[Silver Bullet]

Should the government draft liberals into the military to achieve political diversity in the armed forces ?

Just curious what everyone thinks.

[WT]

We don't need a draft. The US military is too big as is.

[Alex45ACP]

Nobody should be drafted; forcing someone into battle at gunpoint is a human rights violation and goes against everything this country should stand for.

BTW, what's a "liberal"?

[wingman]

Nobody should be drafted; forcing someone into battle at gunpoint is a human rights violation and goes against everything this country should stand for.


Bull, everyone should be drafted for 2 years, we need it now more then ever.

[Old Dog]

Should the government draft liberals into the military to achieve political diversity in the armed forces ?

Uh, Silver Billet ... Hate to be the one to break this to you, but ... there already are folks of the liberal political persuasion in the military.

They just maintain a low profile ...

[Walt Rauch]

Nobody should be drafted; forcing someone into battle at gunpoint is a human rights violation and goes against everything this country should stand for.

BTW, what's a "liberal"?

The draft is merely the tool used to remind a citizen of his responsibility to his country.

[Silver Bullet]

Uh, Silver Billet ... Hate to be the one to break this to you, but ... there already are folks of the liberal political persuasion in the military.
I realize that. I was just kidding, which is why I labeled it with the winking smiley.

[oldudbob]

Absolutely, they could be used for mine detection and cannon fodder. Every able bodied person should be drafted and serve in the military. My father served in the Mercant Marines during WWII, my older brother served in the Navy between Korea and Vietnam, my younger brother did a tour of duty in Vietnam, I am a Vietnam Vet, my son is in Iraq, my son-in-law did a tour in Iraq and my oldest granddaughter is in HS NROTC. I hope all five of my grandchildren will serve in the military. Someone has to protect the rights of those on the left who don't feel that this country is worth defending. Heck I would go to Iraq, but they don't take old farts like me.

[Alex45ACP]

The draft is merely the tool used to remind a citizen of his responsibility to his country.

No one has a responsibility to their country except not to hurt or violate the rights of another citizen of their country.

Likewise my country and government has the responsibility not to violate my rights. And forcing me into battle at gunpoint would definitely be a violation of my rights.

[EmGeeGeorge]

I'm in the military and we have enough people, just poor infrastructure and inefficient usage of personnel...

NO DRAFT!

[Henry Bowman]

Wow. I wish we had some diversity of opinion on this board! ;)

[Kurt_M]

I'm in the military and we have enough people, just poor infrastructure and inefficient usage of personnel...

NO DRAFT!

I'll second that, especially the inefficient use of personnell part. We have too many officers for starters.

[Sindawe]

No one has a responsibility to their country except not to hurt or violate the rights of another citizen of their country.

Likewise my country and government has the responsibility not to violate my rights. And forcing me into battle at gunpoint would definitely be a violation of my rights+1 on that.

The ONLY form of conscription for military service I'll ever support is press-gangs for those who make the wars. Namely the politicians into the front lines. Let them be REAL leaders and lead from the sharp end of the spear.

[No_Brakes23]

Conscripts are for beating the Nazis back from your western border.

If our military isn't big enough to handle our business, maybe it is because we are gettin too big for our britches.

Perhaps letting Iraqi boys handle Iraqi problems after we take out the main threats would free up our NG to take care of disaster relief back home.

[roscoe]

Yes on the draft. My take of history is that countries with citizen-armies are healthier, stronger, and freer than those with professional armies.

[Fred Hampton]

By all means, draft radicals into the army for ideological diversity! = p

[Khey Locke]

A draft could be beneficial for the country. Doing so would open up jobs, and allow for a cycle in employees, as opposed to the job market being clogged by a surplus of the same people. However, the draft could be detrimental to society, as we could lose alot of potential people who would provide competition for the already standing companies. Which raises a question: are owners of big businesses and the like exempt from the draft? I've never heard a rich man being drafted.... hnn.....

[Walt Rauch]

No one has a responsibility to their country except not to hurt or violate the rights of another citizen of their country.

Likewise my country and government has the responsibility not to violate my rights. And forcing me into battle at gunpoint would definitely be a violation of my rights.


I read your post yesterday and to put it mildly I am stunned! Reflecting on it, I can see your position though. I'll support your position but on one condition, I ask that you repeatedly make your beliefs known to one and all so that no one mistakenly fights for you.

[Camp David]

Should the government draft liberals into the military to achieve political diversity in the armed forces ?

Absolutely! Iraq has lots of minefields and we need warm bodies to determine location of each! ;)

:p

[Omni04]

i think the army has a don't ask don't tell policy for being liberal :D

[Biker]

Waaaayyyy back when Led Zep was still trying to 'make it', I joined the Army with my Father's help, shortly after my seventeenth birthday. I was as liberal as could be, but that didn't preclude me from loving my country.

Biker

[Car Knocker]

And how would one define a liberal for this purpose? Is a liberal someone who didn't vote for GWB? Who opposes the death penalty? Who voted for GWB and is pro-abortion? Does opposition to the Patriot Act make one a liberal?

[dasmi]

If our military isn't big enough to handle our business, maybe it is because we are gettin too big for our britches.
+1

[spartacus2002]

The draft is merely the tool used to remind a citizen of his responsibility to his country.

Funny, as a free Republic, I always thought the country owed a responsibility to the citizen not to enslave them.

This "responsibility to the country" stuff cracks me up. Most people serve their country every day by obeying just laws, staying out of the fast lane on the freeway, paying their taxes, and holding the door open for little old ladies.

I spent over a decade in the military, and I sure as hell didn't do it so that old men with sick fantasies of world domination could send my sons to plant democracy in countries where people still crap in their drinking water.

If a true threat faced the continental US, such as invasion by a foreign power, you can be sure many folks who never served a day in the military would show up with deer rifles and a hard heart, ready to send the invaders to hell.

[dasmi]

If a true threat faced the continental US, such as invasion by a foreign power, you can be sure many folks who never served a day in the military would show up with deer rifles and a hard heart, ready to send the invaders to hell.
+1

[steveracer]

I'm active duty, and technically a "liberal". Feel better?
Gun-loving, pro death penalty, pro choice, pro direct elections (hence the term democrat), pro fair tax.
Now, tell me again why we need the draft?
For those of you who think it's a violation of your rights, I'm embarrassed to be fighting for you. For those of you who volunteered and served, I hope I can do you proud, whatever my politics may be.

[wingnutx]

Don't draft anybody!

I particularly don't want to share a fighting position with a liberal, though.

[Walt Rauch]

I'm active duty, and technically a "liberal". Feel better?
Gun-loving, pro death penalty, pro choice, pro direct elections (hence the term democrat), pro fair tax.
Now, tell me again why we need the draft?
For those of you who think it's a violation of your rights, I'm embarrassed to be fighting for you. For those of you who volunteered and served, I hope I can do you proud, whatever my politics may be.

So men will learn and be forced to admit, at least to themselves, what they are.(and by being where you are, you are already "doing me proud".(I suggest re examining how the direct election business plays out re the tyranny of a majority or perhaps stated "mob rule".

[Biker]

I'm active duty, and technically a "liberal". Feel better?
Gun-loving, pro death penalty, pro choice, pro direct elections (hence the term democrat), pro fair tax.
Now, tell me again why we need the draft?
For those of you who think it's a violation of your rights, I'm embarrassed to be fighting for you. For those of you who volunteered and served, I hope I can do you proud, whatever my politics may be.
Me? I was a liberal when I enlisted and I'm now a recovering Republican in search of a new Party. The way I got it figured, if you're out there putting your sh$t in the wind, you're backing up your beliefs. You're an American, you walk the walk, and that's good enough for me.
This old E-4 tips one to Ya...
Biker

[Fred Hampton]

And how would one define a liberal for this purpose? Is a liberal someone who didn't vote for GWB? Who opposes the death penalty? Who voted for GWB and is pro-abortion? Does opposition to the Patriot Act make one a liberal?

Wasn't it Groucho Marx who once said something like: "No need for me to have a definite position on something: i'm an american Democrat".

[MrTuffPaws]

For those of you who think it's a violation of your rights, I'm embarrassed to be fighting for you. For those of you who volunteered and served, I hope I can do you proud, whatever my politics may be.

The government serves the people, the people do not serve the government

And BTW you are not fighting for "us". You are fighting for the government’s wishes. I don't remember anyone one asking the American people to go into Iraq, and it took tremendous effort of the government to win support for the war at home before going in. I wish you luck in your service, but don't think that you are fighting for the country, because you aren't. You are fighting for the government.

[wingnutx]

I fight for the USA and for western civilization in general, the parts I like and the parts I don't.

[Old Dog]

but don't think that you are fighting for the country, because you aren't. You are fighting for the government.

Certainly, Mr Tuffpaws, you are entitled to that opinion, but having seen what I've seen, been where I've been, but most importantly, heard from a great many people out there (while I've been deployed), I absolutely feel that I have been fighting for my country.

For you to suggest otherwise ... well, I consider that an insult. I don't know of anyone I've served with who feels he/she is fighting for our government -- when any of those feelings are articulated, everyone I know expresses their belief that we are fighting for our country and to keep our citizens and our way of life safe. Sounds a little hokey, doesn't it? - but I guess you wouldn't know the feeling ...