" Right now" being the relevant term and is also a moot point, applying only to a specific current circumstance; in times of high unemployment yes, in other times no, and some skill sets are needed more than others. It's a matter of need, not what anybody 'wants'. Always hear that claim, never seen any real evidence for it, just wishful thinking. "As long as" unemployment is chronic and high. It's also far more expensive a cost than we had when the draft was in place. Going back to way it was before the Hippies did away with the draft, and troops could be paid less, and the lower pay offset by other bennies.
Sure, and you also ride around on a horse called 'Silver' and wear a mask ... Typical libertarian drivel. And, if you think you can't be forced to do anything, including fighting, many front line units had NCOs who were more than happy to assist you in overcoming your timidity.
Yes, because relying on higher pay and other bribes is a costly and ineffective tactic, especially when the need becomes high. As for enough to fill the ranks, we're automating much of the main weaponry, so it's become less and less of a problem to attract enough to fill many of the 'high end' jobs; merely offering citizenship to foreigners to serve will attract more than enough, and we can just deport most of the whiners who refuse to serve and replace them with those who will. A recruiting drive in east Asia, even just among English speakers, will provide far more than enough, and many already trained as far as basics are concerned. Don''t rely on 'hope' when you don't have to. Pretty much agree. that attitude is already too prevalent, and has been for several decades.
Awesome story about the super proud kid. I volunteered and served in the Army in the 70s. Since then, I couldn't even begin to tell you how many people I've met who have told me they didn't serve, but they wish they had. I'm glad I'll never have to feel like that.
My son served in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and I would never, ever, want him - or anyone else's son - serving along side people who had been forced in. We possess the best military in the world. Let's leave it to the volunteers who serve. Besides, to draft every able-bodied male at age 18 would be amazingly expensive, and we can't afford it.
We still have a fare share of folks saying they wish they would have served, and plenty who did serve and say they wish they would have just done the 20 years and retired with the pension. What is surprising to me is the sheer amount of people I've seen who walk around proud of the fact that they didn't serve. That kid I mentioned in that story was true, and he wasn't the only one I've met with that attitude, not by a long shot. A lot of these people walk around using the fact that they don't want to join the military as a badge of honor or something. I think a lot of these folks have the mentality that we are just too stupid to do anything else but join the military and they are proud of themselves for believing they are smarter than we are. I think it's a misguided notion that people are forced to join the military because they've run out of options or couldn't go to college or something. Like we're condemned to a life of military service because we're too dumb to do anything else. It's sad that so many people seem to think that.
Serving your country is a privilege,that should be exercised by all able bodied men...18-24 two years only,so they can be trained if we need military strength....All you naysayers are free because of the draft...you live here you owe all the others that went ahead of you....do youy like your nation?....if not, give it to the Chinese...
The reason they think that is (1) they don't know what the hell they're talking about, and (2) they don't want to know. People who make remarks like that are shallow, insecure people trying to make themselves feel better about themselves.
"Timidity" has nothing to do with it. I volunteered. I served in the military of my own free will including a tour in Iraq. It's about freedom. The government has no right to force me or anyone else to fight. - - - Updated - - - None of us are free "because of the draft" because the draft has never been necessary to defend America ever in its history.
First of all, Selective Service is not the Draft. It is simply the system used to enact a draft if there ever was one. And sometimes we have even used exclusively a draft and did not even allow people to enlist. I wonder how many in here are even aware of that little fact.
The kids will do fine if they have to. The last thing we need is a draft. IMHO, until the military asks for one, we shouldn't have one. I haven't heard the military wanting one. - - - Updated - - - Well, the military doesn't want one either...... - - - Updated - - - Evidence for that contention--that we didn't allow volunteers.
So? Some do, some don't. Many just fear a cut in bennies, and status, that a draft would make possible, mainly.
Wow, really? I present to you Executive Order 9279, issued by FDR on 5 December 1942. Specifically Paragraph 4: The complete text for your review: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=60973 Yes, indeed after 1942 you could not enlist in the US military, even if you wanted to. The most you could do was to sign with a recruiter to pick your branch of service and possibly your job, but then you had to wait at home for the draft board to call you up. There, is that sufficient evidence? Trust me, I do not just make crap up.
Now a bit of explanation on that Executive Order. And yes, there were reasons for it being issued. Notice it only included male enlisted. This was primarily because of the way that enlistees were coming in at the time. They tended to come in waves, people signing up and expecting to leave within days of processing. Most often after news of either a new victory or defeat hit the news, or at the usual times when students would graduate in the Spring. This caused a lot of strain on the boot camps, having the number they had to train rise and fall constantly. The EO helped to regulate how fast the flow came in, and allowed better planning on the training system. Exempt from this however were Officers (who were much fewer in numbers and had a greatly different training system), as well as females (same thing, the numbers in the various auxiliary corps were much lower). But yes, from 1942 until 1945 you could not "enlist". The most a recruiter could to was sign you up for a branch of service (Navy, Army, Marines, etc) and a general job classification if you met the requirements and there was a need. But after that, you returned home and waited for your number to come up through your local draft board. And the increase and reduction of new recruits was evened out because of this order into a steady flow.
Make Selective Service voluntary. There could still be enough incentives to make it attractive, and then, there is no argument about a draft being "slavery." If we need a draft the people in Selective Service signed up voluntarily. https://mikestreetstation.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/make-selective-service-selective/
Like so many, you are combining the two. The Selective Service is not the draft. The Selective Service is the system that is used to both determine the number of individuals who would be eligable if there was a draft, and how they would be called up. And the SS covers a great many other people who could be called up for Government Service, not just those for the military. Selective Service also includes my wife in it's registration, a 54 year old female. Why? Because she is a nurse. Part of the Selective Service is maintaining the Health Care Personnel Delivery System for the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, which falls under the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. This is a system that can draft any medical personnel for service either in or out of uniform (and it's commander does wear a uniform, the Surgeon General of the United States). I wonder how many of those that think the SS is slavery are even aware that their local doctor or nurse can be drafted at a moments notice.
I'm not sure why you think I don't recognize that selective service isn't the draft. It's the basis for the draft.
That is your personal opinion. And you are more than welcome to go to Canada if you think so. Oh, wait. They have a conscription system also.
I'll have you know that my family has a long history of military service, my son was in the Air Force, my cousin's kids are in right now, both male and female..I don't believe for a minute what you say about the young members of our nation..
A few years ago when the resurrection of the draft was discussed, by a small majority of people said they would approve of the draft if it is exclusively male. I understand now that you feel the draft should be for males. But consider this: while men are spending those years in the military (the majority would not likely enjoy their time though many would), young women would be going to college, earning degrees while having business or professional experience, and earning professional credentials. After those years they would have no difficulty getting high paid jobs or earning profitable livelihoods. What about those men who afterwards now have to go to college, work and get experience while all the good paying jobs go to women? Some would all be in their late 20s before they finally get the credentials to have good paying jobs. How does that benefit them in any way? Also bear in mind that an employer would be less inclined to hire a young man and go through the expense of training him if he knows the man will get drafted. The employer would likely hire a woman knowing she will not get drafted. In the past men did not have to compete with women to get decent jobs. Now they do. A military draft would make it impossible for many to get decent jobs, increase poverty and homelessness among them, and increase social welfare costs to meet their needs. Also, many men are fathers by the time they are 23 or 24. A draft would be highly disastrous and disruptive to them and their families. Draft? Sorry, not a good idea.
The draft is a horrible idea for the most basic rationale. Why would I want people in my squad, my platoon, who DON'T want to be there when I can have a 100% volunteer Army of soldiers who want to raise some hell with me!
