tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post5971807650780199359..comments2023-09-09T09:26:22.175-04:00Comments on Andrew Samwick's Blog: Drafting with Charlie RangelAndrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13514024573333057559noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-45875350921879610512006-11-21T15:04:00.000-05:002006-11-21T15:04:00.000-05:00K Harris did a nice job of addressing the larger p...K Harris did a nice job of addressing the larger point, which you address. The concern that Milton Friedman had - which Brad DeLong echoed - is the possibility that conscription could be used to pay below market wages. Of course, politicians need not set wages below the market - but then when have we trusted politicians to do the right thing.<br><br>The thing that bothers me about this war is the lack of recognition for its costs in the form of an explicit tax increase. Then again - I can remember all too well that LBJ ignored the December 1965 advice of his CEA to raise taxes in order to keep the FED out of that Faustian choice - raise interest rates or watch inflation accelerate. It seems LBJ reasoned going to Congress for a tax increase in 1966 would be bad politics. Of course, George W. Bush is infamous for listening to his political advisors rather than his economists. I guess that's why Milton Friedman shied away from advising this President.PGLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-30133215587610465002006-11-21T22:55:00.000-05:002006-11-21T22:55:00.000-05:00When nuclear war became "unthinkable" th...When nuclear war became "unthinkable" then the draft became unfair.<br><br>A nation that refuses to use all its military strength to fight a war and win should not even think about a draft. <br><br>Opening a bomb-bay door offers no glory to our young men and women.<br><br>Today in the face of nuclear weaponary we must all face the same risks not just 18-24 year olds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17206839.post-8325984485264304272006-11-27T21:18:00.000-05:002006-11-27T21:18:00.000-05:00I agree that Rangel's reasoning is flawed, but...I agree that Rangel's reasoning is flawed, but that a draft could be a decent idea. I wouldn't, however, call it a "draft," since draft suggests military conscription, and I would make it so much more than that. I like Hagel's idea of mandatory public service - military as one option, but Teach for America, Americorps, the Peace Corps, and other similar programs as other possibilities. I wouldn't go all the way to 42, though - make it like the Israeli program. You must do two years between ages 18 and 25. This might instill a sense of service and civic duty in more of America's youth.Nathan Empsallnoreply@blogger.com