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Draft proposal hits home, CSU students
Some say reinstating a draft may be positive for military diversity and awareness of the Iraq war
Emily Polak
Issue date: 12/11/06 Section: News
Incoming Ways and Means Committee chair Charles Rangel, a Democrat from New York, has proposed to reinstate the draft in an effort to strengthen and diversify the U.S. military.
Rangel's proposal - which if implemented would have a profound effect on college students - comes at a time when approval for the war in Iraq is lower than ever.
"If this war is the threat to our national security that the Bush Administration insists it is, then the President should issue a call for all Americans to sacrifice for the nation's defense," Rangel said in a statement. "If there must be a sacrifice, then the burden must be shared fairly."
Rangel introduced a similar bill in 2003, which was shot down by the Republican-run congress in a 402 to 2 vote.
Rangel's plan would not allow those who are in college to be exempt from the draft. The Army currently offers signing bonuses of up to $40,000 and benefits as high as $73,000 for college; if a draft were reinstated, benefits like these would not be offered.
Some CSU students, like senior civil engineering major and former Marine Cody Hix, say reinstating a draft may be a good idea.
"I think if the military needs more people, then they should reinstate a draft," Hix said.
But the 110th Congress, convening in January, will be run by Democrats, a fact CSU political science professor John Straayer says is not conducive to a draft proposal.
"The democrats are not interested in making Americans mad," Straayer said. "This would be a politically risky situation. They are just not going to do it."
Rangel argues that politicians would think differently about the war in Iraq if it were their children fighting it.
"I believe it is immoral for those who insist on continuing the conflict in Iraq, and placing war on the table in Iran and North Korea to do so only at the risk of other people's children," Rangel said.
Some say Rangel's proposal comes as an effort to stir debate about who fights wars versus who starts wars.
Rangel's proposal - which if implemented would have a profound effect on college students - comes at a time when approval for the war in Iraq is lower than ever.
"If this war is the threat to our national security that the Bush Administration insists it is, then the President should issue a call for all Americans to sacrifice for the nation's defense," Rangel said in a statement. "If there must be a sacrifice, then the burden must be shared fairly."
Rangel introduced a similar bill in 2003, which was shot down by the Republican-run congress in a 402 to 2 vote.
Rangel's plan would not allow those who are in college to be exempt from the draft. The Army currently offers signing bonuses of up to $40,000 and benefits as high as $73,000 for college; if a draft were reinstated, benefits like these would not be offered.
Some CSU students, like senior civil engineering major and former Marine Cody Hix, say reinstating a draft may be a good idea.
"I think if the military needs more people, then they should reinstate a draft," Hix said.
But the 110th Congress, convening in January, will be run by Democrats, a fact CSU political science professor John Straayer says is not conducive to a draft proposal.
"The democrats are not interested in making Americans mad," Straayer said. "This would be a politically risky situation. They are just not going to do it."
Rangel argues that politicians would think differently about the war in Iraq if it were their children fighting it.
"I believe it is immoral for those who insist on continuing the conflict in Iraq, and placing war on the table in Iran and North Korea to do so only at the risk of other people's children," Rangel said.
Some say Rangel's proposal comes as an effort to stir debate about who fights wars versus who starts wars.
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Big Daddy
posted 12/12/06 @ 9:40 AM MST
I have an idea! Ask all the dumbarses that voted for Bush to sign up and fight for the war they started and stand for.
Then they won't sound like hypocrites!
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