Reinstating The Draft

[Ruskin]

I entered the USAF in 67.  Looking back, I see it as a coming of age.  I didn't like it when I was in as everyone else.  We complained, but we did an honorable job.  Now I am a member of a great group- VETERANS.

I see the youth of today.  They seem to feel the US is obligated to them.  How do we instill pride in our citizens if they NEVER do anything for their country but take from the fruits of such a great nation?

[FWiedner]

In response to the following statement:

I see the youth of today. They seem to feel the US is obligated to them. How do we instill pride in our citizens if they NEVER do anything for their country but take from the fruits of such a great nation?

I will refer forum members to the following, better known, quote:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Anybody recognize this small, but significant, piece of prose?

This grand language, in effect, states that the intended purpose of the governmental body established by the ratification of the Constitution of the United States is to SERVE THE PEOPLE.  I don't see any mention of The People owing a damned thing to this newly created and artificial entity called the federal government.

Now, as contientious citizens of a grand nation we cannot help but realize that we, oursleves, have some small responsibility toward ensuring that these blessings of liberty are preserved for our posterity as well as for ourselves.

I agree that this is something that should be engrained in the moral fiber of our young people from their very earliest days, but I disagree that the government should have ANYTHING to do with instilling this particular brand of loyalty in it's citizens.

Government education in issues of loyalty and appreciation amounts to nothing more than political indoctrination.  This is a job for parents.

Lessons learned at home are the issues of truth and life.  Dad and Mom are the folks most qualified to teach a child the simple difference between what is right, and what is wrong.  If Dad and Mom are happy with the government, chances are good that government is doing it's job, and a young person's upbringing will reflect that high regard that a citizen should have for a civil servant who has done a good job.  If Dad and Mom are unhappy with government, then a child will most likely learn to view government and it's actions with a proper and deserved suspicion, as is due any civil servant whose actions are even slightly contrary to the best interests of The People.

In order to keep our nation free we must teach our children the value of that freedom, but the teaching MUST NOT be left to the machinations of government.

Voluntary service is a noble and puposeful venture that anyone who loves their country should provide without hesitation, but teaching our young citizens about the sweet fruits of freedom by permitting them to be involuntarily enslaved or indentured by the government is WRONG.

[bgjohn]

What do you do when not enough people "volunteer"? Reservists are filling the gap at this time & national guard.
JM

[Major]

Just some food for thought but reservists and national guard are all volunteers also.   So it looks to me like, for the moment at least, there are enough people volunteering.

[bgjohn]

BUT, the National guard should belong to the state not the Federal gov.
JM

[FWiedner]

What do you do when not enough people "volunteer"?

Gee, if not enough people volunteer, maybe it's just not worth fighting about.

Even then, does ANY government have the moral authority to enslave or indenture it's people to accomplish what is almost certainly some ambiguous political end that those people are not willing to volunteer to sacrifice themselves to achieve?

As far as this might apply to our own country, if (contrary to past behavior) there are not enough American People willing to volunteer for military service, I personally believe that in itself would be a rather obvious indication that the American People had lost faith or confidence in the government and whatever agenda it might be pushing, and were with-holding that support.
That being the case, I don't suppose that it would be too much of a stretch to believe that a lack of ideological support among conscripted troops would become evident on the battlefield, i.e., cowardice in the face of the enemy, officer fraggings, desertions, refusal to engage, overt incompetence in combat, contientious objection, large scale surrenders, failure to acheive retention goals, etc.