Incredible post! This is the exact message Ayn Rand tried to convey all her life. Her book "The virtue of selfishness" has truly changed my life. Most notably the chapter on 'compromise' which transformed me into a full blown atheist. It just clicked in my head that mysticism had absolutely nothing to offer me, so why even make gestures like fasting on Yom Kippur? Incredible book.
The current Administration offers no budget regarding the war in Iraq, whatsoever, and obviously ( for political purposes ) is delaying any sort of discussion or budget projections on the War in Iraq till after the November election. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said he smelled election-year politics. "The administration would be well served here to come forward now, be honest about this, because the continuity and the confidence in this policy is going to be required to sustain it," Hagel said. "And that means be honest with the Congress, be honest with the American people. "Every ground squirrel in this country knows that it's going to be $50 billion to $75 billion in additional money required to sustain us in Iraq for this year." http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&e=5&u=/ap/20040421/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_iraq
One thing that history has shown is that freedom isn't always free. Asking people to perform their duty for the benefits they reap as citizens of a free society, particularly when their country truly is in danger, is not slavery. The only real question is, does the current situation require such that people be required to do their duty on such a mass scale (as would be the case with a draft). The answer is obviously no, and that is why there won't be a draft.
In many ways, this would be a great idea. On the flip side, I think it should be noted that making certain decisions like this TOO personal ccould actually backfire by increasing the likelihood that a president wouldn't do what really is necessary (when action actually is necessary).
I agree with much of what you say, although I have mixed feelings about your comments on Bush. As far as the corrupt UN Oil for Food Program (and corrupt French), this sure was interesting (link below)! http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/040426/opinion/26edit.htm
The top quote was well said, except that I hope you are not claiming to know at all times what the truth is. It certainly is not always what your buddy Chomsky claims it is! As far as your bottom quote, I think it demonstrates that you certainly take leaps in assuming the truth. As far as this war, claiming it is for empire is pretty ridiculous (we were never going to stay and it is costing us a fortune). Arguing that it is for oil is a stretch since we are (and knew we would be) spending far more on Iraq (and servicing its oil fields, which are in sad shape and are constantly attacked) than we ever might've saved (lot of good its done for the cost of oil), not to mention that oil profits are being used to rebuild their country (and will be in their hands shortly). And lastly, with regard to Israel, Iraq was not much of a threat to Israel. What's more, even many of the countries/intelligence services that opposed the war, like the corrupt French government, believed that Iraq had, at a minimum, chemical and bio weapons. Also, Rumsfeld and Cheney were the most responsible for advocating the war. Was this war a mistake? Perhaps. But was it launched for the reasons you claim as truth? There are plenty of reasons to think not!
The preservation of a free society isn't always free, that's true. Understanding that, however, is a matter of personal learning, not duty. Those who understand it will fight to live in freedom. Or else, knowing that we all die some day anyway, will die proudly striving to honor the values they hold dear. Those who don't, won't. History is replete with examples. The U.S. is one; Iraq is another. Again, I agree with the historical and practical aspects of what you and others have written as justification for why YOU would pick up arms and fight. I have no truck with that; I'd be there with you, just so we're clear, if I or any of my interests as I see them were in fact threatened. It's like the abortion issue. That issue is not about killing babies. The distinction is whether a fetus trumps a woman's sovereign right to decide for her own body. Which in turn, and on principle, determines whether any of us, man or woman, owns our own body or if some church does with 51% of the vote, or if the state does with all its force of arms. As a man, I have no say in the abortion issue as it pertains to women, but total say in how the principle applies to me, even though I would be hard pressed to ask a woman to abort a fetus she and I created. The latter is inconsequential to the discussion; my personal feelings about abortion don't matter. What matters is whether or not, in the name of Freedom, I point a gun at another citizen's head (through the proxies I elect) and tell him or her what to do with his or her life. Those who don't want to fight in a war, whose values hierarchy reflects something other than what you or I think is important in that particular moment, won't. Some will have other, more important things to take care of in their lives at that moment. A few will be free loaders, there always are; but a greater number, if we're going to cite history, will volunteer willingly, just as many did in WWII and immediately after 9/11. Even in Vietnam there were volunteers in the early '60's before it was clear we weren't there to win anymore. And even after that point, there were still some volunteers! Finally, some people just will never understand the real threats. But that's the fabric of living in a free society and, if a majority of us begin to fail in that understanding, I personally will look to live elsewhere. Sadly, yes, but necessarily to protect myself and my concerns. That is why the abomination that passes for state run education these days is in itself part of that same threat to freedom. Fortunately, at my age I really don't have to be concerned anymore much past the next 10-20 years, really just one more generation. Forcing anyone to act against their own better judgment at the point of a gun, even if to guarantee your freedom and theirs, while yelling at them that someone else is pointing a gun at them, is a contradiction on its face and a slap to the American principles on which this country was founded and deserves to continue to exist. It betrays an attitude unwilling to trust one's own fellow citizens to defend what's theirs, and an impatience and impotence with seeing through one's own agenda by means of rational persuasion. The appropriate name for when a country's citizens force other members of the same society to give up their freedom, their lives, is slavery. No matter how good you or I think our reasons.
Should the U.S. bring back the military draft? Daily Poll http://www.worldnetdaily.com/polls/index.asp?VIEW_RESULTS=Y