more on A New Selective Service Draft

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Richard Fritzson <fritzson () cs umbc edu>
Date: September 13, 2004 8:28:26 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
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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