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by G F Sutton
Visit the following
link,
and after contemplating the pictures and backgrounds of those who have died because
we put them in harms way,
consider whether it is too easy for us citizens with nothing to loose,
not even our tax cuts,
to send the young,
sometimes poor and powerless in our society,
to kill, suffer and die in a world created by the older generations of
people who let the world deteriorate to war.
Now, this author acknowledges the very real need for war,
when done for the right reason,
and the fact that only the young are strong enough and quick enough to
fulfill the violent,
dangerous part of the obligation.
But it is highly immoral for the rest of the population to remain completely untouched.
And it is unwise to allow an untouched population to make the decisions of war.
Please consider the following proposal to require involvement of all
citizens in time of war,
at least in small ways,
to foster responsibility,
and to ease the economic burden on the next,
unborn generation,
by assisting many homeland projects,
such as picking up litter on the streets,
visiting the wounded,
if only to talk,
counseling the young who may be troubled...
kind of like a peace corp for the homeland
so some of the domestic budget can be diverted to the war.
The Proposal: War Emergency Administration For the purpose of fairly distributing war-time burdens and responsibilities among all generations of the nation, the WEA shall develop a plan to distribute reasonable obligations throughout the US population, for the purpose of: 1. Easing the burden on the young and innocent who must make the greatest sacrifices and... 2. Fostering a responsible, well informed citizenry capable and inclined to making wise selections of public officials and policy. Tier 1 Within 15 days of the nation's troops deploying overseas for any conflict, the first tier draft, all citizens age 18 to 25 must report to a local branch of the Tier 2 60 Days after onset of hostilities, the second tier draft, all citizens age 25 to 35 must report to a local branch of the of the WEA to discuss each citizen's contribution to the war effort in a context of the individual's skills, ability and availability to volunteer some time to the nation's needs at home or abroad. Those with family responsibilities will not be overburdened, but will be required to at least volunteer at the local VA hospital a few hours per week. Those with civilian employment will not be expected to compromise their jobs, but if unmarried without children they should volunteer a little more time than those with children. Those who are single without family or employment responsibilities should be considered for overseas, non-battle-area assistance in the effort. Tier 3 120 Days after onset of hostilities, the third tier draft, all citizens age 35 to 45 must report to a local branch of the WEA for assignments similar to tier 2, but with lesser emphasis on overseas deployments. Many of those who are recommended for or volunteer to go overseas should be sent merely as observers, and rotated back to the U.S. about every 60 days so the American population at home begins to hear first hand accounts of the situation overseas. Tier 4 6 Months after onset of hostilities, the fourth tier draft, all citizens age 45 to 59 will report to a local branch of the WEA, if health and other concerns permit, for assignments similar to tier 3 or for 1 to 2 month visits overseas to observe, first hand, conditions in safe or relatively safe occupied areas, to comfort, counsel and educate subjected populations, and to assist them in building shelters and rebuilding their homes. Then they can rotate back to the states to mix with the domestic population as they wish, informing citizens at home of conditions overseas. No one over the age of 59 will have any compulsory obligations but will be allowed and encouraged to volunteer their time. Including all generations of the nation in the effort, even in small ways, will provide the nation's electorate with needed awareness in selecting leaders, and compel at least some (real) appreciation of the sacrifices of the first tier draft Americans who risk their lives despite the fact of having been born so recently that they certainly share no responsibility for allowing this world situation to deteriorate to the point of war. At all tiers above, responsibility to serve will increase proportional to the wealth and influence of the citizen's family, since the wealthy and powerful bear a greater responsibility for this situation deteriorating to the point of war, and because they have greater financial means for 'taking a vacation from work'. |