[IP] more on A New Selective Service Draft
Begin forwarded message:
From: Richard Fritzson <fritzson@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: September 13, 2004 8:28:26 AM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] A New Selective Service Draft
Dave,
Gordon Jacobson presents a "far more balanced view of his remarks" by
describing the problem of poverty in the US as "Rangel's ghetto". I'm
sure that Fox News would agree that this is "fair and balanced".
If he really wanted to balance this letter about the draft he could
have pointed everyone to Snopes which last wrote about this letter in
May of this year ( http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/draft.asp ).
There each of the items are examined and alternative, relatively
harmless, explanations given for these facts. (The facts aren't
questioned at all.) However, it isn't Snopes's most definitive answer,
it ends with:
There is as yet no definitive answer to the question of whether
or not the U.S. will reinstitute a draft. Obviously some thought
has been given to the issue, but the possibility that such thoughts
will be turned into reality appears rather small at this point. Still,
conditions and attitudes can change very quickly — another event
of the magnitude of the September 11 attacks could prompt
some rapid shifts in government policy and public opinion.
I think that, regardless of the results of November's election, another
serious terrorist attack is still somewhat likely. Having the Selective
Service boards filled and bills ready to go in both houses of Congress
means that not only can "conditions and attitudes" change very quickly
but reality can as well.
The Patriot Act wasn't written after the 9/11 attack. It was written
before it and was waiting for an opportunity to get through Congress.
Right after 9/11, a bill which had previously been unthinkable had an
opening and became law without enough public discussion at a time when
emotions were running too high.
It seems to me that the draft is progressing to that level of
readiness. And this is the time to talk about it. After the next act of
terrorism, the bills can become laws and the Selective Service will be
fully staffed and ready. People who try to discuss it then will be
shouted down. That people get shouted down now, when there is time to
discuss it, is an indication of how seriously broken things are in this
country.
Rich Fritzson
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