Korean Job Discussion Forums

[seoulunitarian]

Have any of you seen the recent attempt by some members of Congress to pass a bill requiring universal military service?

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.393:

Peace

[thepeel]

Milton Friedman was the man who gave America the volunteer army. He considered it his greatest achievement.

[English_Ocean]

It's a bit shocking. Not only are US citizs to be forced into service but, everyone who lives there. Single parents too?

[Hollywoodaction]

"homeland security"

That term sends shivers up my spine. It sounds so...Soviet. I'm sure this expression will come to symbolize everything that was wrong with the Bush administartion.

PS. I bet the words 'resolve' and 'freedom' were thrown once or twice in there, too.

[Svetlana]

Universal Military Service is the only way those awful Americans can ever play war with Iran or other big boy countries who can actually fight back.

[thepeel]

Tell us what you really think?

[Rteacher]

I think that a period of "universal service" - not necessarily military - would be a good idea. Only those types who are physically and pyschologically fit for battle should serve directly in a combat zone. Many others may be suited for various tech and medical support roles.

And, even when there is no major war, young people in general should be called upon to perform various types of social service for minimal pay and/or forgiveness of student loans. As for duration of such oompulsory service, I'm thinking one or two years...

[Sincinnatislink]

Greater capacity for war is brilliant.
Almost as brilliant as a unitarian blaming it on the christian right.

[Nowhere Man]

Yeah, while we're having mandatory service, let's have mandatory intelligence tests before you can have children.

It would do us some good.

Let's have surveillance, too.

Everywhere.

Seriously, I'm all for mandatory service as long as I can also home mandatory serve the way some parents home-school their children.

For that matter, I'll also survey myself.

[Gopher]

[NAVFC]

[Gopher]

[Nowhere Man]

[desultude]

The whole point of the universal service proposal is to force the "ruling class" (i.E. Congress, etc.) to deal with the real cost of war.

When the Bush twins are put in the position of having to serve, and the sons and daughters of the senators and congress-people, then they might think seriously about commiting the U.S. to further bloody adventures.

I don't think there is a chance of a draft requirement passing Congress. But it does point up the class differences between those who serve and die, and those who don't.

I say, pass a draft, and only give exemptions for religious, or ethical, purposes, and then require alternative service of those who are exempted.

The support for the Vietnam war fell apart as more and more middle class Americans lost children to the inferno. It didn't matter so much when our working class brothers and sisters died.

[Nowhere Man]