is if brush does manage to get some of

these poor red voters' sons drafted it will be awhile before they start complaining. My son could die for a lie in the meantime.

[ecstatic]

13. That would have been more effective *before* the 04 elections nt

[enough already]

14. This is political suicide

Why in god's name would our party push something that is going to turn off so many young voters? Stupid.

[forgethell]

15. There's not going to be a draft.

The Republicans are too smart to hand us this issue. Why do we keep deluding ourselves into thinking that they will?

[CitrusLib]

16. Well if Canada would go ahead and annex Trinidad and Tobago

I would support the draft. Since I already live in the subtropics, moving to the islands with my son wouldn't be a stretch.

[RUMPLEMINTZ]

20. What we would need is to get

some high ranking military types on board. I don't think anyone will be on board otherwise. If we just got a couple of "respected" military men/women I think we could do it.

[DrGonzoLives]

23. No

I am a little tired of people on either side being all too willing to sacrifice lives to make political hay. It's disgusting enough when the right-wing does it, but at least I expect it from them. Aren't we supposed to be better than that?

[formernaderite]

28. Am I going senile...Didn't Rangel already do this

back in 2004....and then he VOTED against his own bill!!!

Please no draft...only a small percentage of the public will be staunchly pacifist. The remainder will once again forge a National military reign of honor and bravery. I truly can't go back to that sort of thinking again.