Sigh.
More asininity from the leadership of the Democratic party. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) wants to bring back the draft…because he thinks that minorities and the uneducated (both comprising a large percentage of Rep. Rangel’s constituency) are disproprotionately represented and being killed in the military.
Of course this is utter bunk, and holds no water whatsoever:
Hey…why let facts get in your way, Charlie. But if you are serious about bringing back the draft, I would 100% support you if — and ONLY if — we start by drafting every single member of Congress, pushing them through basic training and 11B training (Infantry), and then shoving them onto the first C-130 heading for Afghanistan.
Of course, we’d have to wave all standards of enlistment (age, physical ability, intelligence, rap sheets, patriotism, etc.) to accomodate he and his colleagues.
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MORE: Michelle Malkin has more info (and lots of examples) of how Democrats used the “Republicans want to bring back the draft” scare tactic to sway voters.
Gina Cobb calls Rep. Charlie’s plan exactly what it really is: Communism-lite: “Everyone in America should be forced by law to work for the government (or for someone approved by the government) for two years — either for no pay or for minimal pay.”
D.A. Ridgely at the Inactivist:
I have written elsewhere and continue to believe that American society would be well served by a return to a more robust notion of national service, including military service, as a moral, voluntary obligation. But it is in the nature of moral obligations that they must be satisfied, if at all, voluntarily.
I couldn’t agree more with the exact sentiment of that statement. I would love to see a return to a time where more men who could did serve. I would just hate to see it made mandatory.
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Gina Cobb calls Rep. Charlie’s plan exactly what it really is: Communism-lite: “Everyone in America should be forced by law to work for the government (or for someone approved by the government) for two years — either for no pay or for minimal pay.â€
Wow, that’s rich. Of course we have had a draft many times in our history and it was rarely conservatives who opposed it.
Look, very few Democrats support the draft. As you note the volunteer does fairly well in getting a mix of incomes and races but it does not impress on all Americans the shared responsibility of protecting our country. In this respect I think Rangel is right- support for the invasion of Iraq has dropped from about 80% to about 40%. I question whether those 40% who changed their minds would have supported this war if they knew that their own relatives and friends would be on the line. I don’t think that is an unreasonable standard for evaluating the justness of an invasion.
I’m conflicted about Rangel’s proposal. I see things like San Francisco kicking out all the ROTC programs from schools and I think to myself, bring back the draft. Get their pansy asses in army greens. No college deferrment. Everyone serves, if conscientious objectors, then they can rebuild New Orleans/community service.
And, this war on terror isn’t going to end any time soon. I think we need more boots on the ground during war, and in my opinion, this is war.
Then, I think about women. I’m still not sure I agree with women being drafted. Somebody has to take care of the kids and we can’t force women to leave their kids, can we? Let’s face it, men don’t get pregnant.
And, I think of the quality of the current volunteer army which has far superior entrance requirements than any before it. That would surely deteriorate but then again I imagine it’s amazing what a good drill sergeant can do.
And, then again, it would probably cut down on the number of illegal immigrants in this country as they flee back across the border.
Israel does it. Even Norway does it. I nearly fell over when I read that Norway does, but it’s true, for men.
I dunno…there might be merit to Rangel’s proposal but of course he’s doing it for all the wrong reasons.
Rangel is out of his mind. The U.S. already has 2.7 million people in the armed forces. They don’t need any more, especially ones that don’t want to be there. What Rangel should concentrate on is getting the soldiers we do have out of harm’s way.
Isreal is a democracy and it has mandatory service.
I listened to Pelosi comment on Rangel’s draft proposal on television today and she put that idea pretty much to rest, even tho Rangel appeared on several other shows later in the day and didn’t back totally down, albeit his zeal was certainly curtailed.
I have to say I might begin to respect the mavericks in the democratIC party and it appears there may be quite a few.
Nancy is going to have her hands full.
Thanks Dianne.
This has been a pet issue of Rangel’s for some time. He went to Korea as a young soldier and I’m left to conclude that he found it to be a good experience…
Intellectually, I can accept the notion that Americans would go to war with a bit more seriousness if we had a draft. However, I think the price is too high- and what’s more, the generals don’t want it.
Rep. Rangel is right. Me? A Green with two sons of marching age. Maybe the Iraq war wouldn’t have happened. We, as citizens, must take responsibilty for our Nation’s conduct.
I’m a ‘Nam vet & seen the result of war.