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The Draft
generalzod
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United States
Member Since: December 01, 2001
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Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2002 - 05:25 AM UTC
Only in America can a draft dodger sleep in the White House,while a homeless war vet sleeps in a cardboard box
I would say I'm against the draft Lets face it ,even if there is a draft,you will have people dodging it by any means possible,then later becoming a politician and sending our troopps in harms way
My personal belief is,if you want to be a politician you haved to have served in the military I just don't see our politicians putting that into law
For the record I served in the Army reserves 2 years,the active A.F. for 10 yrs Got tired off the politics
Chad
210cav
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Virginia, United States
Member Since: February 05, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, June 15, 2002 - 08:13 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Only in America can a draft dodger sleep in the White House,while a homeless war vet sleeps in a cardboard box
I would say I'm against the draft Lets face it ,even if there is a draft,you will have people dodging it by any means possible,then later becoming a politician and sending our troopps in harms way
My personal belief is,if you want to be a politician you haved to have served in the military I just don't see our politicians putting that into law
For the record I served in the Army reserves 2 years,the active A.F. for 10 yrs Got tired off the politics
Chad

Chad--there is the marvelous line that goes something like "pick-up your weapons and stand your post or get out of the way." There are a lot of dedicated and brave folks in this land. They are willing to sacrifice and serve. There is just no political will desirerous of getting blasted by the media for telling the truth.
DJ
GeneralFailure
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European Union
Member Since: February 15, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, June 16, 2002 - 03:17 AM UTC

Draft has a few important political side-effect.
The introduction of draft is not digested well by most people. THey see it as an attempt to freedom, etc...
There is a political side-effect that applies to many countries though : drafted soldiers are a LOT cheaper than a professional army. (My "salary" as a soldier (20 years ago) was around 1,5 USD (yes, one and a half dollars) per DAY. That was in Belgium, not in a third world country. You can pay a whole platoon of drafted infantry soldiers for the price of three professional soldiers. Therefore, draft is popular with governments that are low on budget, and countries that feel a clear and present threat that may result in a military conflict.
Most European countries stopped drafting shortly after the Iron curtain went down.
210cav
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Sunday, June 16, 2002 - 11:58 PM UTC
Interesting observation and comment on the European model. However, in the United States military there is a universal pay scale. You receive the same pay regardless of service or component (National Guard, Reservist, Active Army). So, the cost factor will not be lessened by the initiation of a draft. In fact, my poor math tells me the cost of maintaing an Army with draftees would rise drastically. More 18-25 year old males are married then was the case in the 1960's when we had the draft in effect. Cost would a definite inhibitor.
DJ
Armour66
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Tennessee, United States
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Posted: Monday, June 17, 2002 - 12:39 AM UTC
Personally, I do not think that the draft would be necessary right now. At this point we have more than enough "volunteers" to do the job. And...even tough I am a 13 yr. USMC veteran, I do not believe that the draft is constitutional. But in regards to that, I believe that the American public would rise to the occasion if needed; there would need no need for a draft.

But then again that is my 2 pennies.

210cav
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Monday, June 17, 2002 - 08:08 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Personally, I do not think that the draft would be necessary right now. At this point we have more than enough "volunteers" to do the job. And...even tough I am a 13 yr. USMC veteran, I do not believe that the draft is constitutional. But in regards to that, I believe that the American public would rise to the occasion if needed; there would need no need for a draft.

But then again that is my 2 pennies.



The "constitutional" aspect of your response leads me to ask---"why?" I am no constitutional scholar, but I never heard a challenge to the draft based on the founding document of the Nation.
thanks
DJ
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