Do I think a draft should be started? Nope. I really don't want unmotivated troops next time I go into the sandbox.

Now, I think there should be some form of community service. If they want to join the military, great. If they don't, give them something else to do for 2 or 3 years. Pay them a decent wage, and maybe throw some college assistance into the deal, too, since they are putting their own lives on hold for a few years.

I agree 100%. The majority of the posts to this thread are a good example of why. In my opinion, the youth of this country, not being subject to mandatory service, has carried the trait of self absorption typical of adolescence, into adult hood. This generation should be named the "me" generation. In their opinion, government plays the same role as parents do in relation to adult children these days. Namely, pay for my education. Provide me with free food and housing as long as you don't crimp my style with rules, after all I am an adult. If I have a medical emergency pay for it. If I happen to be in a situation that involves an unwanted pregnancy, pay for it to go away. If I happen to marry the wrong person, pay for my divorce and take care of my children while I go back to school. Subsidize the cost of my mistakes with gifts or loans that I have no intention of paying back. In other words, take care of me with no interference. The government has other people to fight wars, deliver mail, offer assistance in national emergencies, help the disadvantaged, take care of the elderly, mentor young adults, assist in foreign nations that are undergoing sickness or famine. A draft would give young adults a "trade" to fall back on that would contribute to a resurgence in skilled craftsmen in this country. It would also give a young person the opportunity to succeed or fail on their own merit. Granted there are dangers involved in serving in the military, but in my opinion they are necessary in order to turn a perpetual dependent child into a responsible adult and productive member of the world's population. Ok, rant over.....

Originally posted by jerico65

Originally posted by spines
You are SO right!

The best thing for me (and my generation) would be the opportunity to patriotically...get shot in the face.

Look on the bright side: You get to shoot others in the face, too!

Originally posted by spinesWhat kind of person wants to force me and my friends to die? And for what; so those that manage to live/avoid the draft can 'build some character'?

Well, you pay attention in training and you and your friends don't die. Kinda simple how that works.

Wow, the idiotic statement at the end there tells the whole story of who you are. That's pretty sad. I really hope I am way off base here but I don't think so.

Just pay attention in training. I can't stop laughing. What you are saying then is that all of the thousands of troops that have died in Iraq simply weren't paying attention? That the ambushes and such could have been avoided if they would have listened. That no one would be sniped out of their seat.

Man, I wonder sometimes what the thought process of a blind person would be like. I think you just enlightened me to that.

An employee group thinking the employer group and their children are THEIR OWN PERSONAL PROPERTY? My children will never serve the pockets of the Rosthchild or Rockefeller war machines, thank you very much. And they not your own personal property to discuss in this thread either, as well. They are sovereigns, and the only war everyone may have to fight is the revolution needed to take back their power from the nazi bloodlines who think they are entitled to run things and need to be brought to justice in international courts for war crimes. I would perform a citizens arrest on anyone who comes near my children.

Originally posted by Slothrop


ever since vietnam, which was a necessary if unpopular war

Vietnam was only necessary for the CIA to import heroin into the USA from the Golden Triangle in the body bags of their victims shipped home. It was also necessary for the Military contractors to make huge sums of money. There was NOTHING gained by the United States to justify the involvement there. Dominoes anyone?

Originally posted by jerico65

Originally posted by dariousg
Wow, the idiotic statement at the end there tells the whole story of who you are. That's pretty sad. I really hope I am way off base here but I don't think so.

Just pay attention in training. I can't stop laughing. What you are saying then is that all of the thousands of troops that have died in Iraq simply weren't paying attention? That the ambushes and such could have been avoided if they would have listened. That no one would be sniped out of their seat.

Man, I wonder sometimes what the thought process of a blind person would be like. I think you just enlightened me to that.

Yep, I don't know what I'm talking about. Obviously, since you aren't in the military, I'll write this out in easy to read words, since I can't use my crayons for you.

Training can keep you from getting killed. Of course, that's not 100% foolproof, as anyone would know. (Opps, you didn't!).

And yes, sometimes, simply paying attention to your surroundings can keep you alive. Guys sometimes don't do that, and they get killed (Like the rocket scientists that want to wear iPods while doing convoy duties).

So, feel free to unf**k your statement any time you want. You are a no-go at this station, anyway.

I'm not in the military because I served my time. Got out. Back during the first Bush war. Just so you know. Also, I'm sure you have already seen it, I retracted a bit of what I said here because I saw that you were simply prodding that person who made the initial statment.

Because of my training I ALWAYS pay attention to my surroundings. I also pass this on to my son and daughters who I will NOT force into service if they don't want to. It's up to the parents to make sure their kids don't end up playing video games all day. You know, I moved away from an area that had a majority of kids like this. I now live in a community where it is the norm for parents to guide their children and to be the proper mentors that they should be.

Back to the topic, can you answer the question on the funding part that I posed. That seems to be the part that supporters of a draft or civil service don't want to answer.

Originally posted by Slothrop
i see and hear a lot of paranoia these days about the government instituting another draft. in my mind, a draft would be about the best thing for the current generation of american kids.

ever since vietnam, which was a necessary if unpopular war, american democracy has been debased until it has become no more than a tyranny of the masses. the government is now expected to bow down to popular cowardices and feelings of entitlement. we have welfare and food stamps, but no compulsory service to one's country.

an entire generation of americans is involved in their country in theory only, playing world of warcraft or writing blogs from the safety of basement rooms while the world grows more dangerous day by day.

these people should be made to realize that, in being a patriot and a citizen, something is always at stake. a draft may be the only way.

This is one of the most evil posts I have ever seen on this site.

You want to strip me of my good human qualities, turn me into a murderous machine, and advocate my death by sending me into a war zone?

You think America's youth need to be taught a lesson by sending them to their DEATHS?

Because you think Blogs are stupid?

A soldier is nothing but a paid murderer. I will never raise arms against someone I have never met just because a concept like "the government" tells me that violence and murder is ok when I do it in their name.

You know, I really don't think that what we need is to drain all our young men and women of their compassion and turn them into monsters and set them free on the rest of the world.

Somehow that seems counter-productive to life and liberty.

Originally posted by mystiq
An employee group thinking the employer group and their children are THEIR OWN PERSONAL PROPERTY? My children will never serve the pockets of the Rosthchild or Rockefeller war machines, thank you very much. And they not your own personal property to discuss in this thread either, as well. They are sovereigns, and the only war everyone may have to fight is the revolution needed to take back their power from the nazi bloodlines who think they are entitled to run things and need to be brought to justice in international courts for war crimes. I would perform a citizens arrest on anyone who comes near my children.

Actually... Once your children reach 18 they can do whatever they want.. If they want to join the military they can, and legally you can't stop them. I haven't seen anyone talking about your children specifically, or saying that your children are their personal property so don't know what you are talking about there. And yes I did just make a comment, but it stands for everyone once they turn 18 not just yours. It counts for my children too. Once they are 18 I can't legally stop them from doing anything, nor can any other parent in this country.

And you can try to do a citizens arrest on anyone who comes near your children, but I have to wonder. Do you perform citizens arrests on the teachers who teach your kids things you don't agree with? Will you do the same with their employers, once they have jobs or if they already do, if they tell your children to clean the bathrooms or mop the floors or whatever it is you don't agree with them doing at work?

This is the reason we have so many kids in this country who think of no one but themselves. The "me" generation, as another poster called it, is the product of parents who shield their children too much. There is a difference between saving them from something that will cause immediate harm and preventing little Joey from being told his team lost the ballgame. There is a difference between saying "No you will not go to a party at your friends house with no parents when I know that Billy's older brother will be bringing alcohol." and treating kids like they will break if they have even the slightest twinge of being upset by something.

It irritates me when parents act like their child should be protected from the tiniest of things instead of letting them feel disappointment and helping them work through it. You can't protect them from everything, and as I said once they are 18 you have no control. And really, a citizens arrest for coming near your children?

Originally posted by RavagedSky
A soldier is nothing but a paid murderer. I will never raise arms against someone I have never met just because a concept like "the government" tells me that violence and murder is ok when I do it in their name.

Really? What about the thousands of soldiers who have never even shot at someone let alone killed them? Are they paid murderers too? And you wouldn't shoot someone who was trying to kill you? Really? You wouldn't even attempt to save your own life? Have you any clue what restrictions our military is under? They cannot just shoot people, nor do they. If you actually spoke to someone who has been overseas you would know that they don't just shoot and kill everyone they see. They practically have to be shot before they can do anything to save their own lives.

[edit on 7-8-2008 by Jenna]

Originally posted by Slothrop
i see and hear a lot of paranoia these days about the government instituting another draft. in my mind, a draft would be about the best thing for the current generation of american kids.

ever since vietnam, which was a necessary if unpopular war, american democracy has been debased until it has become no more than a tyranny of the masses. the government is now expected to bow down to popular cowardices and feelings of entitlement. we have welfare and food stamps, but no compulsory service to one's country.

an entire generation of americans is involved in their country in theory only, playing world of warcraft or writing blogs from the safety of basement rooms while the world grows more dangerous day by day.

these people should be made to realize that, in being a patriot and a citizen, something is always at stake. a draft may be the only way.

Right out the communist manifesto!!

Thanks, but no thanks Mr. Karl Marx, you go ahead and go kill for your beloved state, and the few interests it serves.

I just love how the OP somehow disguises the ability to kill yourself with the notion of war. look its very simple war and all that comes with it is wrong. IF you cant see that then you have not evolved or really paid any attention to whats actually going on. Honestly I would love a draft cause that would be the tipping point for our society to revolt!