I'm wondering what the party's feelings are on reinstituting the draft? I know my Dem friends are in disagreement with it but for the record this is one area I'm firmly for..Pls gang of 6, don't let that sway your judgement..

I read the article in today's sun Rep Howard Buck McKeon warned the House Armed Services committee that any cuts above the amt agreed to by the congress and pres sould result in reinstituting the draft..

I see so many advantges to doing this that it is unimaginable to me why we aren't doing it, providing we take the class deference and corruption that previously existed out of it..

1-forced service instills pride/self esteem/patriotism, and opens kids eyes to what the "real world " is all about..

2-exposes the underpriviledged to something other than the characters on the block,ie gangs/drug dealers

3- ends wars quickly as the rich would not support them, because their kids were on the line too

4-Teaches how to come together by better understanding those that are different than us...

I know there are negatives too,but to me the good far outweighs the bad..I know there is one conservative at least on here that went through the draft as did I..How do you feel about it?

.....does it always have to be partisan intended? "party's view"?
How about a straight forward, what do you think of the draft?

Answer: I am all for the draft being mandatory. Always have been as long as I can remember. The positives you list and many more far out weigh any negatives.

Unfortunately in this day and age and mix in America it is a wasted and mis-understood concept. Just watch the politicians do the dance if the subject ever even gets any more air time. Their dance would be to worry how to represent the subject that keeps their re-electability in tact....NOT what is good for America.

btk....no R or D required!!

Originally Posted by hrp01

I'm wondering what the party's feelings are on reinstituting the draft? I know my Dem friends are in disagreement with it but for the record this is one area I'm firmly for..Pls gang of 6, don't let that sway your judgement..

I read the article in today's sun Rep Howard Buck McKeon warned the House Armed Services committee that any cuts above the amt agreed to by the congress and pres sould result in reinstituting the draft..

I see so many advantges to doing this that it is unimaginable to me why we aren't doing it, providing we take the class deference and corruption that previously existed out of it..

1-forced service instills pride/self esteem/patriotism, and opens kids eyes to what the "real world " is all about..

2-exposes the underpriviledged to something other than the characters on the block,ie gangs/drug dealers

3- ends wars quickly as the rich would not support them, because their kids were on the line too

4-Teaches how to come together by better understanding those that are different than us...

I know there are negatives too,but to me the good far outweighs the bad..I know there is one conservative at least on here that went through the draft as did I..How do you feel about it?

I am very very much for the return of the draft. Besides those positives you listed, simply the forcing young people to experience the discipline would make our society better. There are those who oppose it for many good reasons, but most men I have spoken to on this subject obviously did not like it hanging over their head but once the experience was behind them, most of them agreed it was a positive thing in their life.

There is nothing about war including the draft that is good, but we need a military and, to me anyway, this is the only way to go. I have my doubts just because of the political climate but my vote is in.

Only question I would ask is since the draft disappeared women have become a much bigger part of the military and question becomes if they should also be considered for the draft.

Well, a draft would certainly make the public aware that we are fighting 3 wars simultaneously. One wonders if these wars would be so lengthy if the draft was reinstated 10 years ago.
Would students in college be protesting and the press show highlights every night on the television? I think the different demographics from a draft would be good. I think I read where the southern states supply more then their share of troops. I don't know if that is because of poverty or patriotism.
My answer would be that I think every citizen should serve this country in some sort of capacity.

If and when Americans have had the need to defend, we have historically done so. To be forced into military service to gain self esteem,pride, avoid gang involvement, etc, is not the job of the government. Our public schools have failed at attempts to do these things, which they were not charged to do in the first place. These are values that should be instilled into a person by their family. The job of the military is to defend our country by breaking things and killing enemies, not training up adult children. I would prefer that the defenders of our country are there because they choose to be there, not because it is mandatory.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3MiD_U4CHQ[/ame]

In schools today the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance is under fire and students now have an "opt out" to prevent the compulsory oration of this oath to God and Country.

Many more school districts than not, are no longer teaching a patriotic view of American History as we were taught in school to promote love of country as well as historical instruction.

I'm not sure what this all bodes for our future, but it's something else to think about in regards to the idea of reinstating compulsory military service in this country.

Originally Posted by RichieLion

In schools today the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance is under fire and students now have an "opt out" to prevent the compulsory oration of this oath to God and Country.

Many more school districts than not, are no longer teaching a patriotic view of American History as we were taught in school to promote love of country as well as historical instruction.

I'm not sure what this all bodes for our future, but it's something else to think about in regards to the idea of reinstating compulsory military service in this country.

Excellent points! One has to wonder who's interpretation of "patriotism" will be learned at the mandatory service? Heck, we few people on this forum can't even agree on that!

I like the idea of reinstating the draft. Although I wasn't drafted , it helped me make the decision of what I wanted to do with my life. I joined voluntarily and it it was a life changing experience. For a young man barely 20 years of age and had never been out of the state he was born in, it was very exciting and I did alot of growing up in those 4 years.

Originally Posted by villagegolfer

Well, a draft would certainly make the public aware that we are fighting 3 wars simultaneously. One wonders if these wars would be so lengthy if the draft was reinstated 10 years ago.
Would students in college be protesting and the press show highlights every night on the television? I think the different demographics from a draft would be good. I think I read where the southern states supply more then their share of troops. I don't know if that is because of poverty or patriotism.
My answer would be that I think every citizen should serve this country in some sort of capacity.

I served my country by protesting the war in Viet Nam....does that count?

I waver on this issue.

I see the benefits of the draft but I also see one huge drawback.

Our military was never in sorrier shape than when we had conscription. Take a fighting force and fill it with people who do NOT want to be in the service, never mind a war zone, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Our military quality on every measurable scale I've ever seen from morale to readiness is improved due to the fact that we have an all-volunteer service. Everyone who IS there, CHOSE to be there.

Those two sides are still having arguments in my head.

Originally Posted by djplong

I waver on this issue.

I see the benefits of the draft but I also see one huge drawback.

Our military was never in sorrier shape than when we had conscription. Take a fighting force and fill it with people who do NOT want to be in the service, never mind a war zone, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Our military quality on every measurable scale I've ever seen from morale to readiness is improved due to the fact that we have an all-volunteer service. Everyone who IS there, CHOSE to be there.

Those two sides are still having arguments in my head.

How did you base your assumptions? I was drafted into the Army and the morale was great. I went in years later when there was no war and morale was terrible. Once your into basic training, they know how to instill morale.
The war in VietNam had soldiers with the highest level of education then any other war in history.
I do not believe an all volunteer army gets the best qualified troops.

I feel we should reinstate the draft so that the pain of war is a shared experience.

My family doesn't need a draft....we have 3 serving right now.

Gunnery Sargent UMSC
Captain USA Reserve
Lieutenant US Navy

dp..first time I've disagreed with you..the soldiers that served in vietnam are some of the finest this country ever produced..they never lost a battle and if they had been left alone to do the job,without Johnson/Mcnamara sticking their noses into it they'd have won..the media's portrait of the war during Tet was the turning point..It weakened the country's resolve..The sad fact is we actually had the war won but were too stupid to recognize it..

The draft is a great thing and it makes you a better person..Like a previous poster said, the military has it's ways and patriotism is no problem...Our military today is far too overtaxed mentally and physically...Three to five deployments to a war zone has a way of really messing you up, if you actually survive..It is estimated that there are over 5000 vets, from all wars, suffering from ptsd and living in the woods in the tri-county area...Very sad indeed..

Originally Posted by hrp01

dp..first time I've disagreed with you..the soldiers that served in vietnam are some of the finest this country ever produced..they never lost a battle and if they had been left alone to do the job,without Johnson/Mcnamara sticking their noses into it they'd have won..the media's portrait of the war during Tet was the turning point..It weakened the country's resolve..The sad fact is we actually had the war won but were too stupid to recognize it..

The draft is a great thing and it makes you a better person..Like a previous poster said, the military has it's ways and patriotism is no problem...Our military today is far too overtaxed mentally and physically...Three to five deployments to a war zone has a way of really messing you up, if you actually survive..It is estimated that there are over 5000 vets, from all wars, suffering from ptsd and living in the woods in the tri-county area...Very sad indeed..

Wow, this is a milestone to be sure- I agree with hrp01. (you need a nickname)
We are overtaxing these troops big time. If the USA stays on this military course, we should involve all of our citizenry.

I like the nickname you gave me...Moonbat...kinda has a ring to it.