Maybe They'd Think Twice - The "Draft" Bill
Op-Ed by Congressman Jim McDermott - Published May 26, 2004

Mere mention of the draft tends to send shivers down most people's spines, especially if, like me, you remember the Vietnam era all too well.

As a Vietnam-era veteran who treated our soldiers who returned from that war, I know the terrible price war extracts from soldiers we send to combat. Indeed, my experiences as a psychiatrist in the Navy influenced my desire to run for elected office. Having seen the human costs of war, I wanted to ensure that our nation would never again go to war without a compelling reason, or a clear plan.

I have been outspoken in my opposition to President Bush's war on Iraq; among the reasons for my position is the very vulnerable situation to which our soldiers have been relegated by the Bush Administration's alarming absence of planning, knowledge, diplomacy and strategy preceding its rush to war.

During this session of Congress I co-sponsored a bill with Rep. Charlie Rangel, HR 163: The Universal Service Act. I support this piece of legislation for several reasons: first, it has long been my view that every American should be required to devote a period of service to our country, and second, although I believe that war should always be our last option, it is my opinion that when our country is at war that burden should be shared by all Americans. Not least, I chose to co-sponsor this bill because the debate about a draft amplifies to our country's leaders the harsh consequences of war for all who serve and the families who love them.

For many years I have been a proponent of a public service requirement for young Americans. I think that such a requirement would underscore the obligation each of us owes for the benefits we receive. This might be military service or it might be active involvement in one of our many public service organizations, contributing to the vital work of social, educational, environmental, health or housing programs. I believe that young people benefit significantly from this type of effort, much as they might learn important, lifelong lessons from military service. HR 163 would establish such a requirement.

At the time that this bill was written, President Bush was preparing to send our armed forces into Iraq. Many, many members of Congress supported him. I, and the other co-sponsors of this bill, couldn't help but think that perhaps those decision makers who supported the war would feel much differently about sending young Americans to Iraq if their sons or daughters were heading there, too.

A disproportionately high representation of low-income and minority groups make up the enlisted ranks of our military. They do more than their fair share of service in the ground forces. Only a handful of members of the Congress, which voted overwhelmingly for war, had children in the military. Is it not right that all Americans should bear the burdens of war? The most privileged Americans rarely participate in military service. Families who can afford to send them to college are unlikely to have to face the prospect of their son or daughter being deployed to Iraq in exchange for a chance at a college education and a better life-if they survive.

Our armed services should reflect the breadth of our society. If our nation decides to go to war, we should not expect it will be fought primarily by the children of poor parents or parents of color while life continues as usual for the rest.

I was dismayed by this heedless rush to war. I was dismayed by the faulty premise for this war, and I was dismayed that many who voted for the war had never served in the military, and thus had no personal knowledge of the costs of war. I was dismayed that it seemed so easy for President Bush, who avoided combat in Vietnam, to send a volunteer force to fight in Iraq. Sending Americans to fight should not be an order given lightly.

I am not so naοve as to think that the Bush Administration would reinstate the draft during an election year. That they would offer up to millions of Americans the prospect of a beloved child coming home in a body bag is politically unthinkable. But I do believe that our nation MUST have a conversation about equity in the process by which we send Americans to fight and perhaps die for this country. I oppose this war and the false reasons we were given for entering into it. However, I believe that debate about a universal draft can help to shine the light of truth on the harsh consequences of war.

See also Congressman McDermott's floor speech  "A Draft By Any Other Name"