Sunday, November 19, 2006

Bringing back the draft

In looking over the news, I found this story. Rep. Rangel wants to reinstate the draft, and this is why:
There’s no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way
On this count, he is absolutely correct and it will be intriguing to see how the issue is handled. My gut tells me that this will be viewed as political grandstanding and Rangel will be vilified in this order-
  1. Right wing bloggers
  2. Right wing commentators
  3. Fox News and Republicans
  4. Joe Lieberman and The New Republic
  5. CNN
  6. Joe Biden
  7. Moderate Democrats
Why? Well, because for numbers 1-3 it is their job. But 4-7? Because Rangel is bringing up class and race inequity, and in the US, doing that is equivalent to drinking freshly squeezed puppies. The fact that it is typically working class folks, and not the well-heeled, that are getting shot at, is like the uncomfortable family secret everyone knows but doesn't talk about.

That having been said, it is an issue that will blow up in the Democrats' faces. The news frame on this issue will be that the Democrats are reckless, and out to kill your kids. Nevertheless, this is a place I would like to see a line drawn in the sand.

10 comments:

Pork Rinds said...

I have to admit that I think that this is kind of a stupid idea. There are other, and I think better, ways to get the message across that this war is classist. I don't believe that threatening draft is the way to do it. Sure, have the discussion, but why give talking points to Republicans just to prove a point? It doesn't seem very strategic or well thought out to me.

Broca said...

I am really not sure if it gives the Republicans talking points, I think if calls them on their b.s.

I think the same arguments were made when Murtha came out against the war, it was called foolish then but it is one of the things that won us this last election.

Those that offer other people to fight in wars they typically wouldn't are cowards and they need to account for their cowardice.

Broca said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Pork Rinds said...

Yeah, I don't argue with the sentiment. This question has been on the minds of many for quite some time. This isn't how to start this dialogue though. It's fine if Rangall wants to get all indignant and start demanding answers as to why perpetrators of the war refuse to send their kids, but we all know the answer.
These people have been and always will be cowards of the basest form.

This is a substantively different approach than being against the war. The reason that people should say the war is wrong is that not doing so perpetuates the killing of too many innocent people die. I can't imagine just speaking out against the war just because of hatred for a president or his policies.

If Rangall doesn't really want to send more people to Iraq, he wants to make a point. I think he should say what he really means then, which is, "Start squeezing those puppies, this is a classist f'ing country and it's high time we do something about it." Couching this debate - if it ever even evolves into that - in terms of a proposed draft is more distracting than anything.

People hear the word "draft" and they immediately want to know what kind of child-hating assface would ever propose such a thing. They're not going to be terribly moved to consider how Jenna and Barbara aren't serving abroad (though we all know Cheney's daughter is serving a broad - ifyaknowwhatImean).

JC, it's late and I'm making bad lesbian jokes. I'm out. Peace, Bro.

Broca said...

I really don't think there is any good way to talk about class in this society. If you watch public debate on the subject it gets quickly squelched and the person that brought it up is instantly brandished as a nut (although that seems to be changing-- Jim Webb).

If we are going to go around killing half the world's brown people and many of our own, we need to know what those calling for war are willing to sacrifice.

Introducing the debate also makes the issue less abstract. There was a large swath of the American public that sat on the sidelines in the buildup for the Iraq war because the war was somebody else's concern. To them, war was the distraction. This debate should focus our attention to what we really believe.

Lastly, I do think the American people care about why Jenna and Barbara are not in the armed services and I don't understand why the press hasn't asked.

Did the Mary Cheney joke come with a drum kick?

Pork Rinds said...

A cymbal crash and several boos actually.

I personally don't give a rats ass what the elite are willing to sacrifice to get rid of the world's "brown people." So what if they are willing to send their own children into harm's way? It doesn't make the war right, nor does it make the issue of classism less prevalent. What exists now within the upper eschelons of our government is hypocrisy and evil, but even if you do away with the hypocrisy, you still have the evil.

I do think that we should be talking about classism in this country. If it's talked about in this way though, I think the focus becomes more about the draft and the anti-American person who would suggest such a thing and less about the classism. You and I may just have to agree to disagree about this one.

How was Thanksgiving? Good?

Broca said...

WE WILL NOT AGREE TO DISAGREE.

IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO SEE MY POINT OF VIEW, THEN I WILL DESTROY YOU.

FEEL MY WRATH!!!!!!!!!

Thanksgiving was good, we really nailed the turkey. Figuratively speaking.

Pork Rinds said...

I didn't feel anything. Is it on a time delay or something?

Broca said...

Remember that message you sent me, about some news you heard from overseas?

Ahem...

That is some serious wrath yo.

Pork Rinds said...

You're truly diabolical, and subtle. Ass.