Rep. John Murtha Wants Lottery for 'Citizens Army'

[BMT (RIP)]

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2...706.shtml?s=ic

BMT

[Trip_Wire (RIP)]

BMT:

The link doesn't work for me.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Trip_Wire

BMT:

The link doesn't work for me.

Me neither. But then there is very little I have found coming out of Murtha's mouth that has any relevance to reality.

[incommin]

The link worked for me....

So the dumb ass thinks we need a citizens army to go with a professional army.

I think he has eaten too much chocolate.......too many trips to Hershey Park!



Jim

[Monsoon65]

Lottery is just a nice word for "draft".

And how come the left isn't up in arms about this? Had Bush made the suggestion, DC would be in flames.

[kgoerz]

Many Gays that oppose the Militarys don't ask don't tell policy will suddenly change their minds. If there was a lottery/Draft It would be interesting to see the number of draft dodgers today, compared to the number during the hight of the Vietnam War. More or less?
Besides more or less. IMO, sadly the majority of draft dodgers today would be running for selfish reasons, ignorant to facts. Not for opposing violence, War, Religious beliefs, political opinions....etc.

[TENGU]

For a former combat seasoned veteran like Murtha, to spew the rhetoric he does and calls our Army "broken" and joins the surrender/cut & run crowd,
my personal theory is that the man must have a brain tumor!

[jbour13]

Originally Posted by TENGU

For a former combat seasoned veteran like Murtha, to spew the rhetoric he does and calls our Army "broken" and joins the surrender/cut & run crowd,
my personal theory is that the man must have a brain tumor!

Murtha is weak, plain and simple.

[Sionnach]

Originally Posted by TENGU

For a former combat seasoned veteran like Murtha, to spew the rhetoric he does and calls our Army "broken" and joins the surrender/cut & run crowd,
my personal theory is that the man must have a brain tumor!

No, he has something much worse than a tumor, and that's an agenda. The only thing thing uniting the looney left is a hatred of George Bush. They don't care about the nation, they only care about embarassing Bush. Even if it costs our nation its future, losing in Iraq means making George Bush look bad, and that is all that matters to them.

Murtha knows why our military is so small. We used to have a fairly large all-volunteer army. Perhaps some young men who would join the army see the way our politicians, *cough* Murthaf-cker *cough* Pelosi *cough*, and press treat the military, and choose not to serve. Murtha, more than any of them, seems to despise the POTUS with a passion that borders on sanity. Murtha liks to scream, “I’m a VETERAN! Behold my Absolute Moral Authority Card™!”, but he fails to understand that past heroism does not excuse present conduct. Besides, his heroism, like "The Poodle's" is suspect.

Edited for clarity.

[GreenSalsa]

The leftist in this country want a draft (lottery) in order to place a “check” on the military. Most liberals are stunned that retention rates continue to meet or exceed goals, AWOL rates are below pre war training levels, and that we in uniform are not in “open revolt” and burning ID cards to avoid going to war. They fear us.

During the Vietnam War era the average civilian male was VERY concerned with going to war (you older guys will have to verify this for me). This was the cause of most of the angst back then—the war was real and could impact genuine family members—hence why the nation took it much more personal.

Fast forward to today, and the average American still feels concerned but only between beers and sporting events. There is no real personal interest in the war because they really are not worried about fighting because there is no draft—thus this is why although most of the nation just doesn’t get the war on Terror they are not willing to riot.

I believe the left (specifically the “peace and any price” crowd) in this country want more Americans off the couch and in the street to cement their pacifist / defeatist views and swell their power base. The surest way to do so is to put the war in very real terms; by reconstructing the conditions of the 70s and reinstituting the draft.

This would also have the added impact of weakening the military, which they are more than happy to do. They want a larger unwilling segment of the military and society to hesitate, desert, or revolt at the though of going to war. They want to end the All-Volunteer force.

[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Originally Posted by GreenSalsa

During the Vietnam War era the average civilian male was VERY concerned with going to war (you older guys will have to verify this for me). This was the cause of most of the angst back then—the war was real and could impact genuine family members—hence why the nation took it much more personal..

You bring up a very interesting perspective that I never really paid any attention to. When I entered the military I sort of broke all ties with the civilian side of things and never really had any use for civilians as all they really seemed to do was treat us as lepers. Even today I cannot seem to even identify with many of the civilian woes and problems that I see many sniveling like rats eating onions over as they are concerned more with trivial minutia than real problems. I have really tried to make some kind of transistion and have failed miserably and it is probably me but when you all have to sit down and build some kind of consensus to address simple problems that can best be solved by common sense and someone standing up and taking charge it drives me nuts. I have more important things to do with what time I have available. So I live in the woods and because I can't get anyone to drop me a resupply bundle I ease into the civilian world only when necessary.

[Ret10Echo]

Originally Posted by Jack Moroney

You bring up a very interesting perspective that I never really paid any attention to. When I entered the military I sort of broke all ties with the civilian side of things and never really had any use for civilians as all they really seemed to do was treat us as lepers. Even today I cannot seem to even identify with many of the civilian woes and problems that I see many sniveling like rats eating onions over as they are concerned more with trivial minutia than real problems. I have really tried to make some kind of transistion and have failed miserably and it is probably me but when you all have to sit down and build some kind of consensus to address simple problems that can best be solved by common sense and someone standing up and taking charge it drives me nuts. I have more important things to do with what time I have available. So I live in the woods and because I can't get anyone to drop me a resupply bundle I ease into the civilian world only when necessary.

Sir,
Concur with the inability to understand the issues that the average civilian seems to find so troublesome. (Besides, who the heck is in charge of these guys?) Rats whine...I figure, heck if I'm not freezing, wet, broken or getting shot at life is pretty good.


(Main Entry: lot·tery
Pronunciation: 'lä-t&-rE also 'lä-trE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ter·ies
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle French loterie, from Middle Dutch, from lot lot; akin to Old English hlot lot
1 a : a drawing of lots in which prizes are distributed to the winners among persons buying a chance b : a drawing of lots used to decide something
2 : an event or affair whose outcome is or seems to be determined by chance)

Interesting that the Dims choose the term Lottery:

Downside: I am not sure if there remains much institutional knowledge within the services to deal with a draft military.

Up-side: Many of those rats will find a new perspective on life. Maybe then when my cell drops data coverage I won't completely crumble.

Enjoy the woodline...wish I could do likewise.

[LongWire]

If they want to get more Volunteers, and keep retention high, then they need to bring in more incentives for those on the fence.

I propose that all soldiers serving should be Tax Free for the duration of service, with an added % of that after 10 yrs of service as well as benefits. For instance, someone who separates after 10 yrs, would get 50% retirement, and 50% tax free, and on up to 20 yrs. at 100%. Stay in longer than 20 and get added incentives, I.E. more pay.

This would help, bring in more prospectives, and help retention for those that are on the fence with staying.

Not to mention a fix to the SDP program, more like a 401K...........

[incommin]

Has $$$$$ ever been the main motivator of soldiers??????

I think history says that it is not!

Jim

[LongWire]

Originally Posted by incommin

Has $$$$$ ever been the main motivator of soldiers??????

I think history says that it is not!

Jim

You'd be surprised these days...........There is a lot of money out there in the private sector, I see a lot of guys getting out to go work some contracting gig.

My main point is this, America as a whole are not franchised into the war effort. I think that this would help, plus it raises the bar and playing field for those that Do Serve. Those in Congress, do not pay into Social Security, and they get paid for life even if they only serve 1 term. Meanwhile, those of us that commit a lifetime to service, are seeing our retirement, and benefits dwindle year after year. To me this would spark a whole other interest in serving and actually franchise those who do commit a lifetime to service.

Money isn't a motivator for me, and never was..........but every little bit counts.