Rep. Rangel Will Seek to Reinstate Draft

#1
OrangeSquare

OrangeSquare

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#1
Rep. Rangel Will Seek to Reinstate Draft - washingtonpost.com

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said Sunday he sees his idea as a way to deter politicians from launching wars and to bolster U.S. troop levels insufficient to cover potential future action in Iran, North Korea and Iraq.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Standby Reserve, said he agreed that the U.S. does not have enough people in the military.

"I think we can do this with an all-voluntary service, all-voluntary Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. And if we can't, then we'll look for some other option," said Graham, who is assigned as a reserve judge to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.
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#3
#3
He has been calling for this since the day he stepped into office. Based on trying to equalize the duties of the military to all socioeconomic classes.
 
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#4
cibai said:
He has been calling for this since the day he stepped into office. Based on trying to equalize the duties of the military to all socioeconomic classes.
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Maybe he should actually look at the demographics of those who serve in the military. These are pretty easy to look up and find exact numbers, especially for a Congressman.

On a personal level, I am the son of an Executive of two companies, my brother served in OIF 1 as an enlisted man, working the M-249 SAW, and I am an Infantry officer.

Again, a nice and completely ignorant post, Cibai.
 
#5
#5
so, we don't have enough people in the military...and how many military bases have been closed since 1990? how many historic, heroic units have had their banners furled forever?
Rangel's idea has no logical basis in anything resembling rational reality. Even when he softens his rhetoric by saying "service" doesn't have to be military, it can be domestic, it can be peace corps type, heck it can probably mean litter pick up along the interstate. Regardless, he's a tool for even thinking a draft would be effective.
 
#6
#6
What a draft would be effective for is a higher sense of self esteem, a base of younger folks in their early 20's that have character, and a sense of self worth. Something a drill seargent would gift to you in trade for commitment. Sounds like a get well pill for Americans in my opinion.
 
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dan4vols said:
What a draft would be effective for is a higher sense of self esteem, a base of younger folks in their early 20's that have character, and a sense of self worth. Something a drill seargent would gift to you in trade for commitment. Sounds like a get well pill for Americans in my opinion.
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Yeah, that draft helped boost a lot of self esteem for the Baby Boomer generation...
 
#8
#8
dan4vols said:
Something a drill seargent would gift to you in trade for commitment.
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you've never been to BASIC Training have you? I don't know if it's different now, but in 1986 when I was there the Drills didn't "give" anything but pain and more push ups. Their respect was earned. The Drill who was the bane of my existence shook my hand the day I graduated, told my Mom and stepfather that I was a hell of a good soldier, all after relentlessly trying to get me to quit because I was a "fat boy".

Now, you tell me, if a compliment like that is given without first earning it, how does it raise one's "self esteem"?
 
#9
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therealUT said:
Yeah, that draft helped boost a lot of self esteem for the Baby Boomer generation...
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I don't think you can blame the draft for that. I think you can blame a failed foreign policy and hundreds of wonderful bureacrats in DC for that.
 
#10
#10
A gift is something given. If you even take it and what you do with it is another aspect. So I don't see where this point was incorrect.
 
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therealUT said:
Maybe he should actually look at the demographics of those who serve in the military. These are pretty easy to look up and find exact numbers, especially for a Congressman.

On a personal level, I am the son of an Executive of two companies, my brother served in OIF 1 as an enlisted man, working the M-249 SAW, and I am an Infantry officer.

Again, a nice and completely ignorant post, Cibai.
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RealUT, I dont know where you get off being such a [jerk], but again, where in my post did I agree or disagree with Rangel? I just stated what has traditionally been his position on this issue. I actually expected you to chime in with some statistics as I have heard that before, but I should have anticipated you being a [jerk] too and trying to pin me to it. :crazy:
 
#12
#12
In fact, I've got an idea. Why don't we just rename this whole section of Volnation "TheRealUTation," where TRUT can espouse upon us ignorant masses the truth, and we can all revel in his glorious wisdom. No one will need to post since TRUT is the one who knows what those ignorant fools are REALLY saying, despite what their posts might ACTUALLY say. You can have it all to yourself, I will take my ignorance somewhere else.
 
#13
#13
I'm pretty sure that I'm too old so I don't have a dog in the hunt. If I were an R congressman I'd call his bluff and vote in favor of it.
 
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VolunteerHillbilly said:
I'm pretty sure that I'm too old so I don't have a dog in the hunt. If I were an R congressman I'd call his bluff and vote in favor of it.
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the GOP has already done that at least once, not sure exactly when but it was either earlier this year or some time in 2005. It failed miserably, but was categorized a "stunt" by the dems to score political points.
 
#16
#16
Wow. No one wants to fight - not even for the bonuses but they are doing it because they have no other options. :question:
 
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#17
volinbham said:
Wow. No one wants to fight - not even for the bonuses but they are doing it because they have no other options. :question:
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Yeah, this accounting degree of mine from UT definitely left me with no choice but to throw on the green...
 
#18
#18
therealUT said:
Yeah, this accounting degree of mine from UT definitely left me with no choice but to throw on the green...
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You poor soul. You were given no choice but to serve against your will. We must end this injustice now.

Perhaps reparations for military personnel? :crazy:
 
#19
#19
volinbham said:
You poor soul. You were given no choice but to serve against your will. We must end this injustice now.

Perhaps reparations for military personnel? :crazy:
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Just to beat a dead horse, I guess these kids had no options either...
United States Military Academy
Profile of the Class of 2010

[ Return to More Information page ]
Volume of Applicants Men Women

Applicant Files Started 8,180 2,096
Nominated 3,070 573
Qualified (academically
& in physical aptitude) 1,858 313
Accepted/offered 1,130 181


Rank in High School Class
First Fifth 71%
Second Fifth 21%
Third Fifth 7%
Fourth Fifth 1%
Bottom Fifth 0%



American College Testing
(ACT) Assessment Program Scores*
Range Eng Math Sci Reas Read
31-36 25% 27% 21% 48%
26-30 54% 57% 49% 41%
21-25 21% 15% 29% 11%
16-20 0% 1% 1% 0%
11-15 0% 0% 0% 0%
Mean 28 28 27 30



College Board Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) Scores*
Range Verbal Math
700-800 21% 24%
600-699 46% 55%
500-599 30% 20%
400-499 3% 1%
300-399 0% 0%
Mean 630 647
*Includes only scores used as a basis for admission.

Academic Honors
Class Valedictorians............................ 88
Class Salutatorians............................. 43
National Merit Scholarship Recognition.......... 237
National Honor Society.......................... 795

Activities
Boys/Girls State Delegate....................... 222
Class President or Student Body President....... 246
School Publication Staff
School Paper Editor, Co-Editor of Staff....... 145
Yearbook Editor or Co-Editor.................. 96
Debating........................................ 177
Dramatics....................................... 139
Scouting Participants........................... 544
Eagle Scout (men) or Gold Award (women)....... 225

Varsity Athletics.............................. 1189
Letter Winner................................ 1148
Team Captain.................................. 780
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#21
#21
I am pretty sure that they have everything to do with the following statement, made by Rangel.
If a young fella has an option of having a decent career or joining the army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq.
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#22
#22
one problem I have with this whole debate is that the left and it's apologists would have you believe that our entire military is on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I don't know what recruiters are doing, but I like to think that they don't view a fresh 18 year old face as mere "meat for the grinder". The nice thing about an all volunteer force is that a recruit gets to choose where he or she goes.
 
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To add to that, the actual soldiers who have fought the brunt of America's wars, the infantrymen, have always been made up of a majority of volunteer forces. Around 95% of infantry units in Vietnam were volunteers, the PIRs in WWII were 100% volunteer.
 
#24
#24
That's a stretch if you think that has to do with Rangel's statement. Joining the military and being accepted by an elite academy is two different things. Note where only a small fraction of those who apply even make it in. Hardly representive of the actual enlisted ranks where a majority of those who enlist go.
 
#25
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MG1968 said:
one problem I have with this whole debate is that the left and it's apologists would have you believe that our entire military is on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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I've never heard any imply that all are in Afghanistan or Iraq. Sounds like the opposite...certain people are trying to imply one segment of politics is saying something specific when they are not.
 
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