Son of a frillin' b*tch...
May. 9th, 2004 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cassy_gSo I hear this buzz that they are trying to bring the draft back. Of course they are, I think to myself, no way they can do something like that and everyone not already know about it. Surely, the newspapers would be all over something like that. But, for curiousity's sake, I log onto the Library of Congress, click on "Thomas Legislative Information" and start searching thru the various bills in the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
Son of a bitch... what do I find? "H.R. 163: Universal Nation Service Act of 2003" AND "S. 89: Unversal National Service Act of 2003" have been introduced in the House and the Senate respectively.
If you want to see for yourself, click here: Library of Congress, then click on "Thomas Legislative Information" and type "HR163" OR "S89" into the "Bill Number" slot.
For those of you disinclined to go looking - here's what they say:
(They are both worded the same, they were simply introduced by different people. The Senate one was introduced to the Senate floor by Mr. Hollings, and the House one was introduced by Mr. Rangel, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Lewis [OF GEORGIA], Mr. Stark, and Mr. Abercrombie).
A BILL
To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION.
SEC. 3. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE.
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
SEC. 5. INDUCTION.
SEC. 6. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.
SEC. 7. INDUCTION EXEMPTIONS.
SEC. 8. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.
SEC. 9. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING NATIONAL SERVICE.
SEC. 10. REGISTRATION OF FEMALES UNDER THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.
SEC. 11. RELATION OF ACT TO REGISTRATION AND INDUCTION AUTHORITY OF MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.
SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
Summized, these bills state that ALL persons (including women) between the ages of 18 and 26, will be required to serve at least 2 years in the armed services.
While I personally respect those that feel they wish to serve in the military, I also deeply respect that it was their own decision to do so. Taking away one's right to choose military services or not is quite simply wrong. The problems we are facing right now with the abuses of Iraqi soldiers in Abu Ghraib will only rise exponentially if we start forcing people to serve, especially people who may or may not be mentally mature enough for such stresses.
Mark my words: Take away their power, and they will seek to reclaim it some other way.
Son of a bitch... what do I find? "H.R. 163: Universal Nation Service Act of 2003" AND "S. 89: Unversal National Service Act of 2003" have been introduced in the House and the Senate respectively.
If you want to see for yourself, click here: Library of Congress, then click on "Thomas Legislative Information" and type "HR163" OR "S89" into the "Bill Number" slot.
For those of you disinclined to go looking - here's what they say:
(They are both worded the same, they were simply introduced by different people. The Senate one was introduced to the Senate floor by Mr. Hollings, and the House one was introduced by Mr. Rangel, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Lewis [OF GEORGIA], Mr. Stark, and Mr. Abercrombie).
A BILL
To provide for the common defense by requiring that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) SHORT TITLE- This Act may be cited as the `Universal National Service Act of 2003'.
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. National service obligation.
Sec. 3. Two-year period of national service.
Sec. 4. Implementation by the President.
Sec. 5. Induction.
Sec. 6. Deferments and postponements.
Sec. 7. Induction exemptions.
Sec. 8. Conscientious objection.
Sec. 9. Discharge following national service.
Sec. 10. Registration of females under the Military Selective Service Act.
Sec. 11. Relation of Act to registration and induction authority of Military Selective Service Act.
Sec. 12. Definitions.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL SERVICE OBLIGATION.
(a) OBLIGATION FOR YOUNG PERSONS- It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under the provisions of this Act.
(b) FORM OF NATIONAL SERVICE- National service under this Act shall be performed either--
(1) as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; or
(2) in a civilian capacity that, as determined by the President, promotes the national defense, including national or community service and homeland security.
(c) INDUCTION REQUIREMENTS- The President shall provide for the induction of persons covered by subsection (a) to perform national service under this Act.
(d) SELECTION FOR MILITARY SERVICE- Based upon the needs of the uniformed services, the President shall--
(1) determine the number of persons covered by subsection (a) whose service is to be performed as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services; and
(2) select the individuals among those persons who are to be inducted for military service under this Act.
(e) CIVILIAN SERVICE- Persons covered by subsection (a) who are not selected for military service under subsection (d) shall perform their national service obligation under this Act in a civilian capacity pursuant to subsection (b)(2).
SEC. 3. TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF NATIONAL SERVICE.
(a) GENERAL RULE- Except as otherwise provided in this section, the period of national service performed by a person under this Act shall be two years.
(b) GROUNDS FOR EXTENSION- At the discretion of the President, the period of military service for a member of the uniformed services under this Act may be extended--
(1) with the consent of the member, for the purpose of furnishing hospitalization, medical, or surgical care for injury or illness incurred in line of duty; or
(2) for the purpose of requiring the member to compensate for any time lost to training for any cause.
(c) EARLY TERMINATION- The period of national service for a person under this Act shall be terminated before the end of such period under the following circumstances:
(1) The voluntary enlistment and active service of the person in an active or reverse component of the uniformed services for a period of at least two years, in which case the period of basic military training and education actually served by the person shall be counted toward the term of enlistment.
(2) The admission and service of the person as a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, or the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
(3) The enrollment and service of the person in an officer candidate program, if the person has signed an agreement to accept a Reserve commission in the appropriate service with an obligation to serve
on active duty if such a commission is offered upon completion of the program.
(4) Such other grounds as the President may establish.
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
(a) IN GENERAL- The President shall prescribe such regulations as are necessary to carry out this Act.
(b) MATTER TO BE COVERED BY REGULATIONS- Such regulations shall include specification of the following:
(1) The types of civilian service that may be performed for a person's national service obligation under this Act.
(2) Standards for satisfactory performance of civilian service and of penalties for failure to perform civilian service satisfactorily.
(3) The manner in which persons shall be selected for induction under this Act, including the manner in which those selected will be notified of such selection.
(4) All other administrative matters in connection with the induction of persons under this Act and the registration, examination, and classification of such persons.
(5) A means to determine questions or claims with respect to inclusion for, or exemption or deferment from induction under this Act, including questions of conscientious objection.
(6) Standards for compensation and benefits for persons performing their national service obligation under this Act through civilian service.
(7) Such other matters as the President determines necessary to carry out this Act.
(c) USE OF PRIOR ACT- To the extent determined appropriate by the President, the President may use for purposes of this Act the procedures provided in the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 451 et seq.), including procedures for registration, selection, and induction.
SEC. 5. INDUCTION.
(a) IN GENERAL- Every person subject to induction for national service under this Act, except those whose training is deferred or postponed in accordance with this Act, shall be called and inducted by the President for such service at the time and place specified by the President.
(b) AGE LIMITS- A person may be inducted under this Act only if the person has attained the age of 18 and has not attained the age of 26.
(c) VOLUNTARY INDUCTION- A person subject to induction under this Act may volunteer for induction at a time other than the time at which the person is otherwise called for induction.
(d) EXAMINATION; CLASSIFICATION- Every person subject to induction under this Act shall, before induction, be physically and mentally examined and shall be classified as to fitness to perform national service. The President may apply different classification standards for fitness for military service and fitness for civilian service.
SEC. 6. DEFERMENTS AND POSTPONEMENTS.
(a) HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS- A person who is pursuing a standard course of study, on a full-time basis, in a secondary school or similar institution of learning shall be entitled to have induction under this Act postponed until the person--
(1) obtains a high school diploma;
(2) ceases to pursue satisfactorily such course of study; or
(3) attains the age of 20.
(b) HARDSHIP AND DISABILITY- Deferments from national service under this Act may be made for--
(1) extreme hardship; or
(2) physical or mental disability.
(c) TRAINING CAPACITY- The President may postpone or suspend the induction of persons for military service under this Act as necessary to limit the number of persons receiving basic military training and education to the maximum number that can be adequately trained.
(d) TERMINATION- No deferment or postponement of induction under this Act shall continue after the cause of such deferment or postponement ceases.
SEC. 7. INDUCTION EXEMPTIONS.
(a) QUALIFICATIONS- No person may be inducted for military service under this Act unless the person is acceptable to the Secretary concerned for training and meets the same health and physical qualifications applicable under section 505 of title 10, United States Code, to persons seeking original enlistment in a regular component of the Armed Forces.
(b) OTHER MILITARY SERVICE- No person shall be liable for induction under this Act who--
(1) is serving, or has served honorably for at least six months, in any component of the uniformed services on active duty; or
(2) is or becomes a cadet or midshipman at the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, the Coast Guard Academy, the United States
Merchant Marine Academy, a midshipman of a Navy accredited State maritime academy, a member of the Senior Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or the naval aviation college program, so long as that person satisfactorily continues in and completes two years training therein.
SEC. 8. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION.
(a) CLAIMS AS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR- Any person selected under this Act for induction into the uniformed services who claims, because of religious training and belief (as defined in section 6(j) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 456(j))), exemption from combatant training included as part of that military service and whose claim is sustained under such procedures as the President may prescribe, shall, when inducted, participate in military service that does not include any combatant training component.
(b) TRANSFER TO CIVILIAN SERVICE- Any such person whose claim is sustained may, at the discretion of the President, be transferred to a national service program for performance of such person's national service obligation under this Act.
SEC. 9. DISCHARGE FOLLOWING NATIONAL SERVICE.
(a) DISCHARGE- Upon completion or termination of the obligation to perform national service under this Act, a person shall be discharged from the uniformed services or from civilian service, as the case may be, and shall not be subject to any further service under this Act.
(b) COORDINATION WITH OTHER AUTHORITIES- Nothing in this section shall limit or prohibit the call to active service in the uniformed services of any person who is a member of a regular or reserve component of the uniformed services.
SEC. 10. REGISTRATION OF FEMALES UNDER THE MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.
(a) REGISTRATION REQUIRED- Section 3(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. 453(a)) is amended--
(1) by striking `male' both places it appears;
(2) by inserting `or herself' after `himself'; and
(3) by striking `he' and inserting `the person'.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Section 16(a) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 466(a)) is amended by striking `men' and inserting `persons'.
SEC. 11. RELATION OF ACT TO REGISTRATION AND INDUCTION AUTHORITY OF MILITARY SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT.
(a) REGISTRATION- Section 4 of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 454) is amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:
`(h) This section does not apply with respect to the induction of persons into the Armed Forces pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2003.'.
(b) INDUCTION- Section 17(c) of the Military Selective Service Act (50 U.S.C. App. 467(c)) is amended by striking `now or hereafter' and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting `inducted pursuant to the Universal National Service Act of 2003.'.
SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) The term `military service' means service performed as a member of an active or reverse component of the uniformed services.
(2) The term `Secretary concerned' means the Secretary of Defense with respect to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, the Secretary of Commerce, with respect to matters concerning the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to matters concerning the Public Health Service.
(3) The term `United States', when used in a geographical sense, means the several States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.
(4) The term `uniformed services' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and commissioned corps of the Public Health Service.
Summized, these bills state that ALL persons (including women) between the ages of 18 and 26, will be required to serve at least 2 years in the armed services.
While I personally respect those that feel they wish to serve in the military, I also deeply respect that it was their own decision to do so. Taking away one's right to choose military services or not is quite simply wrong. The problems we are facing right now with the abuses of Iraqi soldiers in Abu Ghraib will only rise exponentially if we start forcing people to serve, especially people who may or may not be mentally mature enough for such stresses.
Mark my words: Take away their power, and they will seek to reclaim it some other way.
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no subject
Date: 2004-05-09 04:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-09 05:53 pm (UTC)Ireland is looking increasingly more suitable... or New Zealand... Canada is out though. (See my post in response to jollyroger13's statement to understand why.)
no subject
Date: 2004-05-09 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-09 05:51 pm (UTC)Avoiding signing up for the draft is harder now too. In May, 2000, Delaware became the first state to enact legislation linking drivers' license applications to Selective Service registration and by Aug. 2003, 32 states, two US territories, and the District of Columbia had followed suit. Georgia is on the list of 32.
Also, if memory serves me correctly, Native American Indians were drafted in WW II and in Vietnam.
Further, if you read Section 2 (a) it states: OBLIGATION FOR YOUNG PERSONS- It is the obligation of every citizen of the United States, and every other person residing in the United States, who is between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a period of national service as prescribed in this Act unless exempted under the provisions of this Act.
This implies that immigrants, native americans, and anyone else on US soil would be required to enlist in the draft. Not to mention it is called the "UNIVERSAL National Service Act".
And, as if that's not all scary enough - last month the government successfully filled all of the Selective Service positions - in their words "if the draft was necessary to achieve what President Bush thought was needed".
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 09:09 am (UTC)Most people typically say they'll either flee somewhere or hide out. Doesn't matter if it's Canada or Timbuctu, the point is I just threw out Canada because that's the old standby Americans usually say, despite changes in legislation. Some of my Native ancestors did hide out during the relocation time, but that was a different era. None of what I said was meant to be taken so seriously.
In reality, I know that any action taken to defy the draft would be quite different and would require a different set of strategy skills to do so with any lasting effectiveness.
Anyway, this is exactly the reason why I tend to steer clear of political topics.
And although I appreciate your knowledge of legislation, it wasn't teaching me anything I didn't already know.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 09:20 am (UTC)Totally didn't mean to come off like a know it all or anything either.
I wish I knew what I could do to effect a real change in this policy, truthfully, I don't. But more on that another time.
Hope your day goes well! :)
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 01:39 pm (UTC)Maybe if I had added an emoticon or something to my original post. Ah well.
Anyway, I just want to say that one of the many things I admire about you is your intelligence, dilligence and passion for issues that are important to you.
It's nice to know someone who cares enough about issues that affect us to post them so folks can hopefully learn from and thus be in a better position to take direct action.
Hope your day goes well too!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 02:59 pm (UTC)Sometimes I am maybe toooooo passionate about things - I don't know what to blame, the red hair, the Irish blood, or being a Taurus!
Thanks for being understanding. :)
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 06:59 pm (UTC)Wait, did I know that you were a Taurus too? When is your birthday again? I hope we didn't miss it!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 08:49 pm (UTC)I am looking forward to not doing anything Dragon*Con related, and to going to see my son perform in his school play of "Guys & Dolls". :D
Depending on how crazy this weekend is, I might think about asking people to join me for dinner or something, but I am still waiting that one out (I know bad to put it off, but I hate to make plans then break them).
no subject
Date: 2004-05-09 07:46 pm (UTC)I believe Senators and Representatives are allowed to introduce bills, but that doesn't mean that they will get passed or that they are popularly supported.
I understand your concern, and if they were to come up for a vote, I'm sure the media would pick up on it and report it. This, it appears, is very old news that may not have been supported, and left to die in committee, as many bills are.
I'm not the best with legal matters, so I could be wrong, but that is what it appears like.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-09 07:50 pm (UTC)I don't think any president is stupid enough to try to actively push this thru during the election, but if he's elected a second time, I wouldn't be so sure that he won't pull it out of his back pocket.
It's not actually "dead" just "on hold".
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 09:30 am (UTC)Consider this; unless things have changed in Ireland, it is very difficult for the Irish to find jobs which means it would be near impossible for an American or any other foreigner to. How would you exist without being able to work? What would your son have to look forward to?
The cost of uprooting and moving to another country is immense, especially with a young son I'd imagine. Even if you yourself can afford to do so what options does that leave those who can't? The more people stick around and fight this legislation the better. I say make your voice heard, don't slip quietly away somewhere else because then you can’t effect a change as a former citizen.
I guess I'm old fashioned, I believe in fealty to my country. Don't misunderstand me, I don't mean fealty to my government but to the land I live on itself. My family, my friends and my life is here. Whatever is going to happen, despite what actions I and others may take to stop it, is going to happen. Do we run from it or fight it?
I’m not any happier about this than then you are, but I don’t think we should immediately start looking to other borders. I’m all for being prepared, but I prefer to fight and stick things out for as long as I can. Truth be told, my view on this depends on how necessary the draft really is for the safety of America and of my loved ones. As it is I think Bush is insane and has a vendetta and a moral mission he wants to accomplish. Even the Iraqis are asking us to pull out, from what I know of the situation I don’t think we should stay there any longer than is absolutely necessary. I won’t join the military (for my own reasons) but if a draft was instituted and I had to go, I’d go and do my duty, I wouldn’t take the coward’s way out. I seriously doubt it will come to that though.
Should they attempt to push this through I think many Americans will stand against it. My advice? Stop shopping for air fares on Expedia and start writing your congressperson.
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 09:52 am (UTC)Also, I didn't say I was going to leave over this - I have mentioned wanting to move to Ireland in the past, and I have wanted to do that most of my life, even when I liked the government we have. I was merely pointing out that the things people did in the 60s & 70s to avoid the draft and or protest had been "solved".
On another note, I find it interesting that homosexuals aren't exempt from being drafted. So essentially, they can't freely join, or if they do and they are "outed, the are kicked out, but they can be drafted. (Assuming this ever gets inacted). That's a nice like kick in the teeth.
I will let you know if I get any response from any of the congressmen I wrote to regarding this issue.
Thanks for the debate. :)
Ugh.
Date: 2004-05-10 01:46 pm (UTC)Well, I guess I answered my own question. It's the military afterall, so manipulation and profiteering seems to go hand in hand with it.
Re: Ugh.
Date: 2004-05-10 02:57 pm (UTC)I am definately feeling confounded by many things lately, and this is just one of them...
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 09:41 am (UTC)http://www.draftregistration.us/
no subject
Date: 2004-05-10 02:59 pm (UTC)