The Libertarian Party has launched an online campaign to end draft registration. The campaign website is: http://www.EndSelectiveService.org Since 1980, every male aged 18 to 26 has had to register with the Selective Service System (SSS). Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) has introduced HR 1597 to eliminate this program -- a program that: * Is increasingly being used to violate people's privacy. * Is not necessary for America's defense. * Is incompatible with the principles of a free society. The SSS has few friends on Capitol Hill or in the Pentagon, yet continues to survive, hidden away in the bureaucratic maze of federal agencies. In 1999, a similar bill introduced by Rep. Paul almost passed -- with little input from citizens in favor of eliminating the program. WITH your voice and the voices of tens of thousands of other citizens, we can end Selective Service. Simply go to http://www.EndSelectiveService.org and send a letter to your Congressperson, asking him or her to support HR 1597. Here's why you should support this campaign: DRAFT REGISTRATION VIOLATES PRIVACY * Young men who register have their personal information distributed to dozens of federal, state and local government agencies -- including the IRS, INS, DMV and Departments of Education and Defense -- without their consent and, often, without their knowledge. * Seven states (AR, OK, DE, GA, HI, AL and UT) now require young men to register in order to obtain (or renew) their driver's licenses, and 23 other states are currently considering such legislation. * In the event of war, the SSS is ready to draft all medical personnel 55 years and under. * The penalties for refusing to fight if drafted, and for going AWOL, are miniscule compared to those for failing to register. Selective Service is more concerned with getting you on the government's "mailing list" than with preparing for some future war. THE DRAFT AND REGISTRATION ARE UNNECESSARY TO DEFEND AMERICA Former President Bill Clinton stated that the draft was necessary as "a relatively low cost 'insurance policy' against our underestimating the maximum level of threat we expect our Armed Forces to face..." But the Pentagon and many pro-military politicians disagree: * Citing the success of the all volunteer military, the Pentagon concluded: "...it is highly unlikely that we will have to reinstate the draft in the foreseeable future... [P]eacetime draft registration could be suspended without irreparable damage to national security." From the "Report to the President and Congress: A Review of the Continued Requirement for Draft Registration," December 1993. * Senator John McCain (R-AZ) concurs, adding that "...our new military requires a great deal of training, a great deal of expertise, and technological skills that, frankly, don't lend themselves to a short- term draft." * The Pentagon also noted that conscripts, to be used effectively, take several months of training, and can't even be trained until volunteers are done going through training. In today's fast-paced world of conflict, most wars are over in the time it would take the first trained conscript to hit the battlefield. * Even during the Cold War, the necessity (and utility) of a draft was dubious. As President Reagan observed at the time, "The Soviets can tell the difference between computer lists of inexperienced young men and new weapons systems, a million-man reserve, and an experienced army." * Most European and other developed countries have dropped the draft in recent years. They realize that an effective military means using a highly trained, all volunteer army. If additional troops are needed for a conflict, our well-trained reserves can be mobilized much more quickly and cheaply than scarcely trained draftees. Clinton's "insurance policy" is neither needed nor desired. THE DRAFT IS UN-AMERICAN * "Conscription is not part of the American dream. It is not part of the American philosophy. It is not part of liberty. It is a totalitarian notion. Congress has the authority to raise an army, but it does not have the constitutional authority to enslave a certain group to bear the brunt of the fighting. A society that cherishes liberty will easily find volunteer defenders if it is attacked. A free society that cannot find those willing to defend itself without coercion cannot survive, and probably does not deserve to." -- Rep. Paul in House debate. * "[T]he most fundamental objection to draft registration is moral... a draft or draft registration destroys the very values that our society is committed to defending." -- Ronald Reagan. SELECTIVE SERVICE IS A COLD WAR LEFTOVER THAT NEEDS TO BE THROWN AWAY Most people probably think the draft died with Vietnam, but its specter still haunts us today. We need your help to exorcise this demon -- and we need it NOW. Unlike 30 years ago, we have a chance to end draft registration BEFORE it claims its FIRST victim. And, regardless of whether anyone is ever drafted again, $25 million is being wasted every year on an unnecessary program that violates privacy on a massive scale. Don't wait, help us end the draft TODAY! Go to: http://www.EndSelectiveService.org Sign the petition, write your representatives about HR 1597, and forward this e-mail to friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, or other people you know who might be interested. (But please don't send it indiscriminately; spam will only hurt our campaign.)
Edited by ez-e on 06/08/01 11:15 AM.
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http://www.EndSelectiveService.org Ron Paul kicks ass. Ya, this is something that's really easy to do, just click the link, and fill out the form. (Unless you happen to agree with selective service.) It only takes like 30 seconds, and you've done your part to help!
Edited by MOoKie on 06/11/01 01:56 AM.
-------------------- "If it ain't one thing, then it's the other. Any cause that crosses your path; your heart bleeds for anyone's brother. I've got to tell you you're a pain in the ass." Oingo Boingo!
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