[Peace-discuss] [Fwd: [ronpaul-207] "Compulsory universal service" for ages 18-25]

[E. Wayne Johnson]

I am not opposed to voluntary collectivism but forced collectivism 
(conscription in peace time)
is not desirable and doesnt appear to be constitutional.  Individual
states could do it perhaps while those who dont like that could
depart to other free-er states.

E. Wayne Johnson wrote:
> We are sure we should not see our children subjected to this in any way.
>
> Absolutely not.
>
> My conscience is violated by the thought of it. 
> This isnt just a no.  It a No Hell No and some other things too.
>
> No No No Absolutely not.
>
> C. G. Estabrook wrote:
>> Wayne--
>>
>> Instead of opposing this, we should support it -- with improvements.
>>
>> Here's how it would work. Young people will know that between the 
>> ages of
>> eighteen and twenty-five, the nation will enlist them for three 
>> months of service.
>>
>> Such service shall be remunerated with a living wage, defined as the 
>> annual
>> amount necessary to support a family, acquire a residence, 
>> transportation, etc.
>>
>> After the initial three months, such adequately-remunerated work may 
>> be resumed
>> at any point of the citizen's choosing, and for as long as s/he may 
>> wish.
>>
>> Such service shall include military service.
>>
>> The manner in which tasks are accomplished shall be determined 
>> democratically by
>> those engaged in them.  Notably, labor may be withdrawn with no loss 
>> of pay when
>> the task violates the conscience of the worker -- by, e.g., 
>> environmental
>> destruction, military devastation, etc.
>>
>> I'm sure you can think of other improvements.  I'm also sure that we 
>> agree that
>> an anarchist society has to be a highly organized one.  (Anarchism 
>> doesn't mean
>> no rules -- just no rulers.)
>>
>> Regards, CGE
>>
>>
>>
>> E. Wayne Johnson wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> -------- Original Message -------- Subject:     [ronpaul-207] 
>>> "Compulsory
>>> universal service" for ages 18-25 Date:     Sun, 9 Nov 2008 21:58:56 
>>> -0500 From:
>>> Kurt Fiech <kfiech at hotmail.com> Reply-To:     ronpaul-207 at meetup.com 
>>> To:
>>> ronpaul-207 at meetup.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Obama's chief of staff choice favors compulsory universal service
>>>
>>> Rep. Rahm Emanuel <http://www.house.gov/emanuel/photos.shtml> of 
>>> Illinois,
>>> President-Elect Barack Obama's choice for chief of staff in his 
>>> incoming
>>> administration, is co-author of a book, /The Plan: Big Ideas for 
>>> America/ <http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1586484125/>, that calls 
>>> for, among other
>>> things, compulsory service for all Americans ages 18 to 25. The 
>>> following
>>> excerpt is from pages 61-62 of the 2006 book:
>>>
>>> It's time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all 
>>> of us. We
>>> propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under 
>>> this plan,
>>> All Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will be 
>>> asked to
>>> serve their country by going through three months of basic training, 
>>> civil
>>> defense preparation and community service. ... Here's how it would 
>>> work.
>>> Young people will know that between the ages of eighteen and 
>>> twenty-five, the
>>> nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service. 
>>> They'll be
>>> asked to report for three months of basic civil defense training in 
>>> their state or community, where they will learn what to do in the 
>>> event of
>>> biochemical, nuclear or conventional attack; how to assist others in an
>>> evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we're hit by a 
>>> natural
>>> disaster. These young people will be available to address their 
>>> communities'
>>> most pressing needs.
>>>
>>> Emanuel and co-author Bruce Reed insist "this is not a draft," but 
>>> go on to
>>> write of young men and women, "the nation will enlist them for three 
>>> months
>>> of civilian service." They also warn, "[s]ome Republicans will 
>>> squeal about
>>> individual freedom," ruling out any likelihood that they would let 
>>> people opt
>>> out of universal citizen service.
>>>
>>> As chief of staff, Emanuel will not be in a position to directly 
>>> introduce
>>> public policy, but his enthusiasm for compulsory service, combined with
>>> Barack Obama's own plan to require high school students to perform 
>>> 50 hours
>>> of government-approved service 
>>> <http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner%7Ey2008m9d17-The-plausibly-deniable-draft--Obamas-very-modern-take-on-national-service>, 
>>>
>>> suggest an unfortunate direction for the new administration.
>>
>>
>>
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