"The military of the United States is currently a volunteer military, although it has an operational Selective Service System as a contingency. On July 1, 1973, President Richard Nixon created the All-Volunteer Force as a result of the American public's dissatisfaction with the draft." Volunteer military - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Comes now "Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) likely will introduce his controversial legislation to reinstate the draft again this year, but he will wait until after the economic stimulus package is passed." http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/...009-01-14.html
My view: the draft is involuntary servitude and the US should stay clear of it.

I'm guessing President-Elect Obama has something else up his sleeve, and won't reinstitute the draft.

Rangel perennially introduces this nonsense. Perhaps he is anticipating recruitment shortfalls after DADT is abolished. But then again... more likely the incoming administration is planning on reducing the size and manpower of the military anyway.

On the surface it seems like if a Democrat introduces this type of legislation it's to create jobs for young people, to give them free skill training.

That's not such a bad idea, except for the cost.

I'm not even a Republican or a Conservative and I find this a bit fishy.

One way to reduce unemployment, put all of the unemployed in the military

President Obama, during the campaign, mentioned that young people would benefit from doing two years of (compulsory?) public service as in the military, the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, Habitat for Humanity, or some other approved program. Not only would our nation and other countries greatly benefit, but the young people would too. Grants for college or vocational training would be available upon completion of the two years of service.

One less obvious benefit would be that college/training would be delayed, allowing the young people to mature and to get their prioirities in order. Since not everyone is college material, these two years of service (plus possibly remedial education, learning another language well, experiencing another culture or U.S. region, etc.) would give young people an opportunity to figure out which would be a better fit for them, college or vocational training. I won't even mention the advantages resulting from the fact that marriage/living together would be delayed too.

(I hope President Obama asks me to be head of this program!)

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

One way to reduce unemployment, put all of the unemployed in the military

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I am assuming Fr_Chuck is being facetious!

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

President Obama, during the campaign, mentioned that young people would benefit from doing two years of (compulsory?) public service as in the military, the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, Habitat for Humanity, or some other approved program. Not only would our nation and other countries greatly benefit, but the young people would too. Grants for college or vocational training would be available upon completion of the two years of service.

One less obvious benefit would be that college/training would be delayed, allowing the young people to mature and to get their prioirities in order. Since not everyone is college material, these two years of service (plus possibly remedial education, learning another language well, experiencing another culture or U.S. region, etc.) would give young people an opportunity to figure out which would be a better fit for them, college or vocational training. I won't even mention the advantages resulting from the fact that marriage/living together would be delayed too.

(I hope President Obama asks me to be head of this program!)

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I agree that this is a good idea - but only because it gives the person SEVERAL options of public service. The military is not the only choice, you could join the PeaceCorp or AmeriCorps, etc. I think 2 years is a good amount of time to dedicate for public service benefits like these, and the fact that there are many options to choose from would satisfy most people instead of feeling like they are forced to only do one thing that they are against. I'm sure that almost anyone could find some kind of public service program to do that would not have to include military service.

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Originally Posted by xxariesxx

I'm sure that almost anyone could find some kind of public service program to do that would not have to include military service.

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And I'm guessing the military would be a popular choice, especially if we are not at war. The term of service for the military could be three or four years, simply because there are so many benefits available to vets, benefits that wouldn't apply to any other public service opportunity.

As a man in draftable age (28) I don't really want to go to war. Especially a war that's impossible to win.

Just wish everyone could get along. All these oil wars, holy wars, political wars, and all other BS, was this why people were put on the planet? To kill each other?

I try not to bother anyone, and nobody really bothers me. But there is the possibility that some day, I will be required to go fight, and put my life on the line for something that I don't totally understand.

No thank you..

I am sorry, to be somewhat less than impressed, some of the same ideas thrown out a few years ago, and everyone was up in arms over the draft, complaining about the idea of a tax credit for health care not just providing free health care.
Now the very close to the same ideas are being talked about it is loved.

With that said, I believe the some level of mandatory service would be great, including some extra programs for those wishing to drop out of high school, some required programs that they can not just quit.

Having to learn to work and committ to one job for two years is so foreign to many young people.

Well, I've been at my job or almost 4 years, so there is my record of commitment.

Andrew you spend way too much time here :)

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Originally Posted by codyman144

Andrew you spend way too much time here :)

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Another example of my ongoing commitment. :D

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Originally Posted by andrewc24301

Another example of my ongoing commitment. :D

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Very committed indeed... ;)

BTY did you see this...

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/introd...on-307454.html

On top of everything elese Obama wants, how much would these 2 year programs cost?
Just how much red ink can this country stand before we suffer the same fate as the late USSR?

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Originally Posted by galveston

On top of everything elese Obama wants, how much would these 2 year programs cost?
Just how much red ink can this country stand before we suffer the same fate as the late USSR??

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Maybe just maybe it wouldn't come out of your pocket. There are bigger pockets...

FDR's grandson recently told Obama to throw money at problems. His grandfather didn't spend enough to get the country mcving again.

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Originally Posted by galveston

On top of everything elese Obama wants, how much would these 2 year programs cost?
Just how much red ink can this country stand before we suffer the same fate as the late USSR??

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If things keep going at the rate they are, I'd say 5-15 years, and America will completley collapse. The foreighn nations will cash in their chips, and we will all wake up one morning in the United States of Communist China!

Don't matter how many guns you have either, they have more.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Maybe just maybe it wouldn't come out of your pocket. There are bigger pockets....

FDR's grandson recently told Obama to throw money at problems. His grandfather didn't spend enough to get the country mcving again.

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What makes FDR's grandson such an impeachable source of economic advice?

It all comes out of everyone's pocket, one way or another. The question is how big can the national debt get before there is not enough tax revenue to pay the INTEREST on it?

The whole world is in economic trouble right now, and unless this administration moves VERY carfefully, we will be caught up in a global collapse. That may prove to be inevetable regardless of what Obama does. He MIGHT improve our chances with the right choices, or he could help fly the USA right into the ground by following bad advice.

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Originally Posted by galveston

What makes FDR's grandson such an impeachable source of economic advice?

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His grampa done tole him that.

At least FDR had the good sense to cut his own salary before he extended the Depression a decade .

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Originally Posted by tomder55

at least FDR had the good sense to cut his own salary before he extended the Depression a decade .

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And Obama won't?

Oh I'm sure his policies will extend the current financial crisis .

Remains to be seen if he cuts salaries. I know the Dems in Congress won't . (they should take a dollar a year like they expect corporate execs.to do )

I am against the draft because I don't think anyone should be forced to go to war and get maimed or killed. Not everyone is suited for the military and having unwilling people there would cause major problems. There would also be people who simply refuse even if there is punishment. I believe there is zero chance that a draft will ever happen because it would be too unpopular and would be political death for anyone who voted for it.

Restarting the draft is a terrible idea for a number of reasons.

1) Conscript militaries tend to be less dedicated to the job, less willing to take risks and less willing to do more than the bare minimum needed to get by.

2) Draftees tend to be less capable of the military lifestyle than volunteers.

3) While not true in all cases, people who are capable but don't want to be drafted, tend to find exemptions, or else they run elsewhere. That means that the remaining draftees tend to be those less capable and with fewer means to get away from a draft. Which means we end up with a military full of people less capable than a volunteer military.

One of the main reasons we have the single most capable military in the world on a man-for-man and unit-per-unit basis is the fact that our soldiers are volunteers who WANT to be there, believe in the cause that they are there for, and are highly motivated and well-trained. Our officers corp is the most highly trained in the world, and our recruits and non-coms are the best-educated compared to their counterparts in other militaries. They are NOT an uneducated bunch of goons as many would have you believe. Getting that level of skill in the military requires a VOLUNTEER service, not a conscripted service.

What you may not know is that the Military came out with a statement last week that the economic downturn has allowed the military to become more selective about who it takes. Since more educated people are out of work, more of these educated people are joining the military as an alternative. This is allowing the military to choose the BEST candidates for military service and train them to a higher degree than ever before.

This means two things: 1) the military will become BETTER TRAINED because of the economic downturn, and 2) the military is meeting and exceeding its quotas with a higher level of candidates without having to resort to a draft to do it.

So not only is a draft BAD for the military, it is also unnecessary to keep the military going.

Elliot

We should never re institute bad policy.Unless there is world war 3,I say no way!
Anyone remember the 60's and 70's and Vietnam?
I don't think anyone wants a repeat of that horrible time in history.

Hello:

If we're going to fight wars, the rich kids should fight 'em too. Yes for a draft with NO deferments.

excon