Will Obama reinstate the draft?

[mikester]

I don't think that he was saying that he'd necessarily be in favor of a draft. I think what he was getting at was that an Obama administration would have taken a different approach to this war or any war. The current administration essentially told the public that, aside from the small percentage of Americans actually fighting, the rest of us should just go about business as usual. Bush actually told us to "go shopping". That's a pretty extraordinary thing to say, especially when people, at that time, were so moved by the terrible attacks on 9/11 that they were mobilized and unified, to do something if asked. During prior major wars our leaders asked the public to sacrifice as part of the war effort, in the form of rationing of strategic resources, buying war bonds, and so on.

So I think that Barack Obama was saying that his administration would be different. As far as your direct question, I think that based on his performance in running his campaign, he would rely on a carefully selected group of military experts to advise him on whether or not a draft was necessary. I think that at this time, the consensus among experts is that a draft is not necessary.

[Exigent]

8 years from now we'll being having parades on May Day. All of our 18-24 year olds marching in a uniform adorned with the Obama logo. They'll march past the messiah and salute with a closed fist. All hail Obama. Our savior.

God help us.

[Tracktimeplz]

Originally Posted by Exigent

8 years from now we'll being having parades on May Day. All of our 18-24 year olds marching in a uniform adorned with the Obama logo. They'll march past the messiah and salute with a closed fist. All hail Obama. Our savior.

God help us.

People like you are what this country has to fear.

[Exigent]

Originally Posted by Tracktimeplz

People like you are what this country has to fear.

They've already got small children singing songs of praise about the Fuhrer ... I mean Obama.

[Noen]

It's an interesting question though, if Rangel had gotten his way, is mandatory service (military or otherwise) a good idea and is it workable in our society. How many college age people would agree to some kind of mandatory service to their country?

I completely agree with this. There should be a mandatory 2 year civil commitment from every single person in this country after they graduate from high school, or turn 18.

It would provide so many benefits to individuals, to infrastructure, to community and nationalism. If either candidate proposed this, they would get my vote immediately. And hell, I would personally volunteer to go back and do my service even though I'm now past the draft age, just because I feel that strongly about it's merits.

[milehitom]

Originally Posted by Exigent

They've already got small children singing songs of praise about the Fuhrer ... I mean Obama.

And, just to make you more fearful...in Raleigh, NC, somebody whipped up a cool bat signal that projects this! This might keep you up nights, but only if it's shining in your window (or you read too much into what's essentially the largest bumper sticker/yard sign in North Carolina).

Tom

[mpsalm]

Originally Posted by Exigent

8 years from now we'll being having parades on May Day. All of our 18-24 year olds marching in a uniform adorned with the Obama logo. They'll march past the messiah and salute with a closed fist. All hail Obama. Our savior.

God help us.

There is no God. I thought people figured that out in the 1500's...

[TheAntiRiced]

Originally Posted by Noen

I completely agree with this. There should be a mandatory 2 year civil commitment from every single person in this country after they graduate from high school, or turn 18.

It would provide so many benefits to individuals, to infrastructure, to community and nationalism. If either candidate proposed this, they would get my vote immediately. And hell, I would personally volunteer to go back and do my service even though I'm now past the draft age, just because I feel that strongly about it's merits.

I think that mandatory service is a bit... unamerican. I think free people should always have a choice. I think the choice should be to commit to 2 years of civil duty in exchange for which you are granted the franchise and the right to participate in major social programs (social security, medicare, stimulus packages, etc). Or you can choose to pass on the option and forfeit any right to vote or receive government handouts.

[ryoung99]

Originally Posted by mikester

The current administration essentially told the public that, aside from the small percentage of Americans actually fighting, the rest of us should just go about business as usual. Bush actually told us to "go shopping". That's a pretty extraordinary thing to say, especially when people, at that time, were so moved by the terrible attacks on 9/11 that they were mobilized and unified, to do something if asked. During prior major wars our leaders asked the public to sacrifice as part of the war effort, in the form of rationing of strategic resources, buying war bonds, and so on.

The current administration did what the should have done at that time.... people were scared and the markets acted irrational (although not as bad as right now).

What the admin said was we (the government) will handle this (which they have) and the popluation should do their best to go about their lives with confidence. Don't change your way's be that same person you were yesterday do the same things, do not let this event change your outcome.

It was the right message.

For some reason I recall the current admin getting very high marks for their actions at the time both domestically and internationally. That changed with the Iraq war, but what you are quoting occured prior to the invason of Iraq.

As for the question, I do not think we are at risk of a draft.

Also, not only the poor serve in the military. Many middle class kids enlist as well. I do not know the percentages, but in some cases the military is a way for someone to pull themselves up. Everyone seems to think that being in the military is a punishment, it is not. It is an honor and priviledge.

[DragonRider1]

One general thought: If Congress decides to reinstitute the draft they should only be able to do so if they put their own kids at the head of the line to go.

[mikester]

Originally Posted by ryoung99

The current administration did what the should have done at that time.... people were scared and the markets acted irrational (although not as bad as right now).

What the admin said was we (the government) will handle this (which they have) and the popluation should do their best to go about their lives with confidence. Don't change your way's be that same person you were yesterday do the same things, do not let this event change your outcome.

It was the right message.

For some reason I recall the current admin getting very high marks for their actions at the time both domestically and internationally. That changed with the Iraq war, but what you are quoting occured prior to the invason of Iraq.

As for the question, I do not think we are at risk of a draft.

Also, not only the poor serve in the military. Many middle class kids enlist as well. I do not know the percentages, but in some cases the military is a way for someone to pull themselves up. Everyone seems to think that being in the military is a punishment, it is not. It is an honor and priviledge.

It was pre-Iraq, but during Afghanistan. Everyone was unified, and the press wasn't about to attack Bush. I think he really squandered a tremendous amount of good-will and trust. I disagree in the strongest terms that they've handled it. They (the Bush admin) haven't. They had Bin Laden cornered at Tora Bora, but they pulled resources out to go fight a war they didn't need to fight in Iraq. And they used lies to sell the case for war on Iraq to the American people.

[MattG]

Originally Posted by Exigent

They've already got small children singing songs of praise about the Fuhrer ... I mean Obama.

Read a history book about the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, then refresh your memory of the past eight years in the US. The parallels are greatly disturbing. Obama is not the one to fear...