Conscription and Capitalism
"Any man whose name was drawn could escape service in one of the two ways: he could buy a flat commutation fee of $300.00, which exempted him unless and until his name was drawn again-or he could hire a substitue to go to war for him."
I'd like you to reflect and blog on two things here: Was this a fair system? Why or why not? And how does this compare to our all volunteer army?
ok so i believe that this is not a fair system because if he paid to not to go to war and his name was drawn again he could pay again and not have to go to war at all. if he substitutes someone what if the person he substituted's name came up what would he have to do. there are some countrys where going to the service is a type of community service and you have to do it for your country so i dont know i believe that if your name is drawn then you go there should be no way to get out
ReplyDeleteI agree with Joe!
ReplyDeleteI think ths isnt fair because what if a person is poor and doesnt have $300 then he has no choice but to go to war. But the whole draft system is unfair completely. Making someone do something against their will is wrong.
ReplyDeleteNastalsia:
ReplyDeleteI dont believe this system is fair because they dont have a say. It reminds me of the draft when all the boys had to sign up for the army when they turned 18. you should have some say in whether you go to the army or not, its not like its a free vacation, some people lose their lives.
I don't think that this is fair because not everyone would be able to afford the $300 or the fee to hire a substitute to go to war for him. I'm not sure how this compares to our volunteer army considering I don't know what that is... I think that people should have to right to go to the army or not but I don't think that this is a fair way of deciding who goes because it favors the wealthy more than the poor.
ReplyDeleteThe poor have a right to decide whether or not they want to go NOT based on money.
Emily says:
ReplyDeletei dont think this was a fair law because if you chose to find someone to substitute to fight for you that person wouldnt get the choice to opt out. and if the cost to get out of it was so high only the people who had the money. this compares to our army today in the fact that even though their is no draft law you could still get out of a deployment if your in college. and under other circumstances.
I agree with salsa because many people dont come back from war. Now thats wrong because they didnt want to go in the first place!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with nastalsia. This is almost exactly like the draft. These people have a right to choose if they want to fight or not. I understand that we need people to fight for our country but I think there are plenty of volunteers.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe this is a fair system at all. I think that war should be a volunteer service and should hopefully never come to a draft. However if it does, I don't think they should use this system because I believe it is unfair for ones involvement in the war to be determined by a drawing of whether someone chooses you as their substitute. I think this system would creat more problems than solutions.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this is fair because if you were poor you were forced to join the army. Some people can't afford to buy their way out or hire a substiute.
ReplyDeleteToday however the army is voluntary, people are no longer forced to join the army.
Because of this soldiers are more dedicated to what they do and the military is probably stronger and more effective than it was when people were drafted.
In response to Emily;
ReplyDeleteI think that all of us are agreeing that this is compared to the draft that has went on in America.
This is not fair at all. from what im understanding is that it is random drawings so it is impossible to determine how many times your name will get called. If someones name gets called more than other people and they have to pay more $, just one person, that alone makes it unfair.
ReplyDeleteI think this system was used in the civil wars ages where if a rich person who didin't want to go they send other people. It wasn't fair because some people didn't volunteer to go. Also family members sometimes only have this one offspring so it would suck and that it like imprisonment because if your drafted then your drafted. But I can understand why the govt. would do this because they are doing it for the country and to prevent further deaths.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alanna too!!
ReplyDeletethis compares to our volunteer army because you dont have to join. There are ways to get out of the army but for us u have the choice to go or not and for the capatalism u can choose to pay or stick someone else in ur spot and not go at all
ReplyDeleteI agree with Liz, in the fact that not everyone has the money to afford this. This law definitely favors the rich over the poor and would further cause a division in society.
ReplyDeleteThis is more lenient than a draft because it allows someone to buy their way out of the war.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alanna. Things that are very serious and involve life risks should be more of a personal choice than a force. Having a draft could make more problems.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nastalsia. War is a serious issue and should not be determined by something as simple as a draft or a fee.
ReplyDeleteThis is really stupid i agree with joey if i paid to exempted my name shouldnt come up gain. So i believe this is unfair system. But in away its kinda cool that u can pay someone to go in ya place but its kind of like handing someone a first class death ticket and 100 dollars..seriously who does that. I very appreactiative of are voulenteer system because that way ii dont have to be scared of a love one getting drafted off.
ReplyDeletei agree with alanna,when the names are drwn, why is it almost always a person who is poor or isnt doing well, it seems as if it were a sacrifice and not a random draw of a name?
ReplyDeletei agree with Michelle. It should be someones choice if they want to go to war. if they dont have the money then its not fair. i also agree with joe, if your name is drawn then i guess its done fair and square.
ReplyDeleteIn response to nastalsia:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that many people do lose their lives and many family members are not perpared for this kind of event.
well for those who have money to spare, this would probably seem like a fair system. but i dont think its fair for those who are less fortunate.plus how would they go about choosing the names to go into this system anyways?
ReplyDeletei agree with lvs..What about the poor?????
ReplyDeleteStephanie
ReplyDeleteThis system of someone paying someone else to go to war in their place, is not fair and I do not agree with it because the rich are able to avoid service while the poor have no choice but to serve in the army because they can not pay the money to get out of it. This is completely different from our volunteer army in which every one who joins want to join or is willing to serve in the army.
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ReplyDeleteI thinkt this is unfair for anyone no matter what, especially people who can not afford to pay this once or even twice. I think it can help people get out of it but they should be drafted in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI dont think it is fair because they are left with a choice they cant control. In addition, they are wasting their money unwillingly because the government is causing them to pay just to keep themself from going active duty while in the military. Its not fair, their name could be drawn over and over and they'd continue to pay for their name to be unexcepted . If you volunteer, you volunteered. You shouldn't try to get out since you made the decision to volunteer. If you make a decision stick to it. Say if your a volunteer soldier and you decided you want to get into the service and volunteer to serve your country. You'd be making yourself look stupid by trying or asking or paying to get out of the service because you presented yourself in the 1st place. Your country could look down on you as a failure and someone unserious. Plus say if you decided to get back into the service, the commanders are going to look at you and think heres this stupid guy, he gave it up before. why am I going to want to take him back after to represented himself poorly. He also demonstrated that he isnt meant for this. One could also see this person and the choices and made, and them try to follow the steps he took. That would give our military a bad title, that they are not truthful in supporting and serving our country.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Alanna:
ReplyDeleteI agree that war is a serious issue, life itself is for oneself to choose and not just some random draft or someone to who put you in for substitute.
In Response to Joe
ReplyDeleteIf you are poor you don't have much of a choice. If you can't afford to pay the $300 or hire a substitute you have to go. But with our army if you don't want to be in the army you have a choice about whether or not to join to begin with.
I agree with Emily about the substitution part, because its not fair that one person gets their way payed out while the other has no choice in the matter of going to war.
ReplyDeleteI agree with alanna and michelle, if people want to go to war then thats their decision. But for such a seriouse matter it shouldnt be forced on people.
ReplyDeleteThis system is not fair at all like most people are saying because only the rich can excape service. This is like the old draft that america use to have but instead of getting out by paying you need to do very well in school or have a very important or high up job not to be drafted. but i do not know how this is simular to our army today.
ReplyDeleteI believe that although this is better than a straight draft and creates chances to safely fairly get out of going to war, it does bring up some problems. First of all, not everyone can afford the $300 that it takes to defer the person to a later date. This is a problem because it is unfair to those who cannot pay. As a whole, I do not believe that the draft is a good system, and although not completely the same, it shows several similar characters. Because of this, the system stated above is not a fair one. This system bases human rights on how much money they have. People should have the right to chose whether or not they want to go to war, and should not have to pay their way out. I believe that if someone wants to have a volunteer army it should be just that, voluntary.
ReplyDeleteStephanie agrees with nastalsia it was often the people who had enough to survive but not enough to pay someone that much to get out of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with stephanie. I realized maybe I didnt think on the right track about the volunteer army. It is true because you can volunteer and you can get in and out whenever. Its not that your under contract. But I do believe that if you volunteer, you should stay active until they say your done. That you fulfilled your responsibilities and requirements as a volunteer.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel as though this system is fair because, there's not much of a say in this. I mean if you can't come up with the money, then your screwed. Being drafted is not at all an easy thing to take in. Fighting then becomes a chore and hassle not a privelege or honor as some make it out to be. This is a hard topic in the sense that there are those who are willing to fight, so why force people.
ReplyDeleteBut if you pay someone to go for you how much is a life worth?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Felisa
ReplyDeleteI don't support the draft, I think the army should be strictly voluntary. If there is a draft you may get soldiers who are lazy and careless. They won't be as dedicated as someone who joined by choice, and that could be dangerous.
in a way i agree with this law...its not like that law is saying only poor ppl go to war, its like tht for everyone so its not like they are just pulling those names...idk, im very confused at this point
ReplyDeleteI agree with Stephanie
ReplyDeleteI will have to say that this is not fair because if someone wants to join the army it should be by choice not by force. Also everyone may not have they money to pay the 300.00 so thats not rite to be able to pay your way out. But i believe if someone wants to join the military it should be their choice and thats that
ReplyDeletecommenting on Emilys first blog going to college if their was a draft dose not get you free of the draft they will still pull people but only of you are not doing very well. While this sucks it would boost grades throughout the whole country but yes their are many ways to get out like moving to a different country or just running and hiding
ReplyDeletewhat felisa said about paying for someone and how much life is worth is so true.
ReplyDeletehow much IS it worth? It's like you're paying someone to die and that's just wrong on so many levels.
i agree with steph and that its true that the poor people wouldnt have an option to opt out because they couldn't afford to pay. and also that ur right our army today is made out of people who want to serve our country and not being forced to serve.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nastalsia, people's lives are at risk.. I don't think it should be taken as lightly.
ReplyDeleteThis is difficult to answer because on one part anyone can fulfill the deed if they dont want to go; if you have $300 dollars then you can simply buy your way out of serving, and if you dont have the money then you can find someone to fulfill your position instead. This is at least what the government sees as fair. However if know one wants to go to war then this would be unfair, because not everyone can afford to pay $300. Also in using this system there is a chance that an army would be built off of many individuals that may not techniquely be qualified for service. When thinking about our volunteer army in comparison to this draft service, i can say that it seems a more ethhical manor of creating an army. However America does have a drafting system that, although it is not in use today, is still an option for the government. When boys turn eighteen they have to apply for the draft no matter what, so if the volunteer army is ever short the draft could be reinstated. All in all drafts are simply a disliberty and show that America is not as free a country as some may think.
ReplyDeleteI think it is unfair of this law to allow opt-outs based on money - this would force the poor to go to war, either because their name would be chosen and they couldn't pay their way out, or because they would be offered money from another person to be their substitute, which I think most poor people would accept.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alanna in that I think joining the army should be on a volunteer basis. I think the army would work better if all who were in it were those who want to be - it's the people who don't want to be there who cause the problems.
I also agree with Justin, I think that the random selection of people is unfair.
I agree with felisa. I now recalized I read this and understood the top in a very different way. It is unfair completly to allno matter what. The poor shouldnt have to suffer because they are required to do a job or their name was selected. They have no way out compared to the rich. They can support their own financial standing in anything. Its not fair for the poor at all.
ReplyDeletein response to lvs and felisa- you arent paying someone to die, you are just paying them to take your place, if they die, then thats them because the didnt have to go in for you...it was their choice too...
ReplyDeleterealized*
ReplyDeleteStaphanie agrees with Felisa you cant but a price on life. you cant argue that.
ReplyDeletein response to stephanie: I agree with you because the government does put the rich higher than the poor and not taking it into consideration that everyone cannot afford to pay to get out of it
ReplyDeleteI also agree with liz because no one does have the money to pay $ 300 but if your name is drawn then just man up and go to war
ReplyDeleteI agree with Joe completely. The system does not seem completely thought out. There are many things that need to be explained. Can people continue to defer their draft into the army by paying? Can people simply substitute their place with another forever and what happens to that person's place? There are many odd cases that I'm sure would arise.
ReplyDeletei agree with felisa people should have the right to choose rather they wantt to go to war. life is more precious than money
ReplyDeleteI think in a time of need this system would be able to work. not that right now it is necessary or from our point of view. but in a certain situation where volunteer army is the option and nobody is volunteering then this system would probably be the best system to work. if soldiers are needed for a country to go on then this might work.
ReplyDeletei agree with caroline in that if we want a volunteer army we should have just that. keeping the drafting service as a back up plan is unfair. America is built on the foundations of freedom and liberty and, although our draft is not ineffect, it goes against those statements.
ReplyDeleteCaroline I agree with you but people it will never be fair if their was a draft you all know that very famous and important people will never be chosen so ya go civil rights and fairness but it will never truly be fair
ReplyDelete$300 is not very expensive but if you have to pay it many times it can be really annoying. In the case of a struggling family this might be too much especially if you have to pay more than once. It is ridiculous to pay any amount of money to be excluded from military service.
ReplyDeleteThis compares to all our volunteer armys because its a decision you dont have to go if thats your choice. If your drafted your forced to go even if you dont want to. Thats the difference between the two
ReplyDeletebut if someone with no money cant buy their way out or hier someone to do it for them then they have no choice. And even if they could pay someone is 300 dollars worth a life? how much is a life worth. If someone wants to volunteer to go to war thats their choice but to have a random choice isnt fair. it shouldnt come to a draft at all
ReplyDeletei agree with everyones post. everyone seems to be agreeing with this issue
ReplyDeleteI believe that the draft is wrong, and invasive, and disrespectful of a person's right to abstain from violent acts and act under their free will. It coerces a citizen to participate in a violent cause, and pitches human being against human being, fighting for the death of another person. this is a vile kind of slavery to be chained into, because what government initiative invalidates the basic right to a human life?? what government policy or political contention can justify condemning humans to kill each other, epsecially those who are unwilling?? the value and choice of pacifism is a concept that trancends any national/political boundaries, discordant religious relations, or societal disagreements. And it should be up to the discretion of the individual, not the mandate of the government. What government can tell someone to take away another's life?? THat is the only thing an individual owns, and that is the connecting factor, the link, between ALL human beings. Regardless of nation, beliefs, political agendas, appearance. And isn't the very act of robbing another of their life a deed that wins you a life sentence in prison, here on American soil?? But, no, it is an HONORABLE thing to do elsewhere, it gains you respect, standing. Let me tell you; there is no dignity in murdering another. This is no heroic act. AND, even in the U.S., inhumane and especially deplorable acts of murder can earn you a spot on death row, the ultimate capital punishment for taking another's life. But what war is humane?? Where is the difference??
ReplyDeletei also agree with nastalsia because you would like to have a say but if u live in one of the countrys were everyone has to be a party of the army before they die like germany you have to do some service or you will be put into jail
ReplyDeleteI agree with alanna in that she poses a really good idea about the option of substitution. i guess the thing is we would need to know the details of how a substitute would be decided. Do you simply get to choose or does your substitute have to agree to go in your place? And by creating these details, i agree with alanna 100% in the fact that it will create more problems then solutions.
ReplyDeletei think that either way the person doesnt get what they want. they pay the 300 and then they dont go to war then, but they can still go later on unless he hires somebody to go for him. its a little better now but not really because after you serve your time can still be called back.
ReplyDeleteWell here is my second part of my personal response:This situation is similar because the poeple that cant afford to pay their way out of going to war are the same as the peple in the volunteer war because they have no other option in life.
ReplyDeleteAnd if they disagree with the war they either have to fight or pay the government 300 dollars to keep funding the war they dont want to be apart of which is unfair as well
ReplyDeleteI think that although some people nowadays sign up for the military because that is what they really want to do and they truly believe in it, others sign up because it's all they think they can do - maybe they don't have a good education, maybe they can't get any other job. Or maybe they've been offered free college tuition when they return from service - in that way it is similar to this process because they are getting money for being in the army, much like the substitutes that were hired in the past. So, although our army is on a volunteer basis, there are other factors. It may be their decision, they may not truly be forced, they may feel as though they have no other option.
ReplyDeleteI agree with alanna completely. The main problem with this system is that it is not voluntary at all. If this system were to be used many steps would have to be taken to make it voluntary. Back in the Civil War, the army was anything but voluntary. Many of the soldiers on the Confederate side were slaves and were forced into service. Because of this, they included less skilled fighters as well as brothers fighting brothers. This poses a problem in that most people would not volunteer to be in war if they thought they would definitely be killed, or if they had no experience in warfare. If the army is completely voluntary, it will give the country more dedicated, skilled and willing participants. This will become a better army overall.
ReplyDelete"... or he could hire a substitute to go to war for him." How much is the substitute being paid? Or does the family receive the payment?
ReplyDeletein response to red cherry:
ReplyDeleteIt IS there choice but under some circumstances it might not be. It could be that they are not able to support their families or themselves therefore they need to money to "survive" even though they are being shipped to fight and possibly die.
in response to Lyla:
you are completely right. there is no dignity in taking another persons life. NO war is humane because we are all just killing other human beings. I don't think that there is a difference..
in continuation to my response:
ReplyDeleteThe voluntary army is quite fair in the way by that you register your own name, so the army decides and what to do with you. Also the army advertises careers and education offered for people. However it's aslo unfair in a way beacuse as the for the poor they have no choice but to draft themselves.
i agree with lyla, but still you do have the possiblity of living, people are always talking about dying wars,all people dont die when they go off to war. it can change people for the better sometimes, im not saying the draft if right but you have to think about it as a whole.
ReplyDeleteMany people see the army as a way out of the life that they live. A lot of poor/diadvantaged people join the army because they see it as an opportunity to get an education and make something of themselves.
ReplyDeleteJustin i dont agree with you because people should still have the choice to join or not..noone should be forced to join the army and thats that
ReplyDeleteemily agrees with felisa on that you cant put a price on life. if your going to charge sombody to opt out and the cant pay that fee. so the go off to war and die then they were pretty much forced to die.
ReplyDeleteKaty I totally agree they are not forced but they are offered some thing in which they might not have any other way of obtaining
ReplyDeleteOkay after writing what i wrote i do agree with you amanda. I dont think that the army is made out of alot of no lifes. The army can be a way to make a better life
ReplyDeleteI believe no one should really go unless they are motivated, but if we are in a middle of a important war that could make the country suffer if we lost. I think they should take people if they have kids or they have an important career, but if someone didnt serve in the military they shouldnt have any right to speak against it. The whole military isnt made up of people who had no choice some jobs in the military requires high skill.
ReplyDeletealso, to tie this into the issue of the civil war, it is elitist and condescending upon the lower classes to declare a fee for essentially buying yourself out of the war. this initiative creates a class division and leaves the gore and hardship of war to be bourne by the lower classes, and those groups marginalized by society. the working class must bear the brunt of the repercussions of a problem that the elite and fortunate have created. so essentially they are fighting a war that is not their's and is not of their making.
ReplyDeletei believe this is truely unfair because if someone can't pay the fee or hire a a substitute then he has to go to war. The man could be a only son to a women or the a husband who is the provider for his family. THe option of going to war should be completely up to the man. Enough people will join
ReplyDeleteThe problem with this system that it completely favors the wealthy. Both options to get out of war involve some form of payment and it would basically lead to a poor man's war. If there is a war it seems to me that it should have soldiers who want to be there and fight for their country cause having people there against their will makes for a week battle. A completely voluntary army seems to be a stronger one in the long run.
ReplyDeleteThis applies to the people who volunteer because once they do volunteer, army has this mentality that they must go again when asked and if they decline they try to force them to do it
ReplyDeleteI don't think that this is fair because in order for people to be dedicated to protecting our country they have to want to be there. I don't believe that the draft is right in any way but if one did happen you have to be fair and who ever's name that is drawn should have to go no matter what their social standing is.
ReplyDeleteI dont this this is fair because everybody doesnt have money to pay to get out of war. I think if they choose you should have to go nomatter what.I also think its not fair for them to draft people. People should go on their own will not because they got picked.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Alana,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it will create more problems than solutions. People will just end up stealing or doing things in order to get the money so that they don't have to go.
paying for being drafted sucks and I agree with Liz and just about everyone else that it was unfair.
ReplyDeletei agree with both lyla and valdimir
ReplyDeletei think that this system is fair just aslong as people still have the choice to choose not to go to war. i compares to our voluntary army because of the fact even if your name is drawn you can buy your way out.
ReplyDeletei agree with Amanda's statement many people join the army so that they can arord college.
i also agree with lyla making somone attend war is like taking away their rights not only as a citizen but as ahuman being.
i agree with caroline, war should be voluntary. In no way shape or form should the government be able to but a citizen in a situation to kill or be killed. It should be a choice and a sacrifice to serve the country in that way.
ReplyDeleteyo I definitely agree with Alanna/Yanni. a volunteer army is fantastic because a lot of people feel enough pride in the country to live and die for it, which is their choice. So who's to say that people who don't want to risk their life to protect won't risk their lives to get money in order not to die in war? That thought was kind of scattered but yeah.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Rebma,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that under this law it would become a poor mans war. That would lead to more social issues than needed.
but I do think that the substitution idea is fair, as long as the substitute is willing to go.
ReplyDeleteumm i guess its not fair. it favors the rich more but we have to understand that this is a different government system.so under those conditions where you might be in a country that cant pay for a higher education and its a way of getting paid. so clearly if you can pay to get out you dont need the money. but clearly if you cant get out you can look at it as a way of getting a job i guess. i dont feel any one way about this
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'm under the wrong impression but from my understanding I believe this is fair if its a war that people actually want to fight. If a single father's name is pulled out he should be able to have other options; so if its paying 300 to buy some time or just looking for someone who wants to or in the position to go then so be it. I don't think the draft is fair but since they have one these options of getting out of it seem pretty fair to me.
ReplyDeletein response to Justin, i get where you're coming from but i don't agree. If the country was in a time of war and soldiers were needed and no one was joining, doesn't this kind of make a statement. If the many patriotic Americans thought war was necessary they would join but by them refusing to join the army it shows that as a whole people feel the war is unnecessary, and no drafts should be made.
ReplyDeleteI believe this system is very unfair. If someone pays that much money to get out of it, he should not be able to be called on again. Yes, most people think serving their country is the honorable thing to do, but people should be able to make that decision for themselves. People are not really goverment property..unless they decide to enlist. When people join the volunteer army, they sign a contract saying that they commit themselves to it, making them goverment property. By joining they get paid well, are promised an education, and have the honor of saying they served in the army.
ReplyDeleteThis is an unfair system of military determination towards those who cannot afford the option of paying the $300.00 and those unfortunate souls chosen as replacements. Our all volunteer Army is a great advantage to those overseas, or even those in domestic waters.
ReplyDeleteThe most unjust action is forcing your own people to fight in an unjust war...
I pretty much agree with almost everyone above me that this isn't a "fair" system. But I want to pose a counter point of view just for the fun of it. If it's not fair that people can buy their way out of the army, then it's also, by the same reasoning, not fair that some people can bail themselves out of prison, even when they commited the same crime as the guy next door. And yet the bail-out system is a common practice in our country. I guess we have to define "fair." Is it fair that some people are richer than others? No, but that's partly how our society is built. We've all heard our parents tell us "life's not fair." That bit of loving wisdom includes this situation.
ReplyDeleteok this is going to sound contradicting to what i said the first time but as far as country goes this would not be a fair system. simply because i think it would suck to be poor and have to go to war where we have a free education and the choose of getting a higher paying job
ReplyDeletei dont think this is a fair system because everybody would just pay their way out of being drafted in the army. Not everybody wants to risk their lives for a country that sticks their nose into everyone's business. Americas is always in conflict with another country, so there would be everlasting subsitutes. The most people would do to risk their lives in war is only because the benefits they get out of it. So they should like have a voluntary sign up war sheet thingy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with devonte and joe castrechino.
ReplyDeleteharriett is mad insightful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with ian. Those who cant pay off the three hundred dollars would have to suffer and be drafted in the war. Which is soooo not fair.!
ReplyDeleteI think it was fair that they drew names at random so that no specific race of people was picked on, but I don't think it was fair that people had to pay in order to opt out of the war they had to pay someone to go for them. What if the person was poor and couldn't afford to do that? What if the person doesn't support the war, why should he still be obligated to fight in it? As far as modern times and war if it's a voluntary act to be apart of the war then I think that's fair. Every individual is capable of making their own decisions. However I don't think the treatment of veterans is very fair once they've been released from war. The majority of the homeless people in the U.S. are war veterans so my question is how are these people being treated after the war is over. The government wants to be your best friend when you're fighting in the war but when it's all said and done and you're faced with the after affects of being apart of such a traumatic situation, what is the government willing to do to make sure your health care is paid for, your kids are put through college and things of that nature. I think it's fair that people get to make their own decisions about joining the war but I don't they're treated very fairly when the war is over. (basically)
ReplyDeleteI agree with my own statement...yeah, I'm just THAT full of myself
ReplyDeletei also agree with krissy. some people only draft for the benefits, and because they are willing to do it. What about the people who just dont want to serve. They might feel as if they have no benefits out of serving their country unwillingly
ReplyDeleteThis is not fair in my opinion. It is a breach of human rights and unless every person in [this] country signs off to a waiver of their basic rights and dignities to a higher power than this is in no way justifiable.
ReplyDeletewell i think all war sucks and we should all become one happy world. that way this would not be an issue
ReplyDeleteI think the way the army is now is much better than before because people now have the choice of being in the army. I like the fact that its voluntary because the army isn't for everybody, but its there to be taken advantage of by the ones who want too.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe this is fair system. It gives people a choice to be in the war or not. If they choose not to, they will have to pay or make it their priority to find someone to replace them. War is important and they need many people services in war. When you compare it to voluntaring, it seems that the first option defeats the whole purpose of voluntaring. Voluntaring is more like when poeple have the option of the being in it or not and if they choose not to, the responsibilty is out of their hands. Basicily they have the option of being in the war completely or not. o one is forcing them.
ReplyDeleteI think claire's response was best. there's many ways to look at this. if there's a draft someone's gonna have to go (which is why i dilike drafts) so who ever is picked should be able to have some options. i know there's going to be people who abuse this (such as the wealthy) but people should still have options
ReplyDeleteI agree with Yanni's statement that a volunteer army is beneficial because presumably, everyone in the volunteer army wants to be there. Although, there are those people who join the army for other, non-patriotic reasons like paying for college.
ReplyDeleteOur army is volunteer only in the since that we can not be auntomaticly draftd when we turn 18. We have to want to go in the army. The thing is, our army is not truly volunteer. People join due to finacial crisis. People who do not have the money to have many other options in life like go to college and things of that nature. The army we have is really made up with inner city kids who do not have money to pursue a education right after high school, who feel like they have no other options because nothing else seems to work out for them, or who are following in their parents footsteps, but the parents were probally in the same inner-city or money crisis as the child. To say our army is volunteer is really not correct because most of the people in it only join because every other option is closed to them. For most of the inner-city kids, you might as well say that there is a number given to them when they turn 18 because they are going to join the army anyways. The richer kids dont't usually join the army. It is rare to see that. It is common to see a child who was born and raised in the inner-city as a soilder in the army.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Micheal!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Travisha, I think that people have the right to make their own choices!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Felisa about being stuck in a war that you don't support. With this system, if you don't support the war, you either have to pay or make someone else go. Or go yourself. So if you are against the war on principle, then you'd be stuck. Which would suck.
ReplyDeleteThis might not be the fairest system, but i feel that it is one that works. Even today, and in times of the draft, those of the upper class were exempted from going to war. During vietnam, people that attended college and graduate school often received deferments and even recently there was some controversy about george w. bush about his father getting him out of the army. It is obviously discriminating against those without any decent amount of means. This is unfortunate and unfair, but from the point of view of the those creating the rule they do want as many people as possible to actually enlist, so they make it possible for people to get out but do not make it ridiculously easy.
ReplyDeletei also agree with you Brittany!!!!!!!! American also has some issues. Volunteering should be an option!
ReplyDeleteIn response to Lyla:
ReplyDeleteExactly. I couldn't have said it better. Human life is what connects us all regardless of societal, cultural differences. A good question to ask is when is right to murder? is it right? can it be ethical?
i argee with krissy. this is anothr important way to think about it
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brittany that people were basically paying their way out of the war.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Red cheerys 06:
ReplyDeleteJust because a person doesn't die doesn't mean that nothing bad comes from it. So many solders come back with PTSD and other Mental/emotional disorders that affect them for a lifetime.
in response to harriett:
ReplyDeleteyou are correct and as zoe says "insightful." There will always be class differences and different advantages that people will have over one another, and the situations that people will find themselves in will range in how crummy they are, wether its going to war, getting out of jail, or going to schools.
this is not a fair system because money is everything in life but not risking another mans life for it. i feel as though people take it to the extreme for money and thats why america is in a crisis with the economy right now.
ReplyDeleteI dont agree witht his system because like the other s have said you should always have a choice in every situation, especiall something like going to war or joining the army. The fact that a substitute could go to war for someone else isnt fair either because what if that person doesn't want to go either. also, a lot of people might not be able to pay that fee so the whole paying to get out of it isnt fair to everyone.
ReplyDeleteThis system compares to our army in a sense that there have been times in our country's history that drafts for the war have been executed and because of the drafts riots and other types of violence occurred. It isn't right to have to make someone risk their life especially if they don't want to or if their fighting for a cause that isn't there own or that they don't even believe in.
ReplyDeleteI believe this system is unfair because it leaves the wealthy with a chance to exempt themselves from war when money doesn't affect a soldier in war. If their is going to be a way for people to exempt themselves from war I feel like it should be something related to warfare.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chandel that people shouldn't have to risk their lives if they don't support the cause
ReplyDeletePeter also makes a good point about it not being the fairest but it works. However I feel that a better alternative can be found.
ReplyDeleteI dont think it is good to have a draft, for one ict causes tgo much tension between people and two you shouldent have to stand up for what others belive in. But I do think that a Community service type draft is a good thing like one year of working with the elderly or anything that could help others.
ReplyDeleteThis system is an impulse of a capitalist society. It encourages the need for more money to get you all the things you want. Being born in a country is not your choice. You can not chose where your parents birth you. Being forced to go die for a country you did not chose to be a part of unless you have lots of money is ludicrous. The rich are safe in their mansions while the poor die under bombs and artillery fire. This system does not work.
ReplyDeleteIn response to peter:
ReplyDeleteHow can you say this system works? Sure, it gets the job done. It fills the quotient for young men to go throw their lives away. But it is as classist as possible. It doesn't matter if the country wants people to enlist, it still shouldn't be enforced with the out being money. A coutry's army size can depend highly on the feeling that it's people have to how well it is being run. If people like how the coutry is running, citizens will want to defend it. If there is need for a draft to get enough troops, then someone isn't doing their job right. Or maybe the whole government system. Or maybe the whole economic system. Either way, it shouldn't be expected for anyone to be forced to go to war. No matter what.
In response to harriet:
ReplyDeleteIt's all backwards isn't it.
capitalist, facist, racist pigs.
scum. scum. scum.
I agree with Peter that the sstem does seem to work but i agree with noah that another system and alternative should be found becuase this system in particular is unfair.
ReplyDeletein response to dennis:
ReplyDeletei feel that there should be no draft, persay, but a government is always going to be looking for a way to enlist people. This is one system, and it is what it is.