Draft: Right or Wrong?

Cain

Air Force DEP
Nov 14, 2010
500
65
28
Tennessee
So, here is something I decided to address because I have had to deal with 'debating' it in a history class I had.

The Draft, and why I think it's right.

Volunteer military is a nice thing, especially since we have people joining left and right (although I claim that is due more to economic issues then patriotism sadly), but regardless, the military is able to pick & choose who it wants, and it does, but their are times when this is not so.

Many people have ran away, in fear of a draft. Some ran to Canada, some to Mexico, some to countries not even close to the US. Why? Fear of becoming a not so volunteer soldier. Well, I consider that wrong. I believe, if your willing to live in your nation, work for it, live off of it, and accept its laws and freedoms, then isn't that worth fighting for? I mean, what good is the US if we where willing to give up the freedoms and laws we have for fear of being attacked?

I support the draft because I believe it should be a duty to people to serve when times of war comes. I must admit, I think it is morally wrong that the draft at one time could be avoided by money*. I think everyone should be called equally, rich, poor, smart, not so smart, because in the end, we all reap off the same crop.

I also believe a change is necessary. I have always found it rather odd, women do not have to register for the draft. Now, in my personal opinion, I do not think women should be drafted for combat positions, but they can certainly be allowed to serve in positions that would allow others to take the spots in combat positions if a war was to come upon us. I do not understand the logic, except maybe the belief that womenfolk shouldn't be in the military, which is pretty out-dated considering their are a lot of women in the military today that serve honorably.

I cannot say exactly what I would have done had I been in WW2 or Vietnam when a draft came out and I was called. I can tell you, as who I am right now, I'd rather die for my country then have to live with the thought that I ran away from it, because someone else would have had to take my spot, and I might have been able to save their life, or save others that they could not.

Anyways, what is your opinion?

P.S. Also, does anyone ever keep their SS card? I just received mine in the mail about a month ago, and I still have the card, but the funny thing is, it says I already registered (I guess since I joined the Air Force DEP?) so I basically got a "You've Registered" ID Card, and it says keep it on you 24/7, which I guess makes sense if a Draft Officer suddenly grabbed me at Tractor Supply lol.

*Rich Man’s War, Poor Man’s Fight – The Draft and the Civil War | The Civil War
&
Hired Soldiers – Substitutes During the Civil War | The Civil War
 
The draft is an absolutely essential element to the defense of the nation. However, there have been times this country has done the wrong thing.
 
A TRULY universal draft makes good sense in a truly democratic republic.

Since we've never had either, I cannot in good conscience support indentured servitude
 
A TRULY universal draft makes good sense in a truly democratic republic.

Since we've never had either, I cannot in good conscience support indentured servitude

I think that was original intent. Citizens having the responsibility of defending the nation..not professional soldiers.
 
A TRULY universal draft makes good sense in a truly democratic republic.

Since we've never had either, I cannot in good conscience support indentured servitude

I think that was original intent. Citizens having the responsibility of defending the nation..not professional soldiers.


Probably, just like the original intent was to have citizens serving in Congress and not professional, career politicians.
 
As a person who was drafted into the Army to fight in Vietnam in April of 1970

You have a more professional army when it is volunteer and not conscripted.


The only upside to the Vietnam draft was that it made the American people aware of the governments misguided policies and demand an end to the war.

When they saw thousands of body bags being flown in on the nightly news.


If we had used the draft for the current conflict in Iran and Afghanistan.

The American public would have demanded we declare "Victory" several years ago and leave.
 
I think having a voluntary Military makes the force better, plus I think if a draft were put into place the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would end rather quickly because more people would have a stake in it, as it stands right now the only people directly affected by these wars are the Military members and their families.
 
Wrong. It is morally reprehensible to stick a weapon in the hand of someone who isn't prepared to take a life and tell them to go and use it in combat.

Furthermore, at no time during our history has the implementation of the draft been done in a fair way. The wealthy and connected get out of it and someone else has to go in their place.

If the cause is just enough, you won't need a draft.
 
As a person who was drafted into the Army to fight in Vietnam in April of 1970

You have a more professional army when it is volunteer and not conscripted.


The only upside to the Vietnam draft was that it made the American people aware of the governments misguided policies and demand an end to the war.

When they saw thousands of body bags being flown in on the nightly news.


If we had used the draft for the current conflict in Iran and Afghanistan.

The American public would have demanded we declare "Victory" several years ago and leave
.

Exactly what I said too.
 
I believe the draft, or conscription as it is known in the UK, can only be justified as essential during a time of serious miltary crisis, such as the threat of imminent invasion. And maintaining an effective military deterrent until such a time that the threat has passed.

It should not be used to accomodate the pursuit of foreign policy, like in America's war in Vietnam or the UK's participation in WWI and quashing other rebellions against the empire. Experience has taught us that is the job of a standing, volunteer force. And if those resources are exhausted to the point of a tactical withdrawl, without such action threatening the security of the homeland, being the only viable option, then that option should become the chosen route of exit.

I understand where you're coming from in respect of paying back something to the society that has protected, educated and given you cultural identity, and it's understandable that if your country is at risk of invasion, then you have an obligation to pitch in and repel the threat. But as I've said before, if the threat isn't imminent or can't be confronted by amassing conscripted personel, such as a nuclear strike, then other avenues should be explored before even thinking of preparing the country's young men for compulsary military service.
 
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Wrong. We have professionals defending our nation.... which is the right thing... not some ragbag bunch of crackheads and fools who would succeed only in getting themselves, and their brothers in arms, killed.
 
The draft is great.

ONLY

It needs to be fair. Just because you're rich, you shouldn't be allowed to get out of it, or serve in a "champagne" unit the way Bush did.

If you have objections to carrying weapons, fine, you could be a medic or mechanic.

Or, at the very least, there should be alternatives available. Take the Gulf Cleanup. Or the aftermath of Katrina.

But Republicans call this "socialism". Because of them, it will never happen. Investing in China is OK, but fixing up this country is "socialism" --------> bad.
 
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Volunteer army has been so much better than the armies before. And there has never been a time when the draft here was anything but disgraceful.

Volunteer means more committed, better disciplined, smarter, better trained.

The only problem with the all volunteer force is that it looks as if it is going to create a sort of aristocracy. A kid goes in for three years, his college is paid for, so he does that. He has the military on his resume, and employers see getting out of the military with an E4 or better as a huge positive. So anyone who has done a tour in the military and then done college is going to have the pick of the cream of occupations when he gets out.
 
Volunteer army has been so much better than the armies before.

Now aside from the American Revolutionary war, what serious war has an all volunteer American military ever fought AND WON?
And there has never been a time when the draft here was anything but disgraceful.

War is the disgrace. Inducted armies are merely a subset of that.


Volunteer means more committed, better disciplined, smarter, better trained.

Or mercanary, grapsing and easily turned into a menace to the society which spawns it.


The only problem with the all volunteer force is that it looks as if it is going to create a sort of aristocracy. A kid goes in for three years, his college is paid for, so he does that. He has the military on his resume, and employers see getting out of the military with an E4 or better as a huge positive. So anyone who has done a tour in the military and then done college is going to have the pick of the cream of occupations when he gets out.

Our military is already better paid than our civilians, so you have a point there.
 

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