Bringing back the draft, the sequel
November 2, 2003 8:34 PM   Subscribe

My Metafilter post from last year about the possibility of reinstating the draft got a nice smackdown. Given the current situation in Iraq, as well as other interesting developments, have opinions changed?
posted by QuestionableSwami (16 comments total)

This post was deleted for the following reason: odd.



 
Related Salon article.
posted by cmonkey at 8:44 PM on November 2, 2003


have opinions changed?

on the draft, or on smacking you down?
posted by quonsar at 8:46 PM on November 2, 2003


Wow, it's like a self-llink only moreso.
posted by Space Coyote at 8:48 PM on November 2, 2003


Quonsar is just mad because he's in charge of the sending-QuestionableSwami-his-trophy project.

In other news, no.
posted by The God Complex at 8:56 PM on November 2, 2003


Just wait until martial law is declared.
posted by MrLint at 9:00 PM on November 2, 2003


has my writing improved since last year?
posted by eastlakestandard at 9:01 PM on November 2, 2003


In my opinion, no. The draft is designed for when our military is reduced to the point of needing high yield troops as fast as possible. Our current situation in Iraq does not require a draft. Yet.

Its not like we went into war with Iraq for any serious reason. Its like we forgot what we went there for in the first place. Remember when everyone thought dirty bombs were going to go off on the fourth of July, or that terrorists were going to set bombs off in shopping malls across the country on christmas?

Let's add to this post by talking about what we used to think was going to happen, to get it all out and see how silly it really was after all.
posted by Keyser Soze at 9:03 PM on November 2, 2003


I find the entire concept behind this post... questionable.

Selective Service registration isn't new and it's not surprising they're running help wanted ads. We here, in this little frozen burg up north, advertise for help at the dump on a regular basis. I may just apply for this, think about the kickback potential if they ever reinstate the draft (which this link does not even remotely indicate) -- and it certainly beats scrounging for copper at the dump.

Oh, and no. My feelings haven't changed at all.
posted by cedar at 9:07 PM on November 2, 2003


No, I still think you deserve a smackdown. The first organization you will have to convince of the need for a draft will be the US military itself.
posted by mischief at 9:09 PM on November 2, 2003


Remember when everyone thought dirty bombs were going to go off on the fourth of July, or that terrorists were going to set bombs off in shopping malls across the country on christmas?


Remember when I laughed at that and wondered why people hijacking planes with boxcutters could be used to justify such fears?

Also, Christmas is a notoriously slow shopping day, and thus the bomb-to-carnage ratio would be too low to justify the attacks. Unless they were targeting movie theaters for national Jews-go-to-the-movies day.
posted by The God Complex at 9:09 PM on November 2, 2003


What are these "interesting developments"?

The Selective Service System has authorized recruitment of volunteers for local draft boards since 1971. See 50 App. U.S.C.A. ยง 460.
posted by PrinceValium at 9:15 PM on November 2, 2003


1. Poor FPP - 'nuff said.
2. NO to the draft - it is literally slavery - and immoral - and unjustifiable. I honestly don't think that our nation will ever re-instate a draft - and hope that I am never proven wrong on this issue.
posted by davidmsc at 9:15 PM on November 2, 2003


has my writing improved since last year?

Actually, yes. It has.
posted by interrobang at 9:19 PM on November 2, 2003


And on the diplomacy front...
posted by The Michael The at 9:31 PM on November 2, 2003


An all volunteer military does not reflect the population of this country as a whole, for one. Those who serve are disproportionately poorer, non-white, more likely from rural backgrounds, more likely southerners, foreigners, recent immigrants, persons who can't find work where they live--the list goes on.

Also, an all volunteer force is dangerous in that there grows a widening gap between those "professionals" who begin to think they are an elite apart. Down that road lies a coup.

An all volunteer military is a corps of mercenaries. I think there should be some form of universal service. No one should get a free ride on the backs of the less fortunate.
posted by y2karl at 9:54 PM on November 2, 2003


No one should get a free ride on the backs of the less fortunate.

Especially the people in the whitehouse running the military.
posted by MrLint at 10:01 PM on November 2, 2003


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