Slavery Revisited: The Military Draft »
Posted by: populist 1 year ago205 Comments Report this Story
This idea is not new; periodically someone comes up with the idea that, with the U.S. fighting two wars, there is insufficient human cannon fodder to keep them going and prepare for Mr. Bush's next potential imperialistic misadventure. But, the draft is not now and never will be the answer, whether in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else.
Read Full Story at populistamerica.com
Join the Discussion 
+ Add Comment
Comments So Far: 205
-
MichaelRhodenteComment removed: User banned.29 Replies
-
MichaelRhodenteComment removed: User banned.
-
0%
Jaydee401 year ago
Simple reply for a simple comment, that was then, this is now and the country owns no man nor woman. Nobody has the right to tell anyone they have to fight.
Reply-
0%
DaneL1 year ago
"Nobody has the right to tell anyone they have to fight."
But you have the right to live with the freedom that others fight and die for? You're all for freedom as long as you don't have to pay a price for it. What a class act!
Reply-
-
-
0%
populist1 year ago
are you dumb enough to think I support democrats? Or, are you simply trying to reduce everything into a democrat vs republican debate?
Just to inform your little partisan-hack brain - It's my opinion that Democrats like Rangel are just a bunch of criminals too. They've got plenty of "antiwar" types fooled into thinking that a draft will end a war - when in reality, it allows the politicians to wage more of them when used "properly" More cannon-fodder.
Well, on one thing you're absolutely right - Democrats have been "floating" this for some time. But, it sure seems to be gaining traction all over lately.
"you on the left" what a joke.
Reply-
0%
slate1 year ago
errrrrr first of all calling me names won't bother me Pop,,, I've been name called by much more talented than you and all it does is give me more resolve so ya may want to lay off doing something that's a waste of time and just comment?
Secondly,,,,, I agree 'you on the left' what a joke
Reply -
0%
alakazam1 year ago
Pop, I have to tell you I see it at best as indentured servitude and at worst little better than press ganging.
The was an incident in New York once where it was sign up or buy your way out of the draft.
The buy your way out part is what was shameful.
The birth of the Chickenhawks.
If the day comes, all good men will come to the aid of their country. I truly believe that.
I volunteered once. To defend Liberty in a just war I would volunteer again.
Spilling the blood of unwilling Americans to fatten the pocketbooks of already wealthy men is unconscionable.
If they declare open War by an Act of Congress and the nation went under a War Industries Act. Nationalize everything.
Mandatory service in some facet of the war effort. In total war one would be involved out of necessity.
We had to do it in WWII. We somehow fought against fascism then and remained ourselves.
I do not think we need to become like the enemies we fought before to defeat the ones we have now.
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
-
0%
white-pawn1 year ago
Hero? What a moronic thing to say. Nice comeback. You are such a fool you do not even realize that if freedom comes with a price it is not free. Get it? You can't possibly be this stupid and still be able to turn on your computer. But then again, you militant knuckle-heads believe up is down. That would explain why you choose to march our soldiers into a quagmire for the profit of people who would not give you the time of day. They won't even give the troops proper armor or training or even medical benefits when they come home wounded.
It's people like you that are ruining this once great nation. But I expect little else from chicken-hawks like you. What is it you are fighting for while safely stowed away behind your monitor?
Reply
-
-
-
0%
Jaydee401 year ago
No body has ever fought for my freedom, if it is ever threatened I will fight for it but as it stands I live in a civilized country that knows wars and violence cause more trouble than they solve.
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
-
0%
Searchbeam1 year ago
populist,
I have a very strong suspicion that there are a lot of paid "sock puppets" stalking here, on the payroll of some really nasty political operatives like Karl Rove.
That is why when I see a certain pattern or modus operandi in their comments, I recognize them for what they are, and block them!
Believe me, it becomes a lot more civilized and meaningful discussion after that!
Peace and Blessings!
Reply-
-
0%
earthlingerer1 year ago
Yeah, when you hear the tired same okd thing they write... but sometimes it's nice to actually LOOK at what they are parroting and spouting, and then find the facts, which NEVER back up their agument, unless it's backed up a wall...
Then they name call, lie more, and dress themselves up in the flag (when they're not wiping their butts with it), and pull up old cop-outs to the argument.
It's best to reply to them, and let them show what they really think... that's why more of America turns a little "left," "Lib," and willing to try ANY OTHER ALTERNATIVE than what they have at the present.
Reply
-
-
0%
NoSpinDave1 year ago
lol, now that comical! I have been accused of a lot of things, but a paid employee of Karl Rove?!?!
Typical liberal though, just block anyone who you dont agree with, that way you can be left with your little liberal candy land where everyone engages in group think.
Pathetic.
Reply
-
-
-
-
0%
researchanalyst1 year ago
OK, so we have a jarhead wanting to have the draft. I don't think he has enough brains to figure out the Marines traditionally, never take draftees. OK, there is one exception: WWII.
Other than that, the Corps is an all volunteer force.
Yeah, war sucks. Yeah, young men die. And suffer terrible wounds. And we don't want to know about it.
I think more telling is that most of those in the military now are from areas that do not have jobs and are extremely rural. You think people in Irvine with a BSEE join up? Silicon Valley with a CS degree?
This war has gone on too long. Its ineptly led. The strategy is non existent. At least in WWII we FIRED generals who screwed up. Anybody fired after Abu Graib? How about the contractor crap with Halliburton?
The only one was Shinseki and he wanted more troops to go in.
We don't need a draft, we need an impeachment with a firing squad. Or a hanging, since that damn Yankee thinks he's a Texan. Fine, give him a necktie party.
Reply-
0%
IanFraigun1 year ago
You actually have hit on the key reason why some want to bring back the draft. Those with good jobs, good education, and especially lots of family money are not part of the all volunteer army.
If they were subject to going to Iraq because there was a draft maybe their rich parents and politicians would reconsider the viability and need for the current war.
Do you think this would go on if Bush's daughters were called up in the draft with no way out of Iraq. Kinda makes you think doesn't it.
Reply
-
0%
Natureboy1 year ago
The revolutionary war also relied heavily on conscripts. And why wouldn't it? Working people at the time were far more oppressed by upper-class Americans than they were by the British, and had little to gain by risking their lives to rebel against the British.
The POPULAR rebellions at the time, e.g., Shay's rebellion and the Whiskey Rebellion, were not against the British but against the American ruling class.
And as for slavery, the US government perpetuated it for nearly a century after independence from the British. Indeed, the strong central government provided by federalism worked to put down rebellions both by white Americans and African slaves. And the Civil War was arguably not so much about ending slavery as it was preserving federalism. After the Civil War, slavery by other means, e.g., sharecropping, continued.
Reply
-
-
0%
crespi1 year ago
Mister Rodent,
You seem upset...
You could send a dollar to a Christian Corporate Conservative website to show your support if you want to...
Would the term "IED fodder" make you feel any better?
Reply-
0%
populist1 year ago
I doubt he's upset. His "job" online, it appears, is to follow the articles I submit. Look at his comment history and it's the same thing over and over. He rarely even comments on articles posted by people other than myself.
For 33 straight days...until today, he hasn't commented or voted on anyone's submissions other than mine:
http://www.netscape.com/member/michaelrhodente/...
I have a stalker/secret admirer! I wonder if he has a crush on me or something.....Sad, though, I'm not really attracted to the skull and bones types.
Reply-
0%
crespi1 year ago
You have a little (hate-)friend.
I noticed they are like Mormons going out on mission assignments.
I wonder if they just decide to hound someone on their own or if they read some list of potential people the neocons want bothered and pick one...
I've been thinking about trying the whole hounding thing on drivelkey or aniokly just to see what happens...
Reply-
0%
populist1 year ago
{{I wonder if they just decide to hound someone on their own or if they read some list of potential people the neocons want bothered and pick one..}}
I'm sure there's some of both. The Pentagon has been running "operations" on the internet for some time - and there's still some die hard idiots that care about nothing other than supporting the administration. Pretty interesting either way!
I wouldn't waste time hounding. Bascially, that's the entire goal of people like the Rhodente - to draw people into wasting time talking about them or their idiotic comments, rather than spending time opposing the murdering US government.
Like they've succeeded in doing right here! Oh well, it's been fun this one time...
Reply-
MichaelRhodenteComment removed: User banned.23 Replies
-
0%
MajJohn1 year ago
Did you notice his posts have the fewest comments? That's because if they have a political theme (and most of them do), they're crap! Some of his other posts are OK and right on at times.
Reply-
0%
populist1 year ago
John - interesting point of view. I have a different opinion - that the articles with the most comments are those that are either: a) the most popular or b) the most divisive.
Neither should be a determining factor in whether or not the posts were "good" or not. That's all entirely opinion.
Looking at my own posts - I try to find articles I think are either good or on a topic that's important to discuss. And yeah - a little "crap" here and there is fun too..
But, enough about me and my posting...
Reply-
0%
Wizardcotx1 year ago
Populist.. I saw a lot of people like you in the Vietnam era, we called them COWARDS.. they expect others to defend their right to be total anuses.
maybe you should take a look at what the "draftee" armies of this country have been called to fight.. try England in the war of Independence, The Civil War to preserve the Union, World War I.. World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War. all called on the Draft to supply men for combat..
And people like you ran and hid and whined a lot.
A former Combat Sgt.
Reply-
0%
populist1 year ago
ok former tough guy. thanks
i don't want you, or anyone else to 'defend' me.
I don't want you or anyone else earning an income of my hard-earned paycheck.
I don't want you or anyone else murdering people in other countries in my name - or in the name of anything.
So go on with your tough self. Probably helps you sleep at night.
Reply-
-
-
0%
SonOfTheMask1 year ago
Having personal experience with police officers that have protected and saved lives, I can say that you are dead wrong.
Are you still happy to label our military men and women murderers? I see no effort to suggest otherwise on your part...perhaps that will come now with an effort to clarify what you "really meant".
Reply
-
-
0%
white-pawn1 year ago
I don't want anyone to kick in doors and torture civilians in secret prisons in order to protect me. I would rather have a Vice President who didn't order NORAD to stand down on Sept.11. That would have been much better protection.
Reply
-
-
-
0%
Searchbeam1 year ago
Wizardcotx,
And a lot of those "cowards" became President and Secretary of Defense and Vice President, too!
And a lot more of them are right now sending our soldiers to death in a botched war! Do you know who I am talking about?
You can find them hiding inside New American Century!
A volunteer army is exactly what it is. People volunteer to serve their country through the armed forces. And in my opinion, it is a much better force than people who are forced to become soldiers when they are not capable of doing it.
Reply -
0%
researchanalyst1 year ago
Barf. Vietnam initially was a popular war.
It wasn't until it was painfully obvious that we weren't winning, and that we were supporting a bankrupt regime that people didn't want to go.
By the early 70s, there were professional military who didn't want to go there.
It had lost its national security importance early on, if it ever had any past, say 1966. Even those fighting there by 1968 knew it was an unwinnable war. Nixon made it much worse by the secret bombings in Cambodia and screwing that country up.
If you have a just, popular war, you don't need a draft. People signed up in droves at the start of the Civil War. By 1863 they had Draft Riots in NYC. Oh yeah, another damn Republican president.
Talk to a Korean Vet. Find one who felt we needed to be there. Find one WWII vet in Korea who felt he got a warm fuzzy being there.
Reply-
0%
vulcan201 year ago
You are one sick puppy. AS they say " you talk the talk, but can you walk the walk".
I am a vietnam vet my son is a Gulf war vet. according to fsmily records every generation had men in uniform. ALL Voluntered.
I am sick of all the jerks who hide behind a fake name and make their comments.
R. Nelson
P.S. I would give my address but you people are the type that would come and fire bomb my house and run off in the middle of the night.
Reply-
-
0%
vulcan201 year ago
You I would compare to a leach or blood sucker. you live off
the blood of others. Pride, honor and duty runs in my family.
An original Idea for peace? You tell me what you would do in the case of germany under Hitler, japan and communists attempt to control the world.
All an anonamous system does is allow Pawns like spout diarrea.
Reply-
0%
white-pawn1 year ago
We said, mush-mouth. I'm not sure exactly what runs in your family aside from your nose. It certainly isn't intelligence. Do you know who backed Hitler and allowed him to come to power? Or who financed Lenin, Trotsky and Marx? If you had a clue you would see it is the same old families manipulating events behind the scene. You and your stupid family have been aiding and abetting fascist despots to line their pockets and bring them even greater wealth and power. And how has this helped you? You poor imbicillic fool.
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
0%
white-pawn1 year ago
Maybe Populist thinks it is wiser to fight for a good cause than to be a henchman for Darth Cheney. If you want to be a criminal thug, go to Iraq and kick in some doors, torture some innocent civilians and show the world how lawless we are.
There is no bravery in rousting civilians in the middle of the night with 18 of your heavilly armed buddies.
You are the coward, Sarge. As is anyone who thinks it's a great idea to put our troops in a position where they are not only indanger, but also force them into situations where they have no choice but to become brutal, criminal thugs.
If that is what you want to fight for, you are nothing but a traitor.
Reply
-
-
-
-
-
-
0%
white-pawn1 year ago
You really don't think our multi-billion dollar defence industry is not monitoring all of these blogs?
Man, where do you think your tax dollars are going? If they are pushing through illegal wire taps, don't you think they would take advantage of the fact that they can legally monitor this site?
Don't you think some of the think tanks in DC monitor this and several other blog sites?
If Stephen Colbert can do it, don't you think the Pentagon might be?
Reply
-
-
-
MichaelRhodenteComment removed: User banned.
-
-
-
0%
alakazam1 year ago
I tell ya what slate- When they start publishing the minutes of the Bilderberger Conferences I'll start to believe that all those people aren't up there playing games with peoples lives.
Maybe they are all there to drink beer and eat pretzels but I don't think so.
I mean really, does anyone really trust our political leaders to actually be working in our best interests?
Reply
-
-
-
-
0%
doppich1 year ago
It seems rather likely, Pop, that Mickey Rodent is one of many sockpuppets created by our angry Netscape Neocons - in this case, created to be your own personal stalker! You must have really hit a nerve sometime.
Reply
-
-
Submitted By:
populist
The essays we offer are unapologetically presented for you to read & analyze. Many are offered as a similar view to ours & others simply to invite ...
Also submitted:
- 1.0 - Antiwar Radio: Scott Horton Interviews Christopher Ketcham
- 1.0 - “Potential to See More” Attacks on Pakistan
- 1.0 - The Bloom Is Off the Housing Rose
- 1.0 - Judgment Is More Important Than Experience
Related Articles:
Why not submit a story?
Also Propping This Article
Groups Watching This
No groups are watching this story. Why not share it with your group?
