e-commentary

. . .

J          “It is a real head-scratcher.  Democrats such as J. Kennedy, G. McGovern, A. Gore, J. Kerry, M. Cleland, J. Webb and J. Kerry are decorated war veterans who question America’s pursuit of unending war all over the globe all the time.  Republicans such as G. Bush, R. Cheney, R. Giuliani, J. Ashcroft, J. Bolton, M. Romney and D. Trumpi are craven draft dodgers who fledged into chickenhawks and favor and savor sending other people’s kids off to die in useless wars that advance their economic interests.” 

K          “Life in America.  And death in America.  Have you noticed that the warring class who use other people’s money to take money from other people also take other people’s kids to take other people’s lives in their wars?”

J          “That makes lots of money for them from other people’s money and from other people’s lives and liberty.”

. . .

J          “G. Bush the Senior did serve with courage and distinction in World War II, although he surely oversaw and directed some dastardly things when he headed the C.I.A.”

K          “B. Clinton did not serve with courage and distinction.”

. . .

K          “R.O.T.C. programs were banned from some hip and profitable colleges.  The programs should be welcomed because they provide opportunity and possibility.  Let the individual decide.”

. . .

J          “In the early 1970’s, the Draft became an inconvenient nuisance for the well-connected such as George B., Richard “Dick” C., Rudolph G., John A., John B., Mittens R., Donaldo T and . . . B. Clinton.  Dodging the Draft required pulling strings with the local draft board to get a deferment or hiding in the state national guard or fleeing to Europe or faking a hang nail.  In response, many corporate think tanks, some owned by their parents, started thinking of a scheme to keep their kids out of tanks and in the corporations.  The answer was to end the formal Draft now, release their kids from the duties of citizenship and  . . . impose economic indentured servitude on the underclass.  That changed the incentive structure for war.”

K          “Without the pressure from those who are in an economic position to put pressure on the system, the ‘demand’ for war is greater than optimal or efficient in a society.”

J          “The powerful and well-connected will find a way to shelter their offspring in comfortable billets and avoid uncomfortable bullets.  However, the social benefit from increasing the cost of dodging the drafting is desirable.” 

. . .

[See “The Deep Unfairness of America’s All-Volunteer Force” in “The American Conservative” by Dennis Laich and Lawrence Wilkerson dated October 16, 2017, “The Moral Case for Draft Resistance” in “The New York Times” by Michael Stewart Foley dated October 17, 2017 and “How the Draft Reshaped America” in “The New York Times” by Amy J. Rutenberg dated October 6, 2017.]

[See the e-commentary at “Smedley And Ernest On Our Friend ‘War’; The ‘Racket’ Continues (September 7, 2015)”.]

Bumper stickers of the week:

November 8 – One year ago

November 11 – Veterans Day

Draft beer not boys and members of the ruling class