Reinstate the "draft"

Hi

I have written about the so called draft before but I think that it deserves revisiting.

When I refer to the draft I refer to a new version of service to the nation. The logic and reasoning is the same as buying something or getting it for free. When you buy some thing you appreciate it more because you know your own work and resources paid for it. Now we should apply this same criteria to government. The plan calls for a one year term of service by all young people, no deferments. The details are below.

The plan would require all young people to serve one year upon graduation from high school. If one drops out then at age eighteen that person must serve. The service period would be for one year and would be made up of two separate parts. The first would be about a four month training period which would include classes in government, civics and military discipline. There would be no requirement to learn fire arms except to learn fire arm safety. The draftee would not be required to learn how to fire a weapon. After the four month training period the draftee would re required to serve the remainder of the year working for some government agency. It is easy to see where these people can be utilized, FEMA, border patrol ( as clerical workers, not field workers ), and many other agencies. They would be used to supplement the existing programs, not replace workers.

There would be no deferment for college, they can wait for one year. As for compensation, the pay should be equal to that of an enlisted person in the military. If you look into the financial end of the matter, the expense of salary would be offset by lessening the need to hire government employees for these functions. Border guards would be hired for patrol, not filing papers. Clerical jobs or temp workers at FEMA would be greatly diminished, there could be a great reduction in the staff at some cabinet level staff workers, i.e. Education, the list goes on and on. In effect it would be tax neutral.

The future of both the nation and the individual would be better, the people would actually know about how government works. People would elect future leaders because they, the people understand the functions and issues, votes would not be cast because a candidate looks good, is glib or can play the sax on a TV program.

Is it a catch all, no, but the congress can fill in the missing pieces. There would an incentive to do so because the children and grand children of the congress people would be affected.

This is one area where conservative and liberal thinkers can agree. Let's lead the way and press the issue.

As the holiday season nears let us remember our brave service people in far away lands, pray for them.
GOD Bless.