Unfunded Initiative

There seems to be a lot of chit-chat about the draft these days. Unfortunately, like most things in the USA these days, the chit-chat about the draft is mostly just a scare tactic to herd the sheep to a certain position. “Youth of today, watch Platoon!!! Vote for me or this will be your fate!!!”

So the opportunity to have any measured, intelligent, realistic debate on the subject is missed. No guarantee that my two cents is measured and intelligent, but I will try.

The most dreaded event that I have in my work is when I realize I am in the middle of an “unfunded initiative”. It’s a fun little exercise where some pointy-hair boss creates some must-attain goal without any money, people or realistic timeline in place. Essentially, the boss is some glory-whore that wants results in a vacuum without affecting his bottom-line. We poor saps in the trenches bear the burden.

And that is where we are today with Iraq. Essentially, the American people want results without having to pay the price. The true decision of waging war should be based on what the American people think when they have their ass on the line. I work in conservative circles and they always assert that Bush is doing the right thing. When I ask when they are joining the army, the conversation dies. Unfunded initiative.

It is time to have every American put some skin in the game and find out where their true sentiment lies. A draft. NO LOOPHOLES. If you have a pulse, your name goes in the bin. Jenna and Barbara Bush? You’re in. MBA student at Wharton? You’re eligible. All those self-righteous, master-of-the-universe consultants who support the war in word only? You’re in for a double enlistment (just kidding). You have a wife and kids? So does everyone else in the army. Get ready to wear green.

Then we will truly find out where America stands. My sneaky hunch is that we would have a bigger presence in Afghanistan. We would have some kind in the Sudan. I doubt we would be in Iraq. I could be wrong, but I suspect we’ll never find out. The fact that America doesn’t want the draft says it all. Unfunded initiative.