The bipartisan Selective Service Repeal Act of 2021 is pending in Congress, and this issue is likely to be taken up by the House Subcommittee on Military Personnel next month. Several previous proposals to end draft registration were cosponsored by then-representatives Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, and Ron Paul, Republican of Texas. Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, is one of the original sponsors of the current bill, along with Representative Peter DeFazio, Oregon Democrat and Massachusetts native.
New England has long been a center of draft resistance and antiwar activism, and there are many New England members on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to which these bills have been referred. But no New England representative or senator has yet endorsed the current proposals to end draft registration.
As other anti-draft activists and I said in an open letter to the Armed Services Committee leadership this year, calling for a congressional hearing which has yet to be held on this issue, Expanding draft registration to women would bring about a semblance of equality in war (although women in the military would likely still be subject to disproportionate sexual harassment and abuse). Ending draft registration would bring about real equality in peace and freedom.
Edward Hasbrouck
Wellesley Hills
In face of coercion, he listened to his conscience instead
I appreciated Jeff Jacobys column Women dont register for the draft, and men shouldnt either, and my thoughts are not dissimilar to his. However, this is not about gender equality or the lack thereof. Coercion itself is wrong. No public good can come from the Selective Service, and for me the issue is personal.
In 1980, I was supposed to register. I did not do so, intentionally and with malice. As years passed, I got letters telling me to register or be punished (five years in prison and a potential $250,000 fine). The punishment is over the top. I was not moved by their threats until 1986, when, in a rare move, the FBI came to visit me in Tallahassee in the middle of grad school, where I was studying, funny enough, criminology.
The local American Civil Liberties Union negotiated a deal. I signed under protest, made a public event with the press and supporters, and stayed out of prison. At school, I faced harassment that I did not foresee. I didnt care. My voice was heard.
That experience strengthened me. I went on to lecture about the Selective Service at high schools and colleges after returning to my native Bay State, all while working as a correctional counselor at the Department of Correction.
Jacoby writes, As a philosophical matter, it is far from clear how society can square the defense of individual liberty as a core value with a requirement that young people be made available for involuntary conscription. That point resonates with me. A persons conscience in not being willing to prepare for war should be more important to us as Americans, even in times of relative peace. This shouldnt be overlooked in putting an end to the Selective Service.
Stuart M. Wax
Watertown
Jeff Jacobys solution to ending the discriminatory practice of registering only men for the draft is short-sighted. Maybe compulsory military service isnt what the country needs, but a stint of required national service, whether in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, a modern-day Civilian Conservation Corps, or some other community service entity, for people in their late teens or early 20s, would be a great thing. Both young men and women should participate; registering for a draft would be a start.
No one should be exempt from working in some way for the good of the nation. The notion that we as a society have no obligation to the greater good of the country is a lesson we shouldnt teach. Im proud of my own service as a VISTA volunteer in the 1970s, and I know that others who have done the same feel it was a defining experience, something that has stayed with them throughout their lives.
A year or two of service is good for those who participate, the communities they serve, and the nation as a whole. Dont shrink the idea of national service expand it.
Richard Yospin
Newton
This could be a vital rite of passage
I am not in disagreement with Jeff Jacoby that the requirement that young people be made available for involuntary [military] conscription should be eliminated. That said, I would like to propose mandatory national service as a serious consideration.
Many, if not most, young people are uncertain about their future. Wouldnt it be helpful to give young people a timeout from the academic and vocational treadmills and allow them to express and explore their talents and inclinations in new and different ways? Who better to help paint bridges, assist professional staff in nursing homes, hospitals, and child care facilities, and yes, join the military, if so desired?
National service that offers choices would give young people travel and work opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to them. Wealthy parents can subsidize so-called 13th-year experiences for their children. Why not make it a rite of passage for all?
Nancy Morrison
Beverly
Our liberty is at stake without the pull of a draft
Once again, the Selective Service System (mandatory registration for the draft) and the draft itself are being called into question, this time by Jeff Jacoby, on the basis that individual liberty cant be squared with involuntary conscription.
Let us discard the high moral posturing. In truth, the real reason for the drafts anathema is that most young men and women in the United States today dont feel like giving up two years to Uncle Sam to do the countrys work, especially since it might turn out to be dangerous.
In any event, Jacoby seems to have the sequence in reverse order. Without conscription to defend it, eventually there may be no individual liberty.
Channing Wagg
Boxborough
Read the original post:
Lets run Selective Service up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes - The Boston Globe
- 'Shrinkflation'? Blame the Fed - Newsmax - March 22nd, 2024 [March 22nd, 2024]
- Ron Paul Tells Tucker Carlson the Exact Date There Was a Coup and We Lost Our Government - Mediaite - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- Ron Paul: It Dawned On Me That The Republic Was Gone When Allen Dulles Was Appointed To The Warren ... - RealClearPolitics - March 20th, 2024 [March 20th, 2024]
- The rise and - possible - fall of David Shafer - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Yes, that was Paul Hornung on Packers' sideline in Ice Bowl - Packers.com - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Cap Times Idea Fest 2023 save the dates | Paul Fanlund ... - The Capital Times - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Folks tell Ron Keller his memories of growing up in Naperville could ... - Positively Naperville - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- The Man Who Invented the Trillion-Dollar Coin - New York Magazine - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Opinion | Why Texas Republicans Are Targeting Renewable Energy - The New York Times - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- States that have produced the most NBA Finals champions - MaxPreps - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- All Community Pro-Am starting holes on Saturday, Sunday - McCook Daily Gazette - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- The World and Everything in It: June 2, 2023 - WORLD News Group - June 2nd, 2023 [June 2nd, 2023]
- Sen. Rand Paul staffer's parents speak out after he was 'brutally ... - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Rand Paul staff member stabbed in D.C., has life-threatening injuries - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Aide to Senator Rand Paul critically wounded in Washington DC stabbing ... - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- The Antiwar Movement Roars Back to Life | CNSNews - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Ron Pauls Retirement Advice: Do This One Thing ASAP - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : The Antiwar Movement ... - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Feb. 19: Ron Paul, Tulsi Gabbard to Speak at Anti-War Rally ... - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- 5 Things You May Not Know About Ron Paul : NPR - NPR.org - February 20th, 2023 [February 20th, 2023]
- The Real Disinformation Was The Russia Disinformation Hoax - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : The Real ... - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Paul McCartneys Decade-Long Creative Surge Post-Beatles To Be Explored In Man On The Run From Oscar Winner Morgan Neville - Deadline - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Ron Paul hospitalized after he appears to suffer stroke - New York Post - January 30th, 2023 [January 30th, 2023]
- Ron Paul Issues an Urgent Warning to Retirement Savers - January 30th, 2023 [January 30th, 2023]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : Zelenskyy Regime to ... - January 30th, 2023 [January 30th, 2023]
- XPONENTIAL FITNESS, INC. : Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement, Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance... - January 15th, 2023 [January 15th, 2023]
- Ron Paul: 'Twitter Files' Make It Clear, We Must Abolish The FBI - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Ron Paul: A Tale Of Two Midterms | ZeroHedge - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Retiring History Theatre artistic director Ron Peluso looks back at fond moments from his 27 years on the job - St. Paul Pioneer Press - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Ron Paul | Biography, Education, Books, & Facts | Britannica - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : Is Washingtons ... - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : Europe Commits ... - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- Ron Paul 2012 presidential campaign - Wikipedia - October 23rd, 2022 [October 23rd, 2022]
- Nevada's micronation of Molossia has a sounder currency than the dollar - Washington Times - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Dune Sound Team on Finding "The Voice," Using "Fake Documentary Realism" & the Rescue of Paul Atreides - Below the Line |... - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Paul LePage has softened his stance on immigration. Or has he? - Bangor Daily News - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- 38 Celeb Couples Who Have Been Together More Than 20 Years, Which Is Like, 150 Years In Normal People Time - BuzzFeed - October 19th, 2022 [October 19th, 2022]
- Ron Paul: It's Time To Tell Biden We Say 'No!' To Nuclear War OpEd - Eurasia Review - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Moment the Republican Party Lost Control - The New Republic - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Paul Ryan: Trumps unelectability will be palpable by 2024 - The Hill - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Governor Ron DeSantis Appoints Fourteen to the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind - Governor Ron DeSantis - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Paul Newman recalls losing his only son Scott to addiction in memoir: I never thought it would be fatal - Fox News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- How To Resist CBDCs5 Ways You Can Opt Out of This Dystopian Future - International Man - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Bob Doucette: 2022 campaign a Wild West of ideas of how to govern Oklahoma - Tulsa World - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Warm start to the week, then chilly temps later; thunderstorm chance Tuesday evening - MPR News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Ron Paul: Will Italys Election Foreshadow US Midterms? - Libertarian Party - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- With POTUS non-endorsement endorsement of Ron DeSantis, the race for Florida Governor is over - Florida Politics - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Miranda Webb: Trauma, anarchy and perilous life on the run from Northeast Ohio to Mexico - Akron Beacon Journal - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Ben Sasse and the battle over what kind of conservative leads the GOP - Washington Examiner - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Slayden carries Wood River past Freeburg and back into the playoffs - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- 'The water came up so fast': The heroes of Tonya Court and Wisconsin Street - Naples Daily News - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Wisconsin Republicans still fixated on 2020 election in 2022 - PBS Wisconsin - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity : School Shutdowns ... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Fans Discover Ron Paul Delivered Late Pop Icon Selena - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Flashback: Ron Paul Railed Against the FBI in 1988 - NOQ Report - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Paul Sullivan: Chicago White Sox need to shake up their clubhouse culture by dealing 1 or more of their core players this offseason - The Killeen... - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Tim Ryan Says Americans Need To Give Up Gas Cars as He Drives Around Ohio in Gas Guzzlers - Washington Free Beacon - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Pianist Paul Barnes and Native flutist Ron Warren to premiere piece Monday in Lincoln - Lincoln Journal Star - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- POLITICO Playbook PM: Mitch McConnell and the tale of two moderate Dems - POLITICO - POLITICO - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Cam'ron and A-Trak 'U Wasn't There' Review - slantmagazine - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- As the Economy Collapsed, Why Were Economists Silent? - The Epoch Times - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- CBDCs, SDRs, and the Re-Monetization of Gold Here's What Happens Next - International Man - September 27th, 2022 [September 27th, 2022]
- Lessons Learned: Ron Paul's Warnings Against the War on Terror Stand True - Libertarian Party - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- KRULL COLUMN: Maybe it's an oath they don't understand - Evening News and Tribune - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- 9 Tips to Tackle Your Financial Goals and Still Have Fun - Money Talks News - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- 10 States With the Most Homes at Risk of Wildfire - Money Talks News - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- 5 Handy Keyboard Shortcuts That Make Internet Life Easier - Money Talks News - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- What we know about Texas and Florida's transport of migrants - Axios - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- 15 States With the Highest Union Participation Rates - Money Talks News - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- Winter is Coming But the 2022 Ram 1500 Isn't Worried - MotorBiscuit - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- '8 Simple Rules' Turns 20: 10 Big Names Who Appeared on the Sitcom - TV Insider - September 17th, 2022 [September 17th, 2022]
- Tech and finance moguls are putting money and weight behind Trump with a brain Ron DeSantis - Fortune - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- What Is Peter Thiel Thinking? - The New Republic - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- 7 of the Most Beautiful Places to Retire in America - Money Talks News - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- 3 Ways to Lower the Rising Risk of Electrical Fires - Money Talks News - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Inflation Is State-Sponsored Terrorism - SchiffGold - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Quick hits: Pujols clouts 696th homer to tie for fourth all-time as Cardinals rally to win - St. Louis Post-Dispatch - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- It's no coincidence that the most successful democracies are constitutional monarchies - The Telegraph - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- "Distinguished," "loyal," "failure": Denver reflects on the retirement of Chief Paul Pazen and its hopes for new Chief... - September 6th, 2022 [September 6th, 2022]