the draft disgusts me not because it rips fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons from their homes. what disgusts me is the fact that a draft is needed why are people so quick to verbally slander enemies but when the time comes hide behind those of us brave enough to stand for our families and everyone else's families who inhabit this country I will be the first to admit that this country isn't perfect but its the best we've got and i will defend it until the end and hope that there are others by my side willing to do the same

The largest expansion in US history in Business was right after the Second World War. I believe this was a large part due to the fact that most Americans had a common background in the military due to the Draft during that war. Vietnam Vets today still stand together whether drafted or volunteer with a common background of military service. I am against the draft unless it is Universal without the ability to pay your way out of it by getting a college deferment. I would like to see a system similar to Switzerland or Israel where ALL able persons are required to be in the service after high school, plus additional years in the reserves. A large population under draft being either reserve or active does create major problems with a nations economy due to too many people out of the work force in key positions so the argument that a large standing army only encourages more wars is ludicrous. In addition if there is a universal draft that would also include the politicians who create wars children. Currently few Politicians Children are involved with war as that is a “poor mans job” and they have no direct involvement other than the occasional soap box complaining of other political parties.

"Forcing someone to work for the state; forcing someone to kill or be killed; forcing someone to do anything at the point of a gun – under threat of prison or even death - IS involuntary servitude. Of all the forms of slavery that have existed throughout history, forcing someone to fight and die in war is by far the most disgusting, and is a form of murder against all who don’t survive."

YOU ARE FULL OF SHIT. We have prisons full of people who are already killers. Use them!

Personally I am amazed that there are people still supporting the idea of a draft. I am of course against it, for several reasons:
1. if someone attacks America, and no one wants to defend it, couldn't you argue that America was dead anyways? If no one wants to defend it, then that means the idea of protecting freedom is dead. Besides it doesn't matter if it is necessary or not, it is still unethical, and I for one will not defend a country that enslaves it's people, and forces them to go to war. I don't want to believe that America wasn't founded on the idea of freedom, but the conservatives seem to basically keep saying that it wasn't.

this is rele helpin with my history paper

We live in a democracy. That's supposed to mean that we're ruled by the people, for the people. The government in Washington DC is supposed to be representing what the people want, not forcing us into things that we're against. If the war is supported by the people, then there will be enough volunteers that we will be able to fight the war without using the draft. If the war is unpopular and there is enough difficulty with military recruitment that they are considering resorting to conscription, then the war is obviously not supported by the people and we should be pulling the troops out, not trying to force people to serve.

I am against the war in Iraq, so I have not joined the military and I am not planning to. I am aware that, as a woman, the draft would not apply to me. However, if the government were to tell me that I was required to fight in the war, I would feel that my rights had been infringed upon.

the only time the draft should be instituted is in a time of great need. i would die for this country in a heart beat no problem but forcing me to fight for no reason? thats involuntary servitude. the united states has one of the largest militarys in the world and the strongest and all by volunteers! think about that.

The draft is a thing to try to get people to love their country. If you're willing to live here should you be willing to die for it? What if you had to serve or be booted out of the country? Think about how mucch better this coutnry would be if everybody could see how great this country is and stolp complaining. I'd be on the front lines if I were you!

i think the drafts are just stupid. What if a person who is drafted has a family and they never come back?

i think drafting is cruel

NO ONE IS FIGHTING IN IRAQ FOR OUR FREEDOM, IDIOTS!

My famiy goes all the way back to the Revolutionary War, here in America. My greatgrandfather fought in WWII got kicked out, and then was sent to an asylum because of all the stuff that he saw and experienced. He died in that asylum from TB. Before he went to the asylum, he had 12 kids and a wife. They had trouble trying to survive, because he was gone. My grandfather fought in Korea. He was a pilot. He never talks about the military, ever. My uncle was in Vietnam. Most of his friends died there. Every time someone mentions Nam, he freaks out. He's still trying to relive those moments in Nam. My father also was in the military during Vietnam. He was an explosives technician. He almost died several times, and he wasn't even in Vietnam. He lived in Germany for a long time. My sister was born in Germany. My Cousins father also was in Germany for the military, and my cousin was born there. But because my father was always gone, my family got torn apart from it. My cousin's family did the same. It was horrible. I support soldiers, but I do not support the military. I never will.........

I don't think that a person should have to fight for a country that they do not claim to be their own... especially when they do not have the financial support to move out of that country. Every human has their individual rights. A government should not push their people to fight. If they do not want to fight, then they shouldn't have to. I come from a military family, and just because they want to fight for our country, does not mean that I should and will do the same!
I respect a person's beliefs (whatever they may be), so I would hope that those people would do the same for me. I support each and every individual soldier, because they are doing what they think is right. So, they should support me and what I do, because it's what I think is right. There should not be a draft. It would go against people, and what they believe... And that is not good, because the people are what make up the country and government.

Nobody? Hm? I win!

Someone try and argue with my logic

The Draft is moral during wartime and you all are stupid

For one thing ERNEST...if you love the military so much. join it.
And its people like you who think forcing people into the military isn't completely against everything the constitution stands for. Did you forget about the line that said there will be no "involuntary servitude" in this country..But if you are willing to give up everybody's constitutional rights.. then well you are an IDIOT!

Ditto, Garry.

Thank you Lloyd for your service to our country,and thank you all millitary personnel serving our great country. I agree that the only time there should be a draft is to defend our country,not for fighting a war in a country that was not a threat to us,did not have WMDs,and will be fighting in that region forever just like they have forever ( of course no Binladin either) just so bushwacker and chaney can make a cazillion dollers . The reason we are in iraq is for " THE OIL " plain and simple,the people in countrys like iraq do not want other countrys to dictate what kind of govenment they should have, would we like it if other countrys told us that there way is better and we should do it there wayand try to fore it on us ??? i think not..........

I actually read each and every comment in the above e-mails. I would like to challenge anyone who reads my comments to take a visist to your local Veteran's Cemetary, and then voice their comments one more time. I believe it would stick in their throats, and maybe see something others dedicated to the United States, but never got a parade!!!

Ditto, Joe.

Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, instituted conscription in the civil war as a desperation measure to try and keep this country together. It could be argued that that was a pretty good reason for a draft, if only as an expedient (if illegal) measure.

To equate that time with now is ludicrous. What country is this war trying to hold together? Iraq. Who is today's Great Emancipator? Bush???

The only thing he should be emancipated from is his freedom, for his murderous, barbaric behavior. It will take us a good century to overcome the hatred he has incurred towards this country, and conscripting more soldiers won't ameliorate that.

Don't need a draft, or very many enlistees for our stay at home Nation Guard to Guard our Nation. We haven't won one since 1945. We ended that mess with the "EASY BUTTON". Right after 9-11 the boys in the White House knew where the rat Bin Ladden was, and it wasn't Iraq. We had the worlds support for at least a week. No B_ _ _s "W" could have saved a lot of young American's lives, with the "EASY BUTTON".
"Just a small one" to get attention!!!!

I looked through some of this garbage, and felt sick... If you are not willing to fight and serve in the military what are you going to do when the muslums take over??? Take a look at the other countries of the world and decide if you wish to live like that....\
What do you think this country would be like without the military.. Draft, You dand well better believe we need it.....Or has the younger generations gotten so lazy, yes lasy, and spoiled rotten that they are nothing but a bunch of sorry cowards??
I really do wish we had a law that would force every high school graduating class to go into the military for at least a period of two years.... They would grow up some, and get some training, as well as perhaps learn a trade... The only people I hear griping about the draft or the military are the ones too sorry to be in it....Stay that way and you will regret it....I am thankful for the military and say we need the draft back, badly...

The military Draft is a superimposed tactic developed during the Second World War. Protest against entering the war was considered unpatriotic.{Then} The draft was an effective weapon used against the enemies of the US then ,but now it has lost its true meaning of building up the armed forces because the military has become a breeding ground for crime and criminals who accept military service as an option in place of jail or prison. Army Recruiters are so desperate to fill the ranks and keep up the numbers that they are compromising military standards in order to meet their goals. The result is an army with people more interested in continuing their criminal activity than adhearing to the strict standards of military life.More depressing is the lost opportunities young people in the middle class have to surrender because of the less than qualified underclasses having the advantage over them.And if we have a military with a majority of underlings fighting our wars,then how can we ever win one? Middle class Personnell considering a military career are discouraged when facing having to live in an envioronment filled with people who are from criminal backgrounds.Would you be willing to live amoung people who delt drugs and robbed banks ? I wouldn't !

All of the comments are excellent and it's great to hear people actually thinking and talking about it. What I've been hearing recently is a "Fear" of expression. Fear of political incorrectness, fear of being tracked down for "terrorist suspect " for expressing unpopular opinion. KEEP thinking and talking! I just read a great book called "A history of a bad idea from Beelzebub to Bin Laden Evil a primer by William Hart . The book isn't what you might think, it gets you thinking again and seeing how evil comes in common ordinary forms sometimes, with tribal mentality supporting it's ideology; for "Fear" of being ostraized and not reaping the monetary rewards. Like I said...... Keep talking and thinking, next step make people accountable for their actions in Government! :-)

I think in the event they are needed more than enough of our brave men and women will volunteer to protect this great country of ours...one thing about Americans, we may fight with each other, but let a bully from another country try it...we band together. I think the draft is wrong...always was wrong...and would be a disgrace to ever bring it back. When will our elected officials realize we are not children and do not need to be made to do the right thing...we loose more and more freedom in this country everyday...

or IRAQ!

What about involuntary servitude in the interests of non-American citizens? Kosovo, Bosnia, Israel?

Prior to the U.S. entering WW II those who oppose all war were saying the same things I am hearing here. Just think how many lives could have been saved if we had simply gotten involved before Hitler amassed so much power. We saw what was happening, and did nothing. Today we can look back and see the results. Sometimes you have to fight...and sometimes the cowards have to be forced to. Right now this country needs to be in the Sudan, and many other places, putting a stop to the wholesale carnage going on there. Unfortunately, we can't because there are not enough Americans with a spine to go do what needs to be done.

The largest expansion in US history in Business was right after the Second World War. I believe this was a large part due to the fact that most Americans had a common background in the military due to the Draft during that war. Vietnam Vets today still stand together whether drafted or volunteer with a common background of military service. I am against the draft unless it is Universal without the ability to pay your way out of it by getting a college deferment. I would like to see a system similar to Switzerland or Israel where ALL able persons are required to be in the service after high school, plus additional years in the reserves. A large population under draft being either reserve or active does create major problems with a nations economy due to too many people out of the work force in key positions so the argument that a large standing army only encourages more wars is ludicrous. In addition if there is a universal draft that would also include the politicians who create wars children. Currently few Politicians Children are involved with war as that is a “poor mans job” and they have no direct involvement other than the occasional soap box complaining of other political parties.

ALL great EMPIRES rise and then FALL!!!

Don't fool yourself we are no different greed trumps all war Makes Profit.

Bye now

(p.s. hell no I won't go)

I'm not trying to sound jingoistic but there are times when a draft is necessary. Think back to World War II as an example.

Wow, some of you people are pretty deep into the "Ammerikka!" BS that seems to be going on today. Guess what, I am an American, I love what little freedom I have left, but I will not kill or be killed by people thousands of miles away who have done nothing to me and pose NO threat to my country, just so that the corrupt leaders of business and the government can make a ton of money. This war is ilegal, morally wrong, and is tearing the country apart.

Go ahead, go to war, but I will stay home. I will continue to pay my taxes, volunteer for my community, and try to make America a better place by contributing and helping Americans, not killing people half the world away. I will never kill anybody, for any reason, because I believe it is wrong. You should never kill anybody unless they specifically ask you to.

My biological father was drafted in Nam and I never met him because he died there. He may have been a good man, who knows for sure now. He did not want to go, he didn't believe in the war, but he was forced to go and he is gone.

Nonetheless, if we fight a war that America actually believed in, I believe the troop turnout would be overwhelming. It has nothing to do with us being lazy or self centered. It has to do with what we as a society want to fight for.

Remember when the towers fell? Everyone raised flags, placed them on their cars, had tons of Patriotism, were ready to kick butt. Then we invaded Iraq. No WMDs as promised. No Osama as promised (what ever happened to finding HIM?). We were fed lies and given false hope and promises. As a country, we are pretty smart and don't like to be lied to, especially when our kid's lives are at stake.

Hats off to all the young men and women fighting for my freedom. Just because I don't believe in the war and I don't want my kids going, doesn't mean they shouldn't believe and fight if they choose.

I still shake hands of servicemen when I see them. Their patriotism needs to be rewarded not shunned like in Nam.

Bottom line - The US wouldn't even consider a draft if we were fighting for something worthwhile and true.

Until that time, I will fight harder against the draft than I would in Iraq.

The only way I'd stand for a military draft is if there were another World War. Thus, the whole world being blown up by nukes wont make anyone fight for their country. But to fight for themselves for the remaining food and water supplies, but sooner or later you're gonna die because of the radiation. My point being, the world isn't what it used to be, our president isnt the smartest person in office. But I'll still support him because he's our president none the less. But I don't see there being any draft for a several reasons, where will we get the money to train, feed, arm new soldiers? Our boys over there now barely have the miminum supplies to get by as it is. Image, with the new election coming up, everyone wants a good face to get into office and not many people will go on camera and applaud the draft, because so many people are against it. The only way I'd support the draft is if someone is attacking our coast and wants to take over the country. Sounds like 911? A bit of it, but nothing a couple cruise missiles wont take care of. Maybe we should take an initiative like Iseral, you kill a thousand of our citizens, we kill then thousand muslims. Just my thought.

So the draft is involuntary servitude and to this I agree. But, what about the damnable illegal IRS who takes every dime we earn? When will the people wake up and start the 2nd revolution. We are heading for another civil war and there will be nothing civil about it. Remember John F. Kennedy's words "when peaceful rebellion is made impossible, violent rebellion becomes inevitable".

I do not think it is a matter of everyone wants freedom....it is, in our country a matter that everyone already has freedom, BUT, there seems to be an increasing number today who do not appreciate how it was won!!! You vote...you do as your representatives decide. You don't vote...you do not get to complain!!

draft is a good thing. The whole idea that if you get drafted and forced to kill in hand to hand combat in nonsense. You have choice, if you want infantry, do that if you want to be a mechanic for the infantry you have choice. Many democratic countries have mandatory military time. Men serve 2-3 years and women 1-2 depending on the skill which the government trains you on. Think about it free training on ac equipment. Free training on becoming an I.T. More skilled workers in the usa mean more people having the opportunity of the American dream.

The writer makes several good points, about the dubious involuntary servitude in the draft. However, our all-volunteer army is not as much a free-choice matter as you might think. Most of the people who "chose" to enlist were constrained to do so because the rich and powerful who control the business of this country had shipped the kinds of jobs the "volunteers" would have gone into overseas, leaving them to try to get welfare, or starve, or sign up.

Further, the idea that the government, when really acting on the will of all the people, can demand that everyone pull their weight--also has merit, although I agree that should only apply to wars of defense, and the US should only be involved in wars of defense.

Quite some years ago a writer suggested a possible solution to this dilemma. Have two levels of citizenship--the higher level being called "Electors," who put their lives on the line when the country is attacked, and engage in training--like the Swiss population does--throughout their working lives. Let the electors be the only ones who vote for President and Congress. Let the lower level opt out of universal military service, but then do not get to vote for the government.

Gee ? What ever happened to "We The People?" 'For the People, by the People?" I am a Viet Nam Vet. Then, because of a draft enlisted only because if your grade dropped below a "b+" you were drafted! I joined because my grades were fine, but you never know and being shot at for no reason just didn't appeal to me. I joined the Air Force, finished my education in there. Upon returning here, got no respect, that was the worse then the Conflict itself. I support our troops, they will need all the help mentally they can get when they return. I say No Draft ! We invaded a country because of an active political interest in GREED ! If it is to protect our Nation, who needs a Draft? We Veterans will band together and fight any aggression!

the problem is everybody wants freedom but there are not willing to fight for it, this is one of our problems in our country , I can see the draft if it is needed , which I dont think we do now, but they are getting less and less voulenteers to serve. at some point they might have to , to keep a service ready military. I hope this point never has to come. as I have served , as does my son , neice,nephew and couison are now for your right to be free , which you might not have soon

All this rhetoric and politcal hogwash that everyone's talking about here doesn't mean a damn thing to either the government or anybody else and really isn't going to make any kind of difference in the legal definition or outcome of the conscription argument aka The Draft or any other national argument such as the U.S, 's Internal Revenue's authority to impose taxes either. The bottom line is ... the government is going to do what it damn pleases and WHEN it pleases regarless of all the public bickering and national polls that are published and debated throughout this country. Bitch, bitch, bitch all you want and make all sustaining arguments you want about what Uncle Sam can do or not do such as .. they can't install a draft , they can't impose taxes on us, they can't take away our religious freedoms...these are only but a few things that once was believed to be forever sacred by our so-called Constitutional Rights. In this country nowadays, every single U.S. state has become it's own country and divided in it's own people just like the overall status of this country as a whole. Whatsmore, just like one other person here in this opinion column has said, each individual and citizen in this country HAS or IS in the process of serving his or her own personal interests, and in doing so, is gradually and quickly dismantling all our past accomplishments, all our hard-earned liberties, all our once worldly-respect and reverence as powerful and united people.
Yes, no matter how much everybody bitches and complains about what this country can or cannot do politically, not a damn thing will ever change, that is to say, with the exception of our blessed America on it's way down to pure decay to the point one day when WE may be considered part of the THiRD WORLD because of our own internal destruction and lack of true unity. As a last point, let me just say, that over the centuries, millions of our beloved people have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending this great nation of ours , be they conscriptees or volunteers, and I'm sure if they had survived, they would've loved to have heard all these bickerings about what the government can or cannot do and then turned around and scoffed at your empty arguments about The Military Draft. Everybody will continue to go on trying to quote sections out of The Constitution and from other
so-called guaranteed-rights bills, but the full truth and fact remains.... The U.S. government can do what the hell it pleases. Bitch, whine and cry all you want... you're going to have to live with that reality or move out of the country.

"Forcing someone to work for the state; forcing someone to kill or be killed; forcing someone to do anything at the point of a gun – under threat of prison or even death - IS involuntary servitude. Of all the forms of slavery that have existed throughout history, forcing someone to fight and die in war is by far the most disgusting, and is a form of murder against all who don’t survive."

YOU ARE FULL OF SHIT. We have prisons full of people who are already killers. Use them!

I can sure see where our country has turned into. I'm a veteran and served our country during the Cuban Crisis, which was quite some time ago. I didn't wait to be drafted, i enlisted because in my heart i knew it was the right thing to do. If it wasn't for our military defending our country, we all just might be speaking Russian, German, Japanese, or Spanish. Our flag just might be a red sickle, or perhaps a swasticka. (Spelling ?)

Its n o different today! we have to have a READY military, not a plan to form an army after the fact. There wouldn't be any afterwards....the USA as we know it wouldn't exist!

It appears that todays generation is all about being self serving, we've forgotten about history, we've forgotten about the world leading countries in the past being a forgotten and lost civilization. Is that what we want for our children and their children? THINK ABOUT IT!

The thought of bringing back the draft is not what we as Americans are about. It took time before we realized that the draft is not the right thing to do. I believe it should be an individuals choice as once you are in the military you have become subject to whatever your leaders want you to do...America is about choice...The right to choose what you do with your life. You can do or atleast attempt to do what you want and that's the way it should be. I chose to be a soldier and have no regrets as I joined the military at 17 and it gave me direction and opportunities that I would not have had. I would hope that as a U.S. citizen you would want to do something to help or assist others no matter what profession you choose. Every job is important. The key is to be law abiding and respectful of others.

Hell no, we won't go. Remember me?

Yes, Now consider........the Draft chased me into volunteering for the navy in 1966. Yes, I'm a nam vetran, Yes, I"ve been spit on and disresrespected every since. Reguardless how a vetran joins they should not be supported by a VA whose bisness it to kill vetrans. Folks under arms in the service of the constitution have fought with both hands tied behind their back since the Korean war in the late 40's and early 50's. We're not fighting to win any more in Iraq than we did in Nam or Korea. The body count of Nam staggers the mind..........58,000 in 16 years. My generation, Paid that price. My 4 years of incarceration in the name of the draft qualify me to gripe. I can support vetrans of the current war better than my countrymen welcomed me home. Local Va hospital refused care to my Nam marine buddy, He died at age 48. He had no other recources, needed insulin, pitiful average example of vetran's care here. I understand your feelings about the draft. I have the perspective of one who has faced a draft. Sometime maybe somebody in power gonna find out what it feels like to be shot at. I graduated with a class of 114 in 1965. Near 30 of them died in nam.......drafted or volunteered. Current servicemen are all volunteer, I respect them immensly and so should all. I give them the respect I never got. I support a draft in one way only, service in the armed forces makes a lotta punks grow up and be useful citizens. It made a taxpayer outa me 40 years ago......LOL

I agree with everything written in the article. According to Vedic civilization, human society falls into four classes: educators, military, mercantile, and laborers. A military draft forces people from other classes of society to take up arms against their will.

I like the author's comparison of the draft to the worst forms of involuntary servitude. The Reagan quote was appropriate, but I don't know if it will win over conservatives to opposing conscription. The American Left generally recognizes the immorality of a draft.