Selective Service

[UltraShy]

I know many of you think I'm totally unable to write about any issue other than guns, but here is my latest e-mail to my two US Senators & US Representative. Feel free to cut & past it for sending to your own federal elected officials -- in fact, I strongly encourage you to use it.

Dear Senator:

The Selective Service legally requires that all males between the ages of 18 to 25 register within 60 days of their 18th birthday. As of the end of 2008, the names and addresses of over 14 million men were on file. Running the Selective Service costs $22 million a year according to figures I was able to find.

Would you please explain to me the point of maintaining a list of potential draftees and wasting $22 million tax dollars every year.

1. I'm not aware of any military leaders who believe men forced into service against their will make for good and motivated soldiers.

2. It's clearly a form of forced labor and totally immoral.

3. If a war is so unpopular that it can't attract willing men to fight it, that should be a clear sign that it's not a war worth fighting (like Vietnam).

4. It is sexist, including men only.

To make no effort to get rid of the Selective service either means that you think that at some unknown future time there may actually be a need for a list of men to force into war against their will or you simply don't mind wasting $22 million a year to maintain what is a useless list.

As a federal legislator, you have the power to introduce a bill to end the Selective Service. If you don't wish to do so, please explain why to me.

Given that I'm well above age 26, I have no direct stake in this issue. Though as a tax payer I find it outrageous that $22 million is being wasted every year to maintain a pointless list.

Sincerely,

[nubly]

i firmly believe that every abled body should serve his country for at least two years. i wished the US had a conscription like other countries do. south korea is one such country and i had the pleasure to train with south korean soldiers when i was stationed there. were they motived even though they were forced into it? they werent allowed to be unmotivated

[proximo20]

Originally Posted by nubly

i firmly believe that every abled body should serve his country for at least two years.

Why at least two years? You want people not to make money or study and waste their time in service?

[nubly]

Originally Posted by proximo20

Why at least two years? You want people not to make money or study and waste their time in service?

two years is sufficient to train someone in the military's way (incase they are needed). how does the military prevent people from going to school or making money?

[proximo20]

How come it does not?

[Amocholes]

I would have had to register for the SS when I turned 18 but had already enlisted in the Navy. Although I am no longer in touch with any Navy Buddies, I still think of the 3 years that I served fondly.

I agree with Nubly on this one. Although I do feel that the military is only one option. I think it should be expanded to Public Service. My grandfather served in the Civilian Conservation Corp and helped to build one of our local parks. He stayed in the work camp even though his family was local. During the Korean War my father was a CO but served in Alternative Service as an orderly in an asylum. Service such as these or the military builds friendships and a sense of pride in the nation.

[mind_games]

... I think it should be expanded to Public Service ...

I'm not in the US, but I like the option of military or something else. The military is not the place for everyone.

[Amocholes]

Originally Posted by proximo20

How come it does not?

School can be deferred for 2 years. Students would then be more mature and more likely to put more effort into their studies.

During their service, they would be making money.

[proximo20]

Originally Posted by Amocholes

School can be deferred for 2 years. Students would then be more mature and more likely to put more effort into their studies.

During their service, they would be making money.

Deferred for what? To build "friendships" and to become more mature? About how much taxpayers' money are we talking about here? This is pure waste for everyone.

I mean if someone wants to serve and gets paid for it that is fine, but otherwise it is just waste of time, labor and money.

[Amocholes]

So the parks and bridges built by the WPA and CCC were a waste of time, labor and money? Most 18 yos are not ready for the unstructured "freedom" of college life. 2 years of service in a structured environment would give them experience and a sense of accomplishment. It would let them know what they are capable of.

[SilentLoner]

Originally Posted by nubly

i firmly believe that every abled body should serve his country for at least two years. i wished the US had a conscription like other countries do. south korea is one such country and i had the pleasure to train with south korean soldiers when i was stationed there. were they motived even though they were forced into it? they werent allowed to be unmotivated

I've thought that for a while too, a two year service (whether in military or alternative service) would do a lot of good for a lot of people. Discipline, life experiences, and money saved. Senior in college now and wouldn't have minded starting a little later with more life experiences - and most other people I met my freshman year could have used it too. Always thought I would have liked the military.

[proximo20]

I am talking about conscription or involuntary service. WPA and CCC were relief programs for the unemployed. I already wrote if someone wants to serve and gets paid that is fine.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief program for unemployed men.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilia...ervation_Corps

and yes involuntary service or conscription like in many other countries is waste of time, money and labor.

[proximo20]

Originally Posted by SilentLoner

I've thought that for a while too, a two year service (whether in military or alternative service) would do a lot of good for a lot of people. Discipline, life experiences, and money saved. Senior in college now and wouldn't have minded starting a little later with more life experiences - and most other people I met my freshman year could have used it too. Always thought I would have liked the military.

It is not the government's job to discipline people after they are 18, it does that until you finish high school.

Besides this, it is a free country, you could have served like nubly did.

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by nubly

two years is sufficient to train someone in the military's way (incase they are needed). how does the military prevent people from going to school or making money?

The military's way is to turn teenagers into disciplined killing machines, not human beings. To force them into this way of life is cruel.

Maybe it works for some people, but to think that it should be forced on everyone is appalling.

Have a nice day,
Kelly

[UltraShy]

We're talking about a list that exists purely in case there is a future draft. Do you recall what men of the Vietnam era did to avoid being drafted? Ironically, warmongers G.W. Shrub & Dick Cheney stayed half a word away from any combat with one hiding in the Air National Guard making sure Texas was real safe and Cheney getting I think a stunning 5 deferments.

Bill "I didn't inhale" Clinton was off studying in the UK, but our Rhodes Scholar unfortunately couldn't figure out how a joint worked.

Others decided a trip to Canada was in order.

Although I am no longer in touch with any Navy Buddies, I still think of the 3 years that I served fondly.

I have no doubt that many veterans have similarly fond feelings just like Don, but that's not the point. Don wasn't forced into the military. He, for whatever reason, picked it voluntarily.

[WineKitty]

No one should be forced to serve in the military. That is just crazy.

[UltraShy]

Originally Posted by Kelly

The military's way is to turn teenagers into disciplined killing machines, not human beings. To force them into this way of life is cruel.

Maybe it works for some people, but to think that it should be forced on everyone is appalling.

Have a nice day,
Kelly

This is one of those rare cases where Kelly & I agree. So many people dance around the subject of what a soldier is. Fundamentally, they are made to kill. Killing, after all, is a major part of war.

And why are women exempt from the Selective Service? I'd love to hear the logic on that one.

[nubly]

Originally Posted by Amocholes

School can be deferred for 2 years. Students would then be more mature and more likely to put more effort into their studies.

During their service, they would be making money.

they can aslo take correspondence courses to get some of those pesky pre-reqs out of the way.

Originally Posted by proximo20

It is not the government's job to discipline people after they are 18, it does that until you finish high school.

if people were more discipline i wonder how many people wouldnt be in jail.

Originally Posted by Kelly

The military's way is to turn teenagers into disciplined killing machines, not human beings. To force them into this way of life is cruel.

Have a nice day,
Kelly

thats just not true at all. not all jobs in the military are combat jobs. everyoen gets trained with basic warfare but non-combatants training isnt meant for combat just self defense.

[Amocholes]

Originally Posted by proximo20

It is not the government's job to discipline people after they are 18, it does that until you finish high school.

So we can do away with the police and judicial system?

[UltraShy]

Originally Posted by nubly

not all jobs in the military are combat jobs.

But all the other jobs are there to support combat and those in combat. Combatants get hungry, so you have food service workers to make sure they are well-nourished. Military aircraft need to be maintained, so you have guys who are experts in how to fix the engines on a fighter jet. Injured combatants need medical care so you need doctors and other medical personnel. While these examples and many others are not involved in direct combat (firing missiles, artillery, machine guns, dropping bombs, etc) they ultimately are there to support those who are in such combat.