Then you'll lose any respect I might have for you. I have no time for cowards (or draft dodgers as you call them). ;)

Bob that is an attitude i'd have to disagree with completely. (Not that I live in the US but) Some of us have families, loved ones we care about. I'd rather not risk my life, and risk traumatising those that love me most. So that makes me a coward?

I am kinda sorta for the way Isreal does their military.. 2 years mandantory for anyone coming out of school.. Past that, there is no more call for military duty, and there has never been a need for a draft in Isreal.. Now I don't agree with everything Isreal does or doesn't do.. But since I don't live there, it's not my place to say.. But that seems to be the most fair option there is if it comes down to having to be forced into military service..

But since I have worked for the dept. of defense, and worked for those that supply the DoD with parts, munitions, aircraft, I would have to say I believe I have done my part as best I can to help sustain the war machine..

Which reminds me.. Pink Floyd comes to mind with all of this.. time to listen to The Wall and then Dark Side of the Moon.. Good stuff there..

Also, try not to let a thread about draft institution turn into a flame fest for whatever reason.. The fights have long since grown tiring around here.. Not saying this is a fight.. More along the lines of a debate that is getting close the edge of that mountain that has no beginning or ending..

For Boofo, it's understandable his opinions differ, given his age difference from the majority young here. Opinions are relative. Maybe he grew up in a location where there wasn't much opportunity, and being patriotic was best represented by going to war for your country.

Today is an era of technology and change, and there are more openings to success for young people than there were in the past. Going to war isn't the only way to be patriotic for your country. Building a family, and contributing to the economy also will help the country. It's harsh to think the government would ignore people's ambitions, dreams, or aspirations and send them off to war to be killed. The draft is a ridiculous concept in a true Democracy. If people don't want to go to war, the government shouldn't be going to war either. The Republican government is also being cowardice by slying this legislation behind peoples back, they should really confront it with the people more.

Not only is a family whose son or daughter (will they force women into war..?) killed in war suffer emotionally, but if that son or daughter was the family's prime chance of getting out of financial slump, then that family just lost its chance and will remain poor for the rest of their lives. For every good life lost in the draft, many others are lost.

This thread reminded me that I hav'nt signed up at sss.gov yet :rolleyes:

Hey if my name comes up, good chance finding me. Backwoods, canada, mexico, south america, its all good :cool:

Brad check out my post, come stay with me :cool:

Boofo I hate to pick on ya man but your post caught my attention. I don't know the hard facts but i'm willing to bet the US army is the largest in the world behind china. And in my honest opioion there is NO reason to have a draft in this day and age. We are not in any major conflict that our current reserves can't handle.

I don't know about you man but I love my for-fathers as much as anyone else, and im grateful to live in this country (altho some days I wish I was in a'dam). But im not going oversee's or anywhere else to fight any war I don't agree with.

Boofo:

I personally would not want to be drafted. I disagree with the reasons we've stated for the invasion of Iraq and I do not feel confident that the administration is handling the war in the best possible way. Its not the training of the 'weekend warriors' that has dragged the war in Iraq out but rather poor "post war" planning. US Generals have gone on record saying that disposing of Saddam would be the easy part but rebuilding a democratic Iraq would be a very difficult task -- something our leader and chief ignored or failed to plan for appropriately.

Does this make me unpatriotic? I don't think so... I firmly believe in the constition and the principles America was founded on - priciples that are being abused more and more by our own government with every passing day. This is America though and in America, you can't question Bush because in doing so your helping terrorism.

Response from Tom DeLay - house leader:

Do you think we didn't have loved ones back here that we cared about, too? But in order for us to maintain our quality of life here in the US. someone has to make the sacrifices. To insure my family doesn't have to suffer the pains of war, I will do my part as I have always done. Serve my country. And the only ones I was calling cowards are draft dodgers, if you will re-read the message you will see that. And, yes, Dean, if you were to dodge the draft, I would consider you to be a coward. Nothing personal to you, but I've been there and done my part and you or anyone else who takes for granted the freedoms they have are no better than I am and should do your part, too, for your family and loved ones if not for yourself. ;)

I would most deffinatly join the militray if needed, but due to some birth defects I can't. :(