Everytime I see an article that references the Draft I ask myself, "Why is it so bad to protect and defend the country where you live and raise your children"?

DRAFT, it even sounds dirty. Lets call it, "Serving Our Country".

As a 20 year veteran I am not sure if the draft will work. But I do believe that it can be structured to cater to our countrys defense/needs. For example, a draftee doesn't have to be on the front line. The Government has other needs. We need both blue and white colar workers. Lets broaden the range and offer some incentives and structure to our society. A license/degree when certain work/time in service/schooling is complete is not a bad start. When a young man or woman exit the military they have one of the above and job placement. We do not have to turn it into a post Vietnam situation. Try and think outside the box for a second. Lord knows that if we always stayed in our comfort zone we would still be riding around in our old mans 57' Chevy.

The draft is not perfect but it works in a lot of countries. I have been to many countries that have a mandatory draft. It seems to me that the men in that country form a bond. When they gather in circles they all have something in common. Loyalty to their country, A Duty to protect their way of life, A Responsibility to their family, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and some Peronal courage to stand up and do the right thing. What do we have? (You will probably not understand this question unless you have been in the Military or been a part of something very special)

Let me leave you with a couple of thoughts, the next time your $250,000 house, $50,000 car or your newly refurnished office gets broken into ask yourself this question. What if this criminal would have been a soldier instead of a thief?

I believe that it is a life altering event that one day we may just have to accept. The way we accept it will determine our success.

And by the way, most of the Officers in the Military do not always speak for the soldiers who run the military.

Thanks for reading.

Serving our country should not be done as SLAVES.

It should be done by choice. I would fight for FREEDOM and die for it if I had too but the Iraq war is NOT about freedom.. and I would FIGHT against ANYONE who tried to force me into it.

It is not bad to protect your country... but the draft during Vietnam had NOTHING to do with PROTECTING our country.

The Draft "works" in a lot of countries... elaborate... who does it work for.. their ruling class or the people? Are they all FREE countries?

Form a bond? So when the Nazi party drafted people into war was that a GOOD bond? My point is that if a government is just... if the people see that their nation is in danger.. the people will rise up to defend it and/or themselves.. but the people should NEVER be FORCED to fight.

Your question that you think non-military won't understand seems to contradict itself.. WHAT DO WE HAVE?

Is our military all selfless men and women? NO are there some there for that higher purpose ... sure.

Do you really believe that a draft would end theft?

NO DRAFT.... I WILL NOT SIT AND WATCH OUR GOVERNMENT FORCE KIDS TO GO KILL AND DIE IN WARS LIKE THE ONE WE HAVE IN IRAQ.

It's bad because fighting in another country for another countries problems is not fighting for our freedom. It's fighting for someone elses freedom. I will protect my country's land and no one elses.

No reason at all why it would be bad...if that was what we were actually doing.

Iraq was never a threat to us.

There's a few reasons but they're good ones, so bear with me...

1)Right now we have what is essentially a mercenary army. In other words, an army of paid volunteers. It's really easy to use a mercenary army to do all sorts of horrible things because they wanted to be int he army in the first place. When the army is composed of conscripts, i.e. citizens forced to be there, it's a lot harder to get them to do horrible things. It's a lot easier to empathize with some random villager or foreign citizen who is just going about their day when you are just some American citizen going about your day. The point here is that it's (hopefully) harder for people like Bush II to use a conscripted army to conduct military operations the citizenry doesn't support. Witness Vietnamn vs WWII as a prime example.

2)If there is a draft, because of the greater ties to to the citizenry, civilian demand for governmental accountability will be greater. As would, hopefully, civilian resistance to propaganda.

3)Since we need a military, and we need a strong, capable military, let's add to that list that responsible and ethical. A military that doesn't view soldier (or foreign civilian) lives as assets to be used and thrown away. Imagine if the US government viewed every single soldier's life as a sacred thing, to be used only when absolutely needed! What a different picture we'd have in the country right now, don't you think? Rumsfeld could never have executed his awful plans, and if he did he'd probably be in jail right now, along with Cheney and maybe even Bush.

4)People like Bush II would not be able to get away with draft dodging like he did if there was a draft right now.

5)A conscripted military would be, by it's nature, an opponent of the military industrial complex. A mercenary army is, by it's nature, a supporter of that same complex.

You know sir you have a lot of great ideas, and if we all (political leaders included) with honesty and integrety your ideas would work. Lets be honest really honest, if we had a draft do you really think the wealthy, priviledged would serve even if their number came up? Sadly I think you and I both know that wouldnt happen. Even now without the draft the wealthy and priviledged arent out there fighting. I saw what the draft did to my generation during Vietnam, I was a medic in the WAC and saw what war does to the human body and mind, and most of those I took care of were of middle class or below, typical of what the draft will get you. I cant tell you how very angry I am to see us in another" war without end" and that even the idea of a draft being mentioned.

bakum wrote the following post at 08/15/2007 8:47 PM: Right now we have what is essentially a mercenary army. In other words, an army of paid volunteers

So are you advocating that we quit paying the men and women in uniform? Are you asking that not only should they go and risk life and limb, but should do it for a hand shake and slap on the back? Or do you advocate that we pay them significantly less then those in the civilian society with equal experience and education?

Furthermore you wrote, "A military that doesn't view soldier (or foreign civilian) lives as assets to be used and thrown away"

This is utter absurd and ridiculous. It is a demonstration of an opinion based on a thorough ignorance of the military culture and institution. Only a silly fool or someone with a political axe to grind would even offer such an incredibly uninformed opinion.

Also, why should we excuse the American populace for their apathy toward the men and women who protect them? Why should we be content to allow them to demand accountability only when it is based on self preservation? Why do we as citizen allow our fellow citizen to forget the necessity of civic duty?

Hey, Jenny. Just wanted to say HI to a fellow former WAC. I was an RN for 13 years and now work for the VA Hospital System. thanks for your service.

GrannyB2

I want to apologize now if I do a little jumping around.

You have a few good points musicman. I am just asking that you think outside your comfort zone for a minute, not for the rest of your life.

My idea of serving your country. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SERVE ON THE FRONT LINE/IRAQ TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY. Be a politician, a military doctor, military nurse or a teacher/instructor. Maybe you do not have to do it in a uniform. Other options could be available, for example. Instead of Military service you could work in the medical field at a county run hospital or a teacher in a state run institution.

In my opinion, serving our country is probably the most selfless service act that a person can do, aside from the ultimate sacrifice. I have heard hundreds of older men talk about how they wished they had served or continued to serve their country when they were young, but I have never heard anyone over the age of 50 say that they are glad they never served in the military. Perhaps because they are in the minority?

A free country? Are they a Democracy? Obviously not, otherwise they would be on welfare and wanting their government to provide for them 24/7. I don't want every idea from other countries. Our country is based off of ideas that other countries had, some good and some bad. Most of the European countries require a military/government service for men.

As far as "The Bond" is concerned, you obviously have never had one, otherwise you would have never addressed it.

Non-Military won't understand- you don't understand. "We Americans" means Americans that have served. And Americans that have not served, there is a difference.

Thats crazy to believe that a stint in the military would end stealing. But believe it or not there are a lot people out there who do not know right from wrong. For a few years now the military has had mandatory ethics training to all soldiers and civilian employees. Why? Becasue it was a problem and it is a big problem in the US. Did you get a chance to check out that 20/20 show about people stealing IPODS in broad daylight? That was amazing. No its not going to stop it but atleast it will give them a hint of responsibility for their actions and the knowledge to know right from wrong.

Your last statement are very strong words. I recommend that you do not sit and watch, do somehting about it. The mentality that you currently have of an idea this big will require a life altering and thought altering change in the way we live. It will not happen over night and I doubt that it will ever happen at all.

In conclusion, ideas that formed this country did not come without sacrifice. Our forefathers thought outside their comfort zone and risked their lives in order to have what we have today. Lets try something new, well somewhat new and try it ourselves.

Nice talking with you, it was fun. Sorry about all the jumping around in answering some of your questions.