Would a real national debate about the draft raise younger voter turnout?

I oppose bringing back the draft. Let's get that out of the way right now. I am opposed to bringing back the draft under even the most dire of circumstances. If a war does not command public support and commitment, then perhaps it ought not to be fought.

In any event, I sometimes wonder if the prospect of a return to conscription might be enough to get many young people off their duffs and to the voting booth. Most people don't start regularly voting until they are in their 30's, as they feel like they don't have a real stake in political outcomes. We all know that this is wrong, but that's the way it is. If there was a real national debate about bringing back the draft, would that be enough to get people in the 18-29 year old bracket out of their frat houses, out of their parents basements and to the polls? I sometimes wonder if that might be a positive result from a debate about the draft.

The draft issue has GOT to be a major issue. It WILL turn out votes, that I can guarantee! The problem is exposure, this very issue NEEDS to get exposed on the internet with a message to vote. The 18-25 year olds are all over the internet, it's the perfect place.

Kerry doesn't seem to oppose the draft.

As Bush has destroyed the miliary... and there are many reasons why
I do not like the idea of a draft, but it would definitely force the youth and others to finally pay attention

by the way, here you go

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/171522_draft01.html

Saturday, May 1, 2004

Selective Service eyes women's draft
The proposal would also require registration of critical skills

By ERIC ROSENBERG
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- The chief of the Selective Service System has proposed registering women for the military draft and requiring that young Americans regularly inform the government about whether they have training in niche specialties needed in the armed services.

The proposal, which the agency's acting Director Lewis Brodsky presented to senior Pentagon officials just before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, also seeks to extend the age of draft registration to 34 years old, up from 25.

The Selective Service System plan, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, highlights the extent to which agency officials have planned for an expanded military draft in case the administration and Congress would authorize one in the future.

(more, see link)

who are too young to vote in the 2004 election by only a few months, but would if we could?

but their parents, too. And the parents of under 18 year olds.

I raised this issue in another thread.

Young people should be motivated to get to the polls for 2 reasons:

Potential draft & we are 1 Supreme Court judge away from changing abortion laws.

Young people always say the issues do not pertain to them. This year they sure do, & if they don t vote, they will only have themselves to blame.

We hated that! My generation could not wait to vote. Vietnam and the draft were major issues for us. Our young men were old enough to kill and die, but not old enough to vote.

I have always been bewildered by the current apathy among 18-25 year old voters. I could see it changing because of a draft.

It should because of the draft, but it should change over other issues, too.

Tuition is prohibitive for them. There are no jobs. They will have to pay for shrub's folly for the rest of their lives. But a draft just might be the last straw that gets them interested.

...getting out and voting in any remarkable numbers. Despite claims over the last few elections to the contrary, I think this population is stubbornly disengaged like most of the rest of the country.

I hope I'll be proven wrong, but until I see differently...

should be among the top issues that we (DUers and like-minded folks) should be presenting to the public. Most colleges have papers and student government & other organizations. It is important that we be in contact with them. We can serve as the fuse, and the campus as the powder keg. A fuse is small, but necessary to ignite a powder keg. If we take an active role in starting this vital discussion, there will be an explosion in voter registration among young people. The college students will bring the message home to younger siblings and friends in their home towns. And, as mentioned, everyone from our "older generations" should be made very aware of the fact that a vote for bush is a vote for putting the local high school kids in a uniform by force. I'd love to see MoveON use the images of a high school basketball team, the war scenes, and those caskets on a commercial directed towards older voters.