H.R. 5741: Universal National Service Act

[TechMan]

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-5741

To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.

The above bill was introduced by the alleged tax cheat Mr. Rangel.  It has no co-sponsors, so it probably is dead. 
Three things of note:  1)  If a Congresscritter is under major ethics investigation, should they be allowed to introduce legislation.  2)  At the end of the proposed bill it changes the SSA from just male to both male and female.  3)  IIRC wasn't one of Obama's platforms to end the wars?  This seems to be indicating the opposite.

[Tallpine]

These days, I'm all for burning draft cards down on Main Street 

[Azrael256]

Getting this bill slapped down is Rangel's favorite pastime.  It's probably the fifteenth attempt.

[MechAg94]

Getting this bill slapped down is Rangel's favorite pastime.  It's probably the fifteenth attempt.

Yeah, I was thinking someone introduces this every year.  They have this idea that our VOLUNTEER army is racist or something as it has too many poor people and minorities. 

[Stand_watie]

Yeah, I was thinking someone introduces this every year.  They have this idea that our VOLUNTEER army is racist or something as it has too many poor people and minorities. 

     That may be what they say in public, but I think their real motivation is simply to prevent us from having an effective military option on the table regarding foreign policy.

[Jamisjockey]

Within days of the Annointed One's inauguration, some nutjob proposed eliminating the Presidential term limits. Promptly died in commitee.

[Firethorn]

And here I thought it might be about eliminating the sexism currently present in the draft/militia laws.

Oh well...   

[RevDisk]

The above bill was introduced by the alleged tax cheat Mr. Rangel.  It has no co-sponsors, so it probably is dead. 
Three things of note:  1)  If a Congresscritter is under major ethics investigation, should they be allowed to introduce legislation.  2)  At the end of the proposed bill it changes the SSA from just male to both male and female.  3)  IIRC wasn't one of Obama's platforms to end the wars?  This seems to be indicating the opposite.

I do agree that both men and women should have to register and if need be, drafted.   Not that I particularly support either, but if you're going to do so, I want some equality.

[TechMan]

I do agree that both men and women should have to register and if need be, drafted.   Not that I particularly support either, but if you're going to do so, I want some equality.

I agree with that though as well.

[BReilley]

I do agree that both men and women should have to register and if need be, drafted.   Not that I particularly support either, but if you're going to do so, I want some equality.

As much as I disagree with the idea of a mixed *fighting* force(for reasons which we have discussed at length on APS), I think it's reasonable to say that equal sacrifices must accompany the "gains" made by the feminism/equality/womens' liberation movement.

On the actual bill and its sponsor, it's a Bad Idea put forth by a Bad Man.  Rangel's voters, though, get what they deserve each time they re-elect the scumbag.

[Tallpine]

Equal opportunity oppression and tyranny!   

[sanglant]

hmm, just an idea. but i say each week we should hold a national lottery with 537 winners. each winner is assigned an elected official. and issued a nice big cane(if the winner is disabled, a taser), and given 10 minutes to whip some sense into the elected official they have been assigned.

[wmenorr67]

hmm, just an idea. but i say each week we should hold a national lottery with 537 winners. each winner is assigned an elected official. and issued a nice big cane(if the winner is disabled, a taser), and given 10 minutes to whip some sense into the elected official they have been assigned.

I want Pelosi, Reid or Boxer.

[RevDisk]

hmm, just an idea. but i say each week we should hold a national lottery with 537 winners. each winner is assigned an elected official. and issued a nice big cane(if the winner is disabled, a taser), and given 10 minutes to whip some sense into the elected official they have been assigned.

At the moment, I think our country would be better off if the 537 winners just replaced the elected officials. 

I still think the best way of electing the President would be to throw a dart at a map of the US.  Drop someone from an aircraft at that approximate location.  Give that person a nerf ball.  Whoever is the first person pegged with the nerf ball becomes the President, whether they want to or not.

[Tallpine]

At the moment, I think our country would be better off if the 537 winners just replaced the elected officials. 

I still think the best way of electing the President would be to throw a dart at a map of the US.  Drop someone from an aircraft at that approximate location.  Give that person a nerf ball.  Whoever is the first person pegged with the nerf ball becomes the President, whether they want to or not.

It certainly could not be any worse than the current system 

[BReilley]

At the moment, I think our country would be better off if the 537 winners just replaced the elected officials.

Prager loves to quote... William Buckley, IIRC: "I am obliged to confess I should sooner live in a society governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than in a society governed by the two thousand faculty members of Harvard University."

I still think the best way of electing the President would be to throw a dart at a map of the US.  Drop someone from an aircraft at that approximate location.  Give that person a nerf ball.  Whoever is the first person pegged with the nerf ball becomes the President, whether they want to or not.

Yeah, but to preserve the tradition of the electoral college, we would have to use a weighted map such as:

http://election.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/electoral-map-5nov08.png

:D

[P5 Guy]

YES! Great idea! Take every person from their family, on their 18th birthday away into National Service!
Do they get nice light brown shirts too