CITIZEN ALERT v1.108
A MILITARY DRAFT IN AMERICA?
Before everyone gets into a tizzy about Senior Democrat U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel calling for legislation to reinstate the draft this past weekend, take a look at it in its context. It is basically, as it was back in 2003 when he first introduced it, his version of an anti-war, get out of Iraq campaign.
Rangel said on Face the Nation this past weekend that "If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft."
Now, what does his legislation look like? It’s very simple, EVERYONE is eligible for the draft – no special treatment – and that includes the children of all the congressmen and women who are voting for these military conflicts. He’s basically putting them into a corner by saying, if you want to take over the world, then you have to have more troops, no way around it, and if you have to have more troops then you have to draft them, and if you have to draft them, then everyone is getting drafted. Your own kids will not be safe; the poor people of this country are not going to go fight your wars for you. If you want sacrifice, then start with your own.
This legislation will be shot down just as it was in 2003, showing the American people exactly what the upper crust in this country really think about serving their country in a time of war. To the hawks in Washington, sacrifice starts on the other side of the tracks. They start the war, you fight them, and they reap the benefits. Rangel is saying no more! If you start them, then your children will fight them too, knowing full well they won’t sign on for that, so it follows – you don’t get your war then.
Rangel said on Face the Nation this past weekend that "If we're going to challenge Iran and challenge North Korea and then, as some people have asked, to send more troops to Iraq, we can't do that without a draft."
Now, what does his legislation look like? It’s very simple, EVERYONE is eligible for the draft – no special treatment – and that includes the children of all the congressmen and women who are voting for these military conflicts. He’s basically putting them into a corner by saying, if you want to take over the world, then you have to have more troops, no way around it, and if you have to have more troops then you have to draft them, and if you have to draft them, then everyone is getting drafted. Your own kids will not be safe; the poor people of this country are not going to go fight your wars for you. If you want sacrifice, then start with your own.
This legislation will be shot down just as it was in 2003, showing the American people exactly what the upper crust in this country really think about serving their country in a time of war. To the hawks in Washington, sacrifice starts on the other side of the tracks. They start the war, you fight them, and they reap the benefits. Rangel is saying no more! If you start them, then your children will fight them too, knowing full well they won’t sign on for that, so it follows – you don’t get your war then.
posted by Bobot Adrenaline at 12:10 AM
1 Comments:
I agree that it's extremely unlikely this would pass. Pelosi has already pretty much shot it down.
I'm sure it would make legislators think twice about getting into wars, but it would be political suicide for them if it actually went into effect. I see no way politicians (especially those with wealthy Republican donors with children), sacrifice their careers to do the noble thing.
I'd also be scared of what Rangel said in his interview:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061119/ap_on_go_co/military_draft
"[Rangel] said having a draft would not necessarily mean everyone called to duty would have to serve. Instead, "young people (would) commit themselves to a couple of years in service to this great republic, whether it's our seaports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals," with a promise of educational benefits at the end of service.
The way I see this statement, this draft won't necessarily mean that the children of Congressmen or wealthy families will end up in active combat or duty. I'd be shocked if someone with any influence wasn't able to get away with working in a school or hospital.
As with any unpopular war, it will be up to the people to get us out.
-Jason Pancake
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