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Home Front: Politix
Rahm Emanuel Expects 'A Lot' From Civil Defense Corps [Ben Smith podcast]
2008-11-12
Posted by:tipper

#14  today it is hopitals and universities. Tomorrow it will be the fields. How ironic that the symbolic end to slavery results in a return to serfdom.
Posted by: Shalet and Tenille1168   2008-11-12 22:39  

#13  To be honest the constitution is but a piece of paper much like any other unless people actively refuse follow government orders that break it's tenets.

Forced Labour breaks the 13th Amendment (but then so does the Federal income tax).
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2008-11-12 19:52  

#12  Regarding the 13th Amendment, if a military draft was able to be imposed legally I suspect this will also.

FYI, the draft is a misnomer. It's the selective activation of the federal militia which the Constitution gives the Legislative Brand the authority to form and embody under Article I, Section 8.

"To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;"

They implement that power through Title X, United States Code, subsection 311, note well para (b)(2) -

"311. Militia: composition and classes

(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are—
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia."

So, by the powers of the Constitution, all males 17 to 45 are already in the militia whether they understand it or not. Notice that it also authorizes - "To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years;". No where else is there such an authorization to form a "Civil Defense Corps". However, that was all before it became what ever they could get away with a 'living Constitution', i.e. we make this up as we go along.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2008-11-12 18:38  

#11  A "common experience" for impressionable young people under the influence of loony liberals like Rahm Emanuel? I don't think so. High school is bad enough. And besides that, who's gonna pay for it after we get done bailing out all the crooks, bankers and union goons?
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2008-11-12 18:13  

#10  Now that I am retired I think I'll volunteer for the draft conscription. Grow a beard, let my trousers hang down, smile a lot and go to all the meetings wired. Maybe establish an underground railway and help conscipted young people escape to Oklahoma.
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-11-12 17:11  

#9  If this old geezer is conscripted, can I ask for reparations too?

So if you are a teacher, doctor, policeman, community volunteer, mental health worker, pro bono lawyer, etc., does this count as service? Or does the work you provide have to be provide gratis? If it does, this sounds a lot like involuntary servitude.


Posted by: JohnQC   2008-11-12 17:05  

#8  That is assuming they don't mean enforced voluntary unpaid service in which case I imagine a lot of voting age people will be a might upset.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-11-12 16:29  

#7  Regarding the 13th Amendment, if a military draft was able to be imposed legally I suspect this will also.

When you consider the number of Boomers that will be heading into old age homes in the coming decades I imagine the system will be unable to handle the numbers and all the volunteers (voluntary or government forced) we can get will be helpful.

Having said that the government still has to pay them, and at the same time those elderly are no longer paying into the kitty, so we're screwed.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-11-12 16:28  

#6  Isn't there that 13th Amendment thingy....
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2008-11-12 15:46  

#5  I read this in the comments section of a related and recent post and I think it is worth repeating here:

"It matters not that the purpose is for "the common good." The good that a man decides to do, or not do, should be an issue between himself and (if he recognizes one) his God. Any other source makes that source the master and the man a slave."
Posted by: eltoroverde   2008-11-12 13:29  

#4  A solid No.

My children will not be Indentured Servants.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2008-11-12 12:39  

#3  Required national service is not reasonable. Military draft is only reasonable in times of war.

In peace time all citizens should be free. The government is supposed to work for us, not us for the government.
Posted by: DoDo   2008-11-12 11:39  

#2  I want to know when they will start drafting the geezers over fifty. Older people have been included in the early talk of this Civil Defense Corps. Can I get a 4-F deferment? Will Canada open it's borders to us slackers? Will honary status be given to draft dodgers from the 60's? If not, why not?
Posted by: Richard of Oregon   2008-11-12 11:27  

#1  I think we can agree that the questioner is a simpleton of rare dimension. In short, a total ass. What I get from this from Emanuel, knowing he spent some period of his life in Israel, is something similar to the common service required from Israeli residents. If 3 months were spent on studying the Constitution and general civics, coupled with some service, such as preparing and delivering meals to elderly, or picking up trash in urban areas, erasing graffiti, etc., I could see it. Nearly all American youth expect everything be handed to them on a platter. Some period of national service is entirely reasonable and may reconnect them to reality and to the nation at large. I get no sense he is talking about a military contingent. Hussein, on the other hand, seems to be proposing a Black Panther force writ large. That ain't going to fly far. Something for the common good could be accepted; anything militarily related is DOA.
Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700   2008-11-12 11:26  

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