Ron Paul: On Reinstating the Draft
by Ron Paul | Texas Straight Talk
February 16, 2008
Much has been made by the new administration of the idea of national service and volunteerism. While service to one’s community is certainly admirable, it is not the federal government’s place to “encourage” or promote volunteerism. Moreover, there are troubling signs that national service could transition from voluntary to mandatory, or de facto mandatory, such as the requirement of service in order to be granted a diploma, or something along those lines.
Involuntary servitude was supposed to be abolished by the 13th Amendment, but things like Selective Service and the income tax make me wonder how serious we really are in defending just basic freedom. The income tax enslaves workers for nearly 4 months out of a year by garnishing what amounts to all their wages in that period of time. A military draft could demand your very life, without your consent. This should be unthinkable in a free society.
Proponents of reinstating the draft claim it is needed to protect liberty from enemies abroad. But what about the enemies of liberty right here at home? I am convinced that there are more threats to American liberty within the 10 mile radius of my office on Capitol Hill than there are on the rest of the globe. If we would get our troops off of foreign soil, those perceived enemies of our liberty abroad are much more likely to stand down and let us be. We have more than enough troops to mind our own business and defend ourselves. It is only for world domination that we have a troop shortage.
Nevertheless, some think recruiting for our military is too low and that the younger generation will not answer the call of duty willingly, and must be drafted by force. I take extreme exception to this characterization of young people today. First of all, I believe they correctly see that foreign policy, as unpopular as it has been under Bush, is not significantly changing under Obama, and has little, if anything, to do with defending the United States, and certainly not the Constitution. Second, many see friends and acquaintances who have voluntarily enlisted, and have taken note of how the soldier, the veteran is treated. Perhaps rather than blaming younger generations for being selfish, older generations should remember their promises to those who volunteer for military service and be mindful of how they are treated. Every homeless vet by the side of the road, every suicide, every report of substandard conditions in veteran hospitals is a sign of how we let our military down. Perhaps we should look to those issues if we have problems with military recruitment, rather than to trample freedom in the name of protecting it.
If that is not enough reason, consider that most in the military are against a draft. There is a vast difference between serving alongside another volunteer, and serving alongside a reluctant conscript. Americans need to be on the lookout for any propaganda trying to ease us back into the draft. Too often a flawed foreign policy prompts the need for a draft. Abolishing the Selective Service is one thing we could do to counter those efforts.
Just for Fun
a little video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYibOaLGOh8
Thanks, Ron Paul for always shining light on hypocrisy
and thanks to Michael for posting this. I think we will all be fighting in the near future, willingly, in defense of liberty and justice, or by force in the imperial army on foreign shores. It is clear that this illegal tyranny grows more presumptuous daily.
Ron Paul: On Reinstating the Draft
Consider that the war that helped us gain our liberty from Britain, and the one in which we had to fight again to confirm it--the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812--was run by volunteers. Some even ran away and lied about their age to fight. The 1812 War was run in part by crusty old Revolutionary War vets that our army nowadays would turn away from the recruitment center. If we are involved in a war worth fighting--and a government worth defending--the volunteers will be there. Once again Ron Paul speaks the truth. I hope one day he'll have the chance to show us what a great commander in chief he would become!
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
Malo periculosam libertatem quam quietam servitutem. ("I prefer the tumult of liberty to the quiet of servitude"). Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 January 1787.
thanks for posting that
What a great thing to remember.
Domestic Enemies
"I am convinced that there are more threats to American liberty within the 10 mile radius of my office on Capitol Hill than there are on the rest of the globe."
Amen, Dr. Paul.
Feb. 2008??
Okay, I copied this message and sent it to many. One (Obama Kool Aid drinking) friend noticed the date written (February 16, 2008) and wrote back to alert me. I'm sure that is not right. Please fix it.
What would happen if you were drafted and
refuse to take the oath and follow the UCMJ
As I recall from the Vietnam era...
Back then the word was that they held an "induction ceremony". During this ceremony you were directed to step forward. If you stepped forward you "volunteered". If you did not you were tried and convicted for failing to step forward.
Catch 22 to get around the 13th Amendment: Make it a crime to fail to volunteer. Then your "service" is either voluntary (in the military) or punishment for a crime (in a federal no-time-off-for-anything prison).
This is how it was explained to me - long ago by someone not a lawyer. I have not checked up on it myself and hope someone with legal training will confirm or correct this.
(I note that wikipedia says the supreme court ruled in Butler v. Perry that the 13th was intended just for captured-african-type slavery and doesn't apply to "those duties which individuals owe to the state, such as services in the army, militia, on the jury, etc." despite the clear reading of the text.)
= = = =
"Obama’s Economists: ‘Stimulus’ Has Cost $278,000 per Job."
That means: For each job "created or saved" about five were destroyed.
Read about Mohamed Ali...
Although not popular with some, Ali refused the draft. He got out of it. I lived through those times. Really cool. People burning draft cards, running off to Canada. They can't put everybody in jail. The people will not stand for it just like they didn't stand for it during Vietnam.
I just well up when I read this.
The whole truth and nothing but the truth, that is Dr. Paul
I have a relative who's son went to Iraq
He believes he killed 5 Iraqi citizens and is suffering extreme emotional stress. But get this, he couldn't adjust to life back in the states so he re-enlisted. The Army pays him $15,000 a year to risk his life!
This is commentary based on Dr. Paul's...
weekly column which I just received today. The good Dr. is right and I believe that I have license to discuss this topic as I spent a decade in the Marines and have served in numerous conflicts including Vietnam. It was my pride in the Marines that got me and kept me for awhile but, after several "bizarre" incidents, I quickly learned that I was being duped and betrayed.Now that I am nearly 60 with four military aged sons, I have made it my mission to ensure that my sons are not caught up in this lie and it has been my burden to break a two hundred year tradition of our family serving in the military. (All six of my brother served in every branch of the military). Dr. Paul is right about the draft coming. The goal of empire is not over yet and "they" are going to need more cannon fodder. When it comes, just refuse.
"I ain't got no quarrel with them Viet Cong." Mohamed Ali
Well Said!
!
Economy makes draft unnecessary
According to an article I read the other day the military is now meeting its enlistment targets. I'll try to find the link and post. But when times are tough people do what's necessary to take care of their families. Even if it means fighting in a war they don't believe in. These are the types of wonderful choices our benevolent leaders have so wisely presented to their valued constituents.
Found the link
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/us/19recruits.html
It's a sad commentary on the times.
Between this and the similar
Between this and the similar comments about the draft in his recent speech to Congress, I wonder why Ron Paul is suddenly speaking out against this issue. Out of the myriad of problems that our country needs to address immediately, why choose now to complain about the draft? Is there something we don't know about?
Don't get me wrong--I agree with Dr. Paul 100 above words. I just don't understand the timing.
Dr. Paul...
smells a very large RAT.
This is a brave statement for a congressman to make:
"I am convinced that there are more threats to American liberty within the 10 mile radius of my office on Capitol Hill than there are on the rest of the globe."
Glad our man has courage enough to say it.
It is similar to something Adam Kokesh said in speech MMJ Ministry posted in his "Is it time?" thread.
"We found out the hard way that the greatest enemies of the Constitution are not to be found in the sands of some far off land, but rather right here at home."
Here we have two brave souls who understand freedom and liberty. Ron Paul and Adam Kokesh.
Then we have people like Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel who would prefer to enslave the citizenry. They drool in anticipation of mandatory national service aka involuntary servitude...
How could things get turned so upside down?
Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel. Bloody Hell.
Will someone please wake me up from this nightmare?
Just you try it, pinkos!
Commie libs have worked hard to make the youth of our country see the military as unnecessary and evil. Now those same commies want the youth to show interest in a military that they themseves couldn't despise enough? Poor stupid pinkos, this youngest generation is fat, lazy, dumbed down and immoral. How long do the likes of Obama think they will be able to force that pathetic generation to do much of anything? Eventually, they will get sick of being forced to do things against their will. They will grow tired of being repeatedly pushed outside of their comfort zone. "Where's our welfare check chairman Obama? You mean we can't sit on our fat asses and watch porn all day, chairman Obama?"
"Men are ruled, at this minute, by the clock, by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern."
-G.K. Chesterton
"Men are ruled, at this minute, by the clock, by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern."
-G.K. Chesterton
I cannot imagine facing the terrible
times ahead without the powerful truths Dr. Paul has given us over the years.
Right Again
.
It is baffling to me that Ron Paul seems to be the only member of Congress stating truths which are obvious. Congress is like a crazed rhino, charging crazily forward, doing damage and not particularly caring about the liberties that are trampled upon. It does whatever it wants and it cannot be stopped.
The more I read Ron Paul's writings and hear his speeches in Congress and on TV, the more heartbreaking it becomes. He is the sole voice of sense and reason. Why aren't there more congressmen like him? I don't get it. Are they all that corrupt? Everyone but Ron Paul? It sure seems that way.
It is truly amazing. I think that's why we are so loyal to him.
He has such a high degree of personal integrity, and he tells us the TRUTH.
Everyone else lies to us, and he tells us the truth.
Ron Paul is my President
Debbie
isn't it a matter of degree?
Yes, they are all "corrupt" or like Obama, vetted. Of course they are corrupt, it's how they are controlled, no different than the population... shame is powerful tool, easy to make and hard to take.
Take Ralph Nader... He's not corrupt, and yet, he's probably the most hated man in America thanks to the corporations who people hate most, ironically.. it took decades with Nader because he's not a member of any political party, where RTon Paul, he's a member of at least three.
WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
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I never thought I'd see the day when...
I and a Dennis Kucinich fan had things in common. They requested my friendship on Myspace and I added them after visiting their page. I had some policy disagreements with the platform but must admit Kucinich sounded more appealing and novel than most of the democoms that were being forwarded by the party itself.
"Men are ruled, at this minute, by the clock, by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern."
-G.K. Chesterton
"Men are ruled, at this minute, by the clock, by liars who refuse them news, and by fools who cannot govern."
-G.K. Chesterton
Paul and Kucinich are allies
.
It is entirely possible to be a republican and a democrat and agree on basic principles. These are freedom, restoring the Constitution, the rule of law, and a non-intrustive foreign policy. They are together in this.
Where Kucinich departs from Paul is the democratic line: programs for social welfare, based on fairly high taxes. Paul's view, a conservative one, is: low taxes and let other social agences, churches, etc., take care of the needy.
Apart from that, they are almost brothers. Mike Gravel is probably in step with them also.