Prominent Democrat Wants To Reinstate The Draft

Rep. Charles Rangel, who is set to become the Chairman of the House Ways And Means Committee (or, as I like to call it, the Ways-To-Be-Mean Committee), has called for the reinstatement of the military draft:

WASHINGTON — Americans would have to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18 if the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee has his way.

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said Sunday he sees his idea as a way to deter politicians from launching wars and to bolster U.S. troop levels insufficient to cover potential future action in Iran, North Korea and Iraq.

“There’s no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way,” Rangel said.

Rangel’s evidence for this ? Nothing, it seems but his own mind. Does he forget the fact that the badly-executed Vietnam War occurred in an era when we had the draft ? Not to mention the very Korean War that Rangel fought in. The idea that war would be less likely if there were a draft in place quite simply has no evidence in history.

More disturbing than Rangel’s misunderstanding of military history, though, is his collectivist rhetoric, and the idea that you “owe something” to your country.

He said having a draft would not necessarily mean everyone called to duty would have to serve. Instead, “young people (would) commit themselves to a couple of years in service to this great republic, whether it’s our seaports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals,” with a promise of educational benefits at the end of service.

Since when does the state have the right to ask anyone, young or old, to “commit themselves” to the service of others for any period of time ? If you thought liberty was under assault with the Republicans in control of Congress, it looks like things will only get worse in 2007.

Further coverage of the story here.