> I haven't heard any good left arguments against the draft, though I'm
> all
> ears if anyone has one. I do agree with the *libertarian* arguments
> against
> it, actually -- the government shouldn't have the power to make me put
> my
> life on the line -- but it seems the left actually risks looking/being
> hypocritical by denouncing class inequality and then denouncing a
> policy
> that would in theory -- and somewhat in fact -- force the privileged to
> serve. Better not to oppose the draft itself, but oppose wars and
> organize
> draft resistance in the -- very unlikely -- event there should be a
> draft.
Uh, as I remember the Vietnam War, opportunities for the privileged to dodge the draft were a lot more available than ones for the unprivileged. No one with wealth and connections had to worry about putting their lives on the line if they didn't want to (Shrub was only one example), and they won't if the draft is revived this time. My opinion is that the "fairness" argument for the draft is full of holes.
I see draft resistance as an integral part of opposing wars, not an add-on. The U.S. should not be beating the world up the way it is with anyone, period -- rich, poor, immigrants, or Chaney's and Bush's daughters.
Jon Johanning // jjohanning at igc.org __________________________________ A gentleman haranguing on the perfection of our law, and that it was equally open to the poor and the rich, was answered by another, 'So is the London Tavern.' -- "Tom Paine's Jests..." (1794); also attr. to John Horne Tooke (1736-1812) by Hazlitt