The Draft vs Voluntary Service.

[LeeTJ]

OK, i'm watching west wing and a black congressman says (and yes, for those that will ask, the fact that he is black IS relevant), He wants the draft reinstated so that there will be more middle to upper class people in the armed forces.

fine, but doesn't that raise a very serious issue?? the armed forces is a very good chance for the poor to get a college education. i have personally have seen the armed forces as the US's single biggest social program. i don't think it's racist to say and i don't think it is a bad thing for the government to do. BUT, if we reinstate the draft what happens to those that would have volunteered but their place was taken by middle class draftee?

 

[MacBaine]

The only reason to reinstate the draft would be a catastrophic decrease in the number of troops during wartime. Reinstating it to balance the classes is assinine, and won't happen.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: MacBaine
The only reason to reinstate the draft would be a catastrophic decrease in the number of troops during wartime. Reinstating it to balance the classes is assinine, and won't happen.

my point was, not only is it asnine, it would work against the very class this congressman (on west wing mind you not in real life) is purporting to protect.

 

[Dudd]

Not going to happen. It's been shown that a voluntary force has much higher morale and combat effectiveness than a group of draftees. Besides, this has been hashed over and over again, and very few if any people are in favor of it.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Dudd
Not going to happen. It's been shown that a voluntary force has much higher morale and combat effectiveness than a group of draftees. Besides, this has been hashed over and over again, and very few if any people are in favor of it.

again. i'm not trying to make any argument in favor of reinstating the draft.

again, my point is, THE VERY people that reinstating the draft is supposed to protect are the people that will be most hurt by it.

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: Dudd
Not going to happen. It's been shown that a voluntary force has much higher morale and combat effectiveness than a group of draftees. Besides, this has been hashed over and over again, and very few if any people are in favor of it.

again. i'm not trying to make any argument in favor of reinstating the draft.

again, my point is, THE VERY people that reinstating the draft is supposed to protect are the people that will be most hurt by it.

IT'S A TV SHOW, GET OVER IT!

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: Dudd
Not going to happen. It's been shown that a voluntary force has much higher morale and combat effectiveness than a group of draftees. Besides, this has been hashed over and over again, and very few if any people are in favor of it.

again. i'm not trying to make any argument in favor of reinstating the draft.

again, my point is, THE VERY people that reinstating the draft is supposed to protect are the people that will be most hurt by it.

IT'S A TV SHOW, GET OVER IT!

just because it's a tv show that doesnt mean that there aren't real people out there that believe it. sheesh. matter of fact, it's very likely that there are real people out there that think that way.

 

[SViscusi]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: LeeTJ

Originally posted by: Dudd
Not going to happen. It's been shown that a voluntary force has much higher morale and combat effectiveness than a group of draftees. Besides, this has been hashed over and over again, and very few if any people are in favor of it.

again. i'm not trying to make any argument in favor of reinstating the draft.

again, my point is, THE VERY people that reinstating the draft is supposed to protect are the people that will be most hurt by it.

IT'S A TV SHOW, GET OVER IT!

Charlie Rangel proposed this idea a few months ago, saying that Congressmen would be less likely to use troops if it were their sons and daughters going to war.