would young men/women care more if there were a draft

[IA_Seth]

Poll question: would young men/women care more if there were a draft

I wanted this as a poll due to the good discussions being held in the other thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2524073&mesg_id=2524073

Feel free to kill it if it is considered a "dupe".




Would young Americans care more about the war if there were a draft?

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Yes, they would. We would be seeing protests far beyond what the 60s

offered if we had a draft today.

I think that's why the assholes in charge, as much as they're surely constantly sporting a war-woodie thinking about a draft, won't do it - they know that it will be the straw that broke the very fragile camel's back.

[AndyTiedye]

4. No. You Won't See More Protests

There will BE more protests, but you won't see them unless you're in them.
The media blackout will continue.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. A subtle nuance, but important, yes.

:-)

We would probably even see less.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Absence of News Coverage Greatly Reduces the Effectiveness of Protesting

It makes us feel better, but nobody else notices.

[pnwmom]

14. As we saw in the huge march on Washington, which was barely covered.

[zanne]

22. Exactly.

In the 60's the conservatives would wring their hands and say "They're only protesting because they show it on television. If they ignored them, they'd go away." I'm sure that Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc. learned a few things from the sixties and are applying them now.

[valerief]

2. Oy vey, lovey, you have to ask?

It goes without question.

[madaboutharry]

3. More than half the country would

be in the streets. Every day.

[AndyTiedye]

5. Not Even Close

We never got more than a tiny percentage protesting during the Vietnam war,
and people are far more afraid of the government now than they were then.

[madaboutharry]

7. The American people didn't know the lies at the time.

It was only recently that we found out that the Gulf of Tonkin was a fabrication. I don't think you can compare that aspect of Vietnam to now.

[pnwmom]

11. But more than 58,000 U.S. soldiers died in Vietnam. Why would we

have more protesters now?

[ThomasNewton]

25. Are you kidding?

If there was even a chance the over-priviledged, ill-mannered, spoiled brats (think of the bush twins & their type) of the neos had to actually fight this war it'd end tomorrow.

[AndyTiedye]

9. Don't Even THINK It Too Loud -- They Want It! They Are Looking for a Way…

…to start up the draft and blame the Democrats for it!

With their control of the media, this could easily happen if
we are not steadfast in our opposition to any kind of draft.

If we had the draft today,
we would still be in Afghanistan and Iraq,
and we would also be in Iran, Syria, Pakistan, Venezuela…

Without a draft, they could not have kept the Vietnam war going so long,
and before the last of the draftees had exited the Army, the Army had
exited Vietnam.


The only thing holding Dear Leader back is a shortage of cannon fodder.

[pnwmom]

12. You are absolutely right, and I get very upset that so many

D.U.ers seem to think that a draft would be some kind of magic solution. The whole reason we went to a volunteer army was so that the govt. would be limited to wars that had enough popular support to fill a volunteer army. They never would have found more than 58,000 volunteers to die in Vietnam.

[NativeTexan]

10. But of course THEN the Bush twins.....

.....as well as the kids of ALL members of Congress, both sides, would be under the gun, and this time WITHOUT the protection of HIDING in the National Guard, because NOW the Guard is having to fight "in theatre" and does them no good!!!

[pnwmom]

13. But what about MY two sons??? They would be "under the gun" too, and

I would blame people like you.

As it is, I've been out protesting since before the war began, along with my sons, along with working for Kerry and doing everything else I can think of to help end this insane war.

There's no way you can use a draft to wake up Republicans without sacrificing boys like my sons, too. And that would be the end of my association with this party.

[NativeTexan]

15. So would mine....and of course, I don't like the idea either.....

...but it WOULD be more fair. PLUS if everyone was under the gun "fairly", then more rich kids and less poor kids would be required, or at least they would all be in the same boat.

I don't like drafts either. But I DON'T like rich kids, like the "Young Republicans" saying that THEY don't enlist because they can do more good for Bush's war effort on the HOME FRONT, instead of fighting and risking death. THAT would be my main point. And I have one that would be at risk also. But then again.....they ain't gonna listen to me anyway. It's just my thought process.

[pnwmom]

16. History teaches us that a draft only expands the number of deaths.

That's why we dumped it after Vietnam.

A draft might wake some people up. BUT Bush doesn't react to public opinion, the media doesn't cover protests, and even the voting machines can't be trusted. If the Democrats ever are behind reinstating the draft, I'm out of the party.


Something tells me that you don't have an 18 year old son -- prime draft fodder.

[NativeTexan]

17. Yep, I do too.....and 3 nephews that are 18-21....

.....and like I said. I am not really in favor of a draft. And yes the deaths go up. Of course, there would be a more even split between lower and middle class kids as compared to the upper class kids.

Of course you are right. My frustration is how the rich want the war. The rich get the war. The rich profit from the war. The rich don't have to sacrifice even by paying larger taxes to pay for the war. The rich kids have more options in life, including parents that can pay for school, instead of having to go to war.

EVERY war in American History has required sacrifice from EVERYONE.....until this one.

The rich make NO sacrifice, but are more than willing to let your kids, my kids, poor kids,....anybody who isn't THEIR kid.....for the glory of BUSH. They don't pay for it. They don't lose THEIR kids to it. But as I said, they are the ones who PROFIT off of the 2300+ deaths that this war has created so far!!

[pnwmom]

18. I totally agree with you on all that. It is a crime that Bush cut taxes

on the rich at the same time the country's going into debt -- now they're saying up to $2 trillion final cost -- for this war. And you and I know it will be our kids paying for this, one way or another. I couldn't be more frustrated. . . unless my sons were on the front line.

Cindy Sheehan is my hero. But I don't want to be her.

[AndyTiedye]

19. If You Believe That Sons and Daughters of Presidents And Senators Will Go…

…to war under any draft that will ever happen in this country…

…then I've got a deal for you… …today only…
…make me an offer on this fine New York landmark…

The Brooklyn Bridge

A fair draft in this country is somewhat LESS likely than
a legitimate offer to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge.

[pnwmom]

20. People with money and power will do what they've always done. n/t

[guidod]

24. There's no such thing as

a fair draft. It's not fair to 100% of our children. I don't care if you're parents are Presidents, Senators, Congresmen, Governors, Mayors, CO's., actors or welders. Why do they have to suffer for what their parents did?

[NativeTexan]

26. LOL.....good point!!!

....

Tex

[guidod]

21. What do you think?!

They would be scared to death! Why would anybody expect our children to die for OUR wrongs?! NO DRAFT!! :mad: :mad:

[skids]

23. Other: who says they don't care now? n/t