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2008-09-01 Home Front: Politix

Biden got deferments for Vietnam, then had asthma

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Posted by Steve White 2008-09-01 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 The Selective Service System is, and may well remain a shamefully flawed mechanism. I could never understand the priority of education over a simple 2 year period of national service....other than a convenient escape mechanism for those wealthy enough to employ it.

Posted by Besoeker 2008-09-01 08:19|| 2008-09-01 08:19|| Front Page Top

#2 B, one of the side effects of the peacetime and then Vietnam era drafts was as a means to regulate unemployment upon large numbers of young males in the Boomer period exiting high school and entering the job markets for which there were not enough employment for everyone. Back then 5% unemployment was taken statistically as full employment [people moving between jobs, hospitalized, attending further education, etc counting the below 5%] and unimagined. America hadn't seen 5% till recently in its history, so soaking up 1, 2, or 3% was seen as useful. If they went on to school they fell into the computation in that below 5% category. Throw in that those with college educations constituted the fewer back then, their employment prospects were significantly higher and therefore in the interests of economic planners were to be given preference.

Posted by Procopius2k 2008-09-01 10:25|| 2008-09-01 10:25|| Front Page Top

#3 According to VDH: 85% of the 58,000 soldiers killed in Vietnam were regular army, white, 21 years old, and predominatly from rural or southern America. Why do I post this? because discussing Biden and Kerry as Vietnam vets is disrespectful to those of us who served by choice to attempt to allow the South Vietnamese to live in freedom.

Posted by bman 2008-09-01 11:22|| 2008-09-01 11:22|| Front Page Top

#4 Personal experience (Navy) the wealthy (And children of "Privilege)were Officers, and the not-so-wealthy were Enlisted

There were NO "Poor Officers".

The "Poor" were weeded out before they could be considered for OCS

Posted by Redneck Jim">Redneck Jim 2008-09-01 14:38|| 2008-09-01 14:38|| Front Page Top

#5 To put it somewhat more clearly,
Those without family wealth, privelege and influence, need not apply. (For OCS)

Posted by Redneck Jim">Redneck Jim 2008-09-01 14:42|| 2008-09-01 14:42|| Front Page Top

#6 Must have been a Navy thing.

Mr. Lotp was commissioned in USAF in the 70s out of OTS and I assure you he came without wealth, privilege or family influence. He did however graduate with the top honors.

Posted by lotp 2008-09-01 14:47|| 2008-09-01 14:47|| Front Page Top

#7 Some :) were told.....you will never make a good NCO" and were shuffled off to OCS at Fort Benning.

Posted by Besoeker 2008-09-01 16:15|| 2008-09-01 16:15|| Front Page Top

#8 Now Besoeker, that was cold. LOL

Posted by lotp 2008-09-01 16:20|| 2008-09-01 16:20|| Front Page Top

#9 The "Poor" were weeded out before they could be considered for OCS

FYI, I was picked up for OCS; neither I nor my family were or are 'Rich'. In fact, I went in at the tender age of 28 as an ET2 in the Reserve, after having to compete for a slot.

So kindly go Fuck Yourself, you class-warfare troll.

Posted by Pappy 2008-09-01 16:23|| 2008-09-01 16:23|| Front Page Top

#10 Ditto Pappy!

Posted by Besoeker 2008-09-01 16:36|| 2008-09-01 16:36|| Front Page Top

#11 I went to Naval OCS in 1970. My father was far from rich. I went to college on a scholarship. Graduated with honors. I applied for OCS before I graduated from college, while I still had my 2-S deferment, so strictly speaking I was never eligible for the draft.
I don't remember many of my OCS classmates as rich.

Posted by Rambler in California">Rambler in California 2008-09-01 18:49|| 2008-09-01 18:49|| Front Page Top

#12 rich is a relative term.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2008-09-01 19:24|| 2008-09-01 19:24|| Front Page Top

#13 Redneck Jim, your comments really miss the mark. I was an enlisted Marine, made E-6 in 4 yrs and then at age 29 went to Army OCS and did a total of 29ys, most of it active duty. I've been in both worlds and retired as an 05. I have to say your comments do not reflect the real experience in those services.

Posted by NoMoreBS">NoMoreBS 2008-09-01 19:36|| 2008-09-01 19:36|| Front Page Top

#14 I took out two sizeable loans to get through college and luckily had a minor scholarship for academics to cover the rest. My parents gave me very little in the way of finances and for that I'm thankful. Upon graduating college I sought out the nearest USMC Officer Selection Office in order to serve my country - they didn't do loan reimbursement at the time - I went through the 10 weeks of OCS and graduated earning both my butter bars and more importantly the EGA at the same time. It took me damn near 10 yrs to pay off my college loans AFTER I earned my commission as an Officer of Marines.

Whoever said all us zeros are rich - GO FUCK YOURSELF.

Posted by Broadhead6 2008-09-01 21:35|| 2008-09-01 21:35|| Front Page Top

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