If there is a Democratic win in November...(whitehouse)

[Andy_Stephenson]

and that Democrat asks to continue the plans to revive the draft...what will you do?

[mrgorth]

1. Revolt? Expatriate?

It'll be no better if Kerry does it than the shrub.

[RobertSeattle]

2. A Draft isn't necceasily bad

The exception ridden draft of the 60's where rich white kids could easily avoid it is/was the problem.

If the offspring of the rich and powerful were also in the military we might not so easily go to war. The GOP uses the "it's a volunteer military - they knew what they were getting into" excuse all the time.

[sangh0]

3. I don't understand the question

What did you mean by "asks to continue the plans to revive the draft"? Are you referring to studies done about the feasibility of a draft, or are you referring to actions to actually implement a draft?

4. start here

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print.php?sid=15344

Not precisely taking actions to actually implement a draft, but one step closer.

[sangh0]

5. So it's not an actual draft

but just the planning for a possible draft?

I have no problem with that. IMO, it will only lead to debate and the education of many Americans.

[Hav]

6. .

Weapons of Massdestruction programme related acivities...

[sangh0]

8. ???

.

[Hav]

9. lame attempt of a joke

[ieoeja]

11. Are you suggesting "Preemptive Action"?

Do Selective Service program related activities justify panic on the part of DUers?

[Hav]

12. .

It was a lame joke, you know.
Plans for the draft..WMD programme related activities..get it? HAHAHA Plans? Get it?
So lame but hey, I try...

[Andy_Stephenson]

13. Some people have been up in arms about the proposed draft.

Would they still be up in arms if a Democrat proposed it?

[sangh0]

21. A dem has proposed it

so I guess that answers your question

[cspiguy]

7. "that Democrat" is Rangell. And it is political hot air

designed to rekindle fear in the public of a draft to awaken a lot of sleepy antiwar sentiments from the 60's and 70's. No one expects it to really happen, ever again. The draft filled army was not 10% as good as the all-volunteer version we have now. But Rangell keeps throwing this idea around like shaving-cream pies to keep Bush on the defensive about his war, so more power to him.

[tobius]

27. hillary and kerry have hinted at it also

MSNBC
Updated: 3:40p.m. ETFeb. 25, 2004

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday the all-volunteer military "raises serious questions in a democracy, both (about) how we define ourselves (and) what the real risks politically and militarily of taking action might be."
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4372246/
...Clinton urged an increase in the size of the Army, supporting a proposal by Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) to expand the Army by 10,000 soldiers.
Noting that she had conducted a tour of U.S. deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq last November, she said there are not enough American troops in either country.

-------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 28, 2004 Contact: Terre Lundy/Matt Harris: [phone], [e-mail]

Yesterday, in contrast, Kerry said American troop strength abroad is "overextended" and must be replenished by adding two full combat divisions to the regular Army. He has also repeatedly said that, as President, he would add those 40,000 new troops in his first 100 days
http://www.kucinich.us/pressreleases/pr_022804a.php
...... Kucinich also challenged Kerry to explain how the Army could add 40,000 new personnel without reinstating the draft. "If Sen. Kerry is considering reinstating the draft to meet his military objectives, he should be honest with the American people right now.

10. I think anyone who is under 26

should start considering the very real possibility of a draft regardless of who becomes President.
Think very seriously about what you would do.
This is not intended on my part to be a slam on Kerry, I want to say upfront, because I understand that it might be taken that way.

I think there is a very real possibility of a draft because our military is overextended and unless the United States markedly scales back its commitments (which I think is unlikely in the foreseeable future), how else will there be enough soldiers?
I am speaking from the perspective of someone who was around during the previous draft.

People might thing that talk of a draft by anyone is hot air, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[maisey03]

14. I'm 22, and I think about it sometimes.

I fear my guy friends being drafted more than myself because I think a women draft would be very unlikely. There would be a huge baby boom, and I don't see how the govt. could send a bunch of pregnant women overseas. I fear a draft more with Bush in power than Kerry because of his "Back off, I'll take you on!" foreign policy. He has to poke his nose into everyone's business, and it scares me.

[no name no slogan]

18. You should be scared, maisey03

...because women would be eligible for this draft. Unlike the last draft, women will be drafted into service, just like men. And with Kerry looking to increase the armed forces by 40,000, it won't just be under Shrub, either.

If I were draft age right now, I'd seriously look into conscientious objector status. I hate to say it, but there's no way we can maintain two wars/occupations/"liberations"/whatever and still have troops on hand to fulfill our other commitments without a draft.

Be afraid, be very afraid, but NEVER give up hope. In the words of Studs Terkel, "hope dies last".

And welcome to DU!!!
:hi:

[maisey03]

23. What is...

"conscientious objector status," heh, heh? Seriously, I still don't see a women draft as feasible, but I personally would rather die than participate in any kind of military service, especially for this country. I'm serious. I support the troops and all, but I'm against military action and would never get involved in something like that. My boyfriend has been talking about moving back to his homeland, Poland, and has been asking me if I'd like to go with him. Especially if Bush stays in power and our unemployment and economy continues to fall, it sounds good to me!

[newyawker99]

24. Hi maisey03!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[PeopleForChange]

15. Flee to Canada.. oh wait..

I'm 28. I'm past the draft age. Thank $DIETY!

Although I'd probably help people flee to Canada.

No wait. Beat Kerry with a cluestick repeatedly until he _gets_ it. Progressive people doesn't want a draft, nor do they care about PPI (a huggy-feely version of PNAC, IMHO)

:evilgrin:

Power to the people!

People for Change

[no name no slogan]

17. Too bad the Canadians are cooperating with the US this time...

...and they'll extradite (sp?) you right back to the good ole U S of A, where you'll face charges for draft evasion.

And it's not just Canada, either. There are reportedly 47 other countries who've agreed to cooperate with Uncle Sam, should you flee the draft.

And if you're female? Well, I regret to inform you that women will NOT be exempt from this draft, either. They may still get the chance, to quote Country Joe McDonald, "to be the first kid on their block to come home in a box".

At this point, the draft is damn near a foregone conclusion, IMHO. The mechanism is in place to start it up within a short period of time. Dubya wants more wars, and is running out of new recruits and guard/reserves to do the fighting. Kerry wants to increase the size of the armed forces by 40,000-- how the hell can he do that with recruiting down, and re-enlistment numbers circling the bowl?

I burned my Selective Service card in 1990, before the first Gulf War, when I was 21. Now that I'm 35, I probably don't have to worry as much. However, I had a great uncle who was drafted in 1944 at the age of 36. He's now buried somewhere in Belgium, and his widow to this day still carries his Army ID card.

This country doesn't need another war. And it doesn't need a bigger army, either. What it needs to do is implement a SANE foreign policy based on PEACE and cooperation instead of WAR and imperialism.

[Andy_Stephenson]

19. Draft age up to

45 now.....sorry.

[sir_captain]

16. Generally, draft-revival comes from Dems

Charlie Rangel, who is probably the biggest proponent of the revival of the draft (and my house rep!) is not exactly a conservative dem. I think the point that the armed forces are generally populated by poor minorities who are not well-represented among the military decision-makers is not a bad one. Perhaps Bush and co. would have been a little more hesitant to send us to Iraq if he was sending Ivy League students, you know? As a draft-age male, I can't say that I love the idea of the reinstitution of the draft, but I also think that my misgivings are largely selfish ones. Lots and lots of countries have mandatory military or government service, and I think there is probably something to be said for it.

20. as a conscientious objector during Vietnam

I actually tend to agree with you.
I bet voter turnout might go up if 22 years olds were being drafted, for example.
Sometimes good results come from selfish desires.
Not everybody who protested the Vietnam War was being selfless, some were being selfish. Nothing wrong with that at all.

[newyawker99]

25. Hi sir_captain!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

22. I will applaud

It's the only way to make sure that the rich and privileged serve as well.

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. We would leave the country.

I have an 11 year old son who WILL NOT be drafted. I don't care who's in office. They can't have my son....Dem or repuke.