I wondered when this was going to come up. Thoughts?
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/31/opinion/31RANG.html?todaysheadlines

Like most of us I remember the days when all our young men and folksingers were subject to the draft and don't want to return to those days for our children's generation.I hope it will never come to that, but I do see what he's getting at, I think.

We're doing this thing with Iraq and recent surveys show most Americans aren't too sure about it. We're also not very worked up about it and are drifting toward war without being very engaged as a nation one way or the other. It's not a big topic of conversation or concern for most people, despite the daily news stories about it and war has become a reality show and we just tune into CNN to watch it. I think that Representative Rangel would like to see the American people really thinking about it. I know he's not dumb enough to think that the sons of real privilege are going to be on the front lines of anything if they don't want to be. I also think that no administration with members who lived through the Vietnam era is going to want the public thinking quite that hard about international policy, so I don't think it's going to happen that fast. If it does it'll change the nation as much as anything that's happened in the last few decades.

It sent shivers down my spine, too, but I do see what he's getting at: As long as it's not a direct threat to one's family, its consequences may not be considered seriously. Let's hope that his intent of getting people's attention can be realized without actually taking that step.

We should learn from the past. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/frown.gif" width=15 height=15>

What Ceashel said.

That's one thing I've always been gratefull for, and that was being a tad young for the War (Namn)! The draft was pretty much gone by the time I hit 18.

It reminds me of the book I'm reading 'My War' by Andy Rooney. If Rooney had gone a few steps further, he'd of been a draft dodger. (I think part of him wanted to be, the rest went with the flow of the system).

He makes no bones about 'not wanting' the war, and not wanting to be there. But I guess in his day, it would of been easier to go with the flow. Pat's right. People of privledge & conviction will never stand for this.

Not to sound un-Patriotic, but I believe that's an accurate statement!?

I found this link and it looks pretty interesting--haven't dug too deeply yet, but maybe there is some useful info there.
http://www.policyalmanac.org