The age old defense of the chicken hawk: We don't have a draft

[Political Heretic]

"Chickenhawk" (also chicken hawk and chicken-hawk) is a political epithet used in the United States to criticize a politician, bureaucrat, or commentator who strongly supports a war or other military action, yet who actively avoided military service when of age.

The term is meant to indicate that the person in question is cowardly or hypocritical for personally avoiding combat in the past while advocating that others go to war in the present. Generally, the implication is that "chickenhawks" lack the experience, judgment, or moral standing to make decisions about going to war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chickenhawk_%28politics%29

OP-Eds in the Washington Post and LA Times, as well as commentary from media pundits and personalities keep bringing up the same failed argument when asked about the contradiction bewteen supporting sending someone else's kid to die and not making the sacrifices themselves: they volunteer, we don't have a draft, so I'm not responsible.

Morally, rationally, politically, factually - wrong.

Having an all volunteer military is irrelevant. Maybe those in the military are those that support escalating wars, I don't know. But it isn't about what others chose to do. It's about what you refuse to do while fiercely advocating that someone else get it done

Those who that do support sending other people to do buy don't support sending themselves or their children, don't support the personal investment and personal sacrifice that they are completely comfortable with someone else making - that's pretty criticism-worthy and characteristic of what is politically termed a chickenhawk.

If what we're doing is so crucial, then prove it with your own actions. Pick up a gun, or send your son. the slogan goes. Otherwise, its not really that crucial, is it? If you can't be bothered with it...

Once upon a time we were expected to share the sacrifice and cost of war. Today, fewer and fewer Americans understand "war" as anything other than reality television that has zero impact on them personally.


As far as the comment that we don't have a draft - as soon as the makeup of the military proportionally represents a cross-section of all income brackets, then we'll talk. Until then, the reality of an economic draft remains, and is only made worse during deep recessionary periods, and we continue to be faced with the ugly true that people who won't serve themselves have no problem sending disproportionately underprivileged kids to die.

The rulers make speeches and calculate political gains...
The rich cut checks to the politicians and calculate the profit of their warmongering...
The hawkish conservatives clamor for war and will not be silenced till all the world flies a US flag...
The limousine liberals blog and pontificate and the finer points of why they're not personally responsible..


...and the one thing they all have in common is not giving a shit about the cost of their lunacy, because it will be someone else's poor kid who dies, not their own.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. K&R

[timeforpeace]

26. This has become Chicken Hawk Central™ of late.

[anonymous171]

2. Bring back the draft, no deferments except for economic hardship and family.

[leftofcool]

7. Ditto!

No defs for rich white kids, period!

[Thothmes]

18. or rich black kids.

[damntexdem]

9. No, let's not and say we did.

Better yet, let's not and say: "No way, fucker, no more draft!

[anonymous171]

11. Why not? If we are fighting to defend our country, every person should have to take part

Large volunteer militaries encourage imperialism and perpetual war. Ours must be abolished.

[BeHereNow]

28. Ah, but there's the rub. We are NOT fighting to defend our country.

WE are sending the poor and disenfranchised to defend
the interests of multi national corporate thugs.

They consider our troops to be disposable.
All for Empire.
Empire for all those who profit from it.
To hell with the rest of us.

BHN

[anonymous171]

29. That's what I am saying.

Instituting a full draft (no deferments except for economic hardship) would ensure an end to our wars of aggression. No one could hide.

[Cronus Protagonist]

12. +1

Imposing a draft would be shooting ourselves in the foot. Democratics would not regain power for decades, not to mention the high cost (in lives, limbs AND money) of sending even more people out on a bloody stupid failed mission. Sure, people would be against it, but who would they be against? That's right, you know who, the people who reinstated the draft, of course.

[phasma ex machina]

13. +1

[Thothmes]

17. You will also have to defer those men and women

in the service academies in the last two year of ROTC programs. Otherwise you will have no educated junior officers to lead the platoons, companies or divisions.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

3. We need to bring back the draft starting today

and we need a war tax. We all must pay for these wars. I know one thing if they brought back the draft, people would be in the streets losing their minds. Why worry about some war if someone else is going to fight it.

[yodoobo]

4. The people that write the law authorizing the draft

will also write in deferments and loopholes for their own.

They always have. They always will.

The draft didn't stop Korea or Vietnam. It just ensured their was plenty of cannon fodder for both wars.

[anonymous171]

5. You are forgetting cultural factors

Back in the Vietnam era, most of the soldiers volunteered because their parents (the greatest generation) had served honorably in WWII. And so they grew up hearing stories about fighting the nazis. They were taught from a young age that military service was a civic duty. And so when their country went to war in Vietnam they signed up to fight for her. It was only after the prolonged war in Vietnam had killed so many and achieved nothing that the American people lost that sense of duty. I will never forgive the elites for doing that to us.

Military service in and of itself is not bad. Wars sometimes need to be fought to defend our nation from attack. And when that happens, everyone should be required to take part in it (no student deferments.)

[Political Heretic]

6. "Everyone should be required to take part in it"

This is really the only check and balance there is on war mongering.

[damntexdem]

8. If you don't have a draft, then drink from a can.

Just don't get caught in a draught.

[Egnever]

10. So those signing up to fight these wars are all victems?

thats just bullshit on a massive scale.

[L0oniX]

14. No. They are fools! ...and because people join the military we have no money for SPHC...

and if you are for the wars then you are for our country going bankrupt.

Military men are just dumb stupid animals to be used as pawns in foreign policy. - Henry Kissinger

[Odin2005]

15. I support a draft.

[Mariana]

16. These assholes aren't even willing

to pay slightly higher taxes to pay for the damn war. They'd rather let the soldiers go withot basic equipment than pay an exta percentage point or two. Selfish, hypocritical bastards.

[Thickasabrick]

19. Reinstate the draft - cut all funding to war contractors - ban deferments

The wars would be over within a month.

[Political Heretic]

20. Right now, no check and balance exists on war mongering.

[harkadog]

21. Everyone who wants a draft should go sign up today

That should take care of the problem.

[Political Heretic]

22. What problem would it take care of, exactly?

[harkadog]

23. The people begging for a draft apparently think there is some sort of shortage

in the military. They can sign up and take care of it. I joined in 2000 so I did my part. No draft has ever stopped a war if that is the reason people are in favor of it. Name one war that it stopped. The U.S. has had drafts in all its wars up until the end of Vietnam. A draft is about the most inefficient military measure you can dream up. The military wants no part of it and I don't blame them.

[Political Heretic]

24. Um.. no. They people begging for a draft don't think there's a shortage at all.

If that's what you've gotten, you haven't been paying attention.

[harkadog]

25. Um ..yea. I've been paying attention

I see you can't read very well. I also addressed the other point which you neglected to comment on genius.

[kiva]

31. Given the number of private contractors in Iraq and

Afghanistan, it's a pretty reasonable statement to say that there IS a shortage of military personnel. And yes, a draft does have a chilling impact on wars, since the majority of Americans have to face the possibility of their sons/husbands/brothers/boyfriend might be drafted. Difference is that today we'd likely need to also use daughter/wife/sister/girlfriend.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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[Fire1]

32. Sorry, but they volunteered and yes they got played by bush.

No, I'm not going to volunteer. Even if I could. I didn't volunteer for vietnam and I wouldn't volunteer now. Hell, the amunition weighs more than I do. You want blood or revenge, bring back the draft. As long as I pay my taxes (in numerous states I might add)I can voice my opinion whether it be on a keyboard, a yard sign, bumper sticker or in the voting booth WITHOUT worrying in the slightest about someone "pounding the shit out of me."

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

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[Political Heretic]

35. Insinuations of physical violence to another post is unacceptable.

I don't care whether you are right or wrong with your point.

[ShortnFiery]

30. Nothing is stopping these "patriots" from joining one of the multitude of Private Contracting ...

Companies. Personnel from privatized contracting firms OUTNUMBER the MILITARY TROOPS. :wow:

Join now Chickenhawks! They'll take anyone out of a power chair. :evilgrin:

[Fire1]

33. Thanks but I have a career and trying my gosh darndest to get

the fuck outta this country.:puke: