Doublespeak and The War On Terror

Given that widespread condemnation,
one might reasonably ask why doublespeak
seems to be flourishing. The short answer is
that government officials have an incentive
to lie and misrepresent their actions so that
they can expand, or at least maintain, their
power. When the citizenry is fed false information,
it is costly for skeptics to undertake
an investigation of the various issues in order
to learn the truth. Politicians and bureaucrats
exploit this disadvantage to the fullest
in order to shape political outcomes to their
liking.

The American people must recognize
these odious tactics for what they are and
remain vigilant about our Constitution and
individual liberty. Too many people seem to
think that the Constitution will automatically
check the government from overstepping
its authority and running amok. That simply
is not true. The Constitution is incapable of
enforcing itself. The ultimate limit on the
power of government has always been the
patience of the people. As Judge Learned
Hand warned many years ago, “Liberty lies in
the hearts of men and women; [if] it dies
there, no constitution, no law, no court can
save it.”

xpost what do you mean?

First, a draft must be impartially conducted or it will not be fair and equitable. Considering what is at stake (the draftee's life and limbs) fairness is a must. First and foremeost, this means no student deferments and few deferments for any reasons other than medical unfitness.

Second, when you institute an impartial draft, then you are randomly placing young men into extreme jeopardy against their will. This kind of force cannot be justified except for purposes of national survival or something very near to that importance. Since there is no question that the survival of the USA is not in jeopardy, and no evidence that unlimited military force is required for equally important national goals, then there is no justification for a draft.

The reason for debating a draft at this time is to force the government and the public to confront the relative importance of the war in Iraq and therefore make it more accountable for its decisions and its irresponsible rhetoric. The threat of a draft would undoubtedly stimulate a more serious national debate on the merits of war and peace. But an actual draft at this time would be unjust, imo.

It all started when Corporate Personhood accidentally became a legal reality with more rights than any actual living human being.

http://www.cinemaxasia.com/images/posters/378x195/stripes.jpg

This comment is just plain historically unfactual. Plenty of middle class kids were drafted, sent to Vietnam and died there in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and beyond -- and the war continued. It only ended when Saigon fell.