Here Comes Trouble: Stories from My Life

"Outstanding…Moore Triumphs! Publishers Weekly

Mike & Friends Blog

Cindy Sheehan

Cindy Sheehan's oldest child Casey was killed in Iraq on April 4th, 2004. Since then she has been on a mission to end the wars and hold George W. Bush accountable

July 20th, 2010 3:59 PM

The Casey Sheehan "End to War" Bill

My son, Casey, joined the military in 2000, shortly before his 21st birthday, to help pay for college. He had already completed everything he could take at the local JC and was eager to move on—but he had a fulltime job, and even though we (his dad and I) helped out as much as we could, Casey also had three younger siblings and our family was firmly ensconced in the working-class.

Well, 16 months after he enlisted was September 11, 2001—and no matter what really happened that day—I had a horrible sense of foreboding that it would lead to my son’s early death—and no matter how much I prayed, or cajoled him not to go, or worried—my worst fears were realized and Casey was killed just hours after arriving in Iraq on April 04, 2004.

There is no forced military conscription in the US today, but many will tell you that since forced conscription ended in 1973, there has been a “poverty draft.” The poverty draft has only become more successful as the economy is tanking and our young people are finding less and less opportunity for work, or, as in Casey’s case, to be able to afford college.

I have been finding it extremely difficult to find recruitment stats—I went to the DoD (Department of Defense) website and, although, the site claims the stats are published every month around the 10th, there are no such stats available for June or July. I did see many 'The DoD identifies Army (Marine) Casualties'—five just for today.

I found a story that was published in the Boston Globe from March of 2009 that states beginning in October of 2008, the military was exceeding their recruitment goals each month, mainly due to two factors: the economy and confidence in Obama’s lies about Iraq.

So the beat goes on just like it always has: Poor people dying in rich men’s wars—but now instead of being drafted, our kids are willingly joining to kill or be killed for a paycheck.

I am not going to elaborate on the mountains of evidence that the longest war (The Global War OF Terror) in US history is about profit, opening new markets for the globalists, controlling precious natural resources, etc—we have been over and over this. It was no coincidence that recently it was discovered that Afghanistan is chock-full of precious minerals—or that the only countries that are seriously threatened by the US War Machine are likewise endowed: Iran, Venezuela. Certain people and corporations are making a crap-load of money—as is the custom.

I am going to propose a piece of legislation that I would love to see introduced by a courageous member of Congress—not that I really believe it would happen, but this is my dream bill that I call: The Casey Sheehan “End to War” Bill:

Immediately upon the president signing this bill into law, forced military conscription will begin.

The bill will have NO EXEMPTIONS to those who are eligible to the draft and the age limit is 18 to no upper limit. This bill seeks to draft those eligible from both genders and all gender and sexual preferences.

There will be very limited health exemptions as most people can perform a skill that is valuable to the military. As University is now open to all ages and attended by old and young alike, there will be no education exemptions. The draftees can resume or attend college when their stint in the armed forces is up. There will be no GI education benefits extended to the draftees, as they will be members of the wealthy of the US.

Citizens will be drafted in this order in the event of a Constitutionally declared war, or un-constitutionally started war, or any of these euphemisms (but not limited to) for war: police action, entanglement, theater, hostilities, occupation, special operations, interventions, cluster-fu@k, pacifications, war on drugs, peace-keeping, fighting for “freedom and democracy,” etc:

The President and his/her Cabinet and their age appropriate dependents, including spouses. No exemptions as outlined above.

Senators and Congress Members and their age appropriate dependents, including spouses. No exemptions as outlined above.

CEO’s of the Federal Reserve and Banks and their age appropriate dependents, including spouses. No exemptions as outlined above.

CEO’s of any company (including the media) that profit directly or indirectly from war and their age appropriate dependents, including spouses. No exemptions as outlined above.

Anyone who by word or deed supports the entry into war, or any of the euphemisms associated with war, and their age appropriate dependents. This includes media pundits, male or female and their age appropriate dependents, including spouses. No exemptions as outlined above.

Any citizen of the United States of America who does not fall into one of the above categories is categorically ineligible for this forced conscription draft.

This bill will also provide college tuition grants to anyone who does not fall into one of the above categories and who wishes to go to college—without having to join the military.

You may wonder who will “run” the country during time of war, but I can guarantee you if this bill miraculously was signed into law, war would immediately cease to exist. In a legitimate case of self-defense, every citizen of this country who is age-appropriate should enlist—but when was the last time this nation was in a war that wasn’t about protecting its citizens, but protecting or stealing wealth?

Anyone know a legislator who will introduce the Casey Sheehan “End to War” Bill? Seriously, if a president feels so strongly about his wars of choice, then he and his closest allies and families should be fighting them. Also, if Congress feels strongly enough to fund these wars, then they and their closest allies and friends should also fight them.

No more of OUR blood for THEIR profit. Even in the “off” chance that this bill does not get signed into Federal law, we should do everything we can as parents, educators, community leaders and peace advocates to keep our young people from dying for the people who are mandatory draftees under The Casey Sheehan “End to War” Bill.

You must log in to comment.

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Log in | Register

Any suggestions for songs to download to iPod for tonight's walk? 10pm ET 7pm PT

May 23rd
8:52 PM
Retweet This

100,000protesters in Montreal support student strikers: http://t.co/fpOCdINb Trying 2 stop the slippery slope 2 US: http://t.co/XoPiP08Z

May 23rd
7:19 PM
Retweet This

Study Finds Fox News Viewers Least Informed Of All Viewers (Did we really need a study for this?) http://t.co/8h9suZs2

May 23rd
3:21 PM
Retweet This

Oh, the price of empire (nearly $1 trillion): http://t.co/21gh9DZe

May 23rd
12:18 PM
Retweet This

Reports say Michael McKean has been moved from critical 2 serious.Broken leg, abrasions, cuts,etc. Here's 2 a speedy recovery for a gr8 guy.

May 22nd
11:28 PM
Retweet This

RT @OccupyWallStNYC: "If you’re a banker, don’t lose my money." http://t.co/IRiCOZON #JPMorgan #FAIL

May 22nd
11:15 PM
Retweet This

Back from the walk. Along the way news@11 tv crews on corner. Actor Michael McKean had been hit by an out of control car. He's @ St. Luke's.

May 22nd
11:11 PM
Retweet This

Here's a few pix from our photo album: http://t.co/ZF9WSiSS & from the NY Times: http://t.co/iLnPG3rL Also: http://t.co/93Dnncns

May 22nd
9:56 PM
Retweet This

8 years ago tonight, Fahrenheit 9/11 won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It's difficult 2 describe the array of emotions we felt!

May 22nd
9:51 PM
Retweet This

Who's still walking with me? Day 66. 10pm ET.

May 22nd
8:41 PM
Retweet This

Is there any politician who isn't on the take? Seriously. Let's start a list(this shouldn't take long): 1.BernieSanders 2.BarbaraLee Others?

May 22nd
10:40 AM
Retweet This

CORRECTION: Wall St & Bain have given $565,000 to Newark Mayor Cory Booker's campaigns http://t.co/aDA3aj2E ...

May 22nd
10:26 AM
Retweet This

And I tweeted this last night: BREAKING: Cory Booker rushes into burning issue to save Mitt Romney.

May 22nd
9:50 AM
Retweet This

Then,Booker goes on Meet the Press & defends Bain & Wall St & says Obama, Dems should stop attacking rich investors http://t.co/D710cbGb

May 22nd
9:47 AM
Retweet This

"@slksputnik: Seems like you've managed 2 do a walk every day since u began. Have u missed any days? If not kudos. Hell kudos anyway." Nope!

May 22nd
8:02 AM
Retweet This

BREAKING: Cory Booker rushes into burning issue to save Mitt Romney.

May 22nd
1:43 AM
Retweet This

An afternoon walk in the rain today: 3:30pm ET Getting wet is good for the soul. Or something like that.

May 21st
3:19 PM
Retweet This

RT @johnknefel: Scott Olsen just returned his medals. Huge crowd response #ows #nonato

May 20th
6:35 PM
Retweet This

"Welcome, Nato, to Chicago's police state ... a 'new normal' of militarized social control" http://t.co/Hspeagq9

May 20th
6:27 PM
Retweet This

Spinning the Supreme Court's 'Obamacare' decision ...by Wendell Potter www.michaelmoore.com If the mandate goes, the insurance industry want to...

May 23rd
2:34 PM
Read More

Amy Goodman and Democracy Now report on vets returning their medals at the NATO summit in Chicago: "No NATO, No War": U.S. Veterans of Iraq and...

May 23rd
7:29 AM
Read More

War Pay: The Nearly $1 Trillion National Security Budget ...by Chris Hellman www.michaelmoore.com Americans overwhelmingly think that national security...

May 23rd
7:14 AM
Read More

Eight years ago today, 'Fahrenheit 9/11' won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival: BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Anti-Bush film tops Cannes...

May 22nd
8:25 PM
Read More

Charles Koch + Roger Ailes = Ohio University? ...by Robert Greenwald www.michaelmoore.com Why would Ohio U host a talk by the likes of Roger Ailes? Maybe we...

May 21st
4:20 PM
Read More

Let’s End Polluter Welfare ...by Sen. Bernie Sanders www.michaelmoore.com American taxpayers are set to give away over $110 billion dollars to the oil, gas,...

May 21st
1:19 PM
Read More

How Rural America Got Fracked ...by Ellen Cantarow www.michaelmoore.com This rural landscape is becoming part of a vast assembly line in the corporate race...

May 21st
1:16 PM
Read More

Donna Summer Dies of 9/11-Related Contamination ...by Reggie Cervantes www.michaelmoore.com Only when a celebrity like Donna dies does the world notice what...

May 19th
12:34 AM
Read More

Watch Tom Morello and National Nurses United right now in a rally and concert to tax Wall Street and heal America, live from Chicago's Daley Plaza: ...

May 18th
2:25 PM
Read More

ICYMI, I'll be speaking with Cornel West in a special benefit for New York City's Brecht Forum tonight, Friday, May 18th at 7:00 PM at Hunter...

May 18th
1:01 PM
Read More

DO SOMETHING today in Chicago: Join National Nurses United and Tom Morello in a rally to heal America and tax Wall Street, 12:00 Noon at Daley Plaza: Nurses...

May 18th
5:38 AM
Read More

Today is the tenth anniversary of the premiere of my film Bowling for Columbine, at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17th, 2002: "Bowling for...

May 17th
2:55 PM
Read More

Preying on the Poor: How Government and Corporations Use the Poor as Piggy Banks ...by Barbara Ehren www.michaelmoore.com The trick is to rob them in ways...

May 17th
2:45 PM
Read More

ICYMI, I'll be speaking with Cornel West in a special benefit for New York City's Brecht Forum this Friday, May 18th at 7:00 PM at Hunter...

May 16th
9:27 PM
Read More

Palin's rhetoric torpedoed Medicare savings ...by Wendell Potter www.michaelmoore.com Palin so poisoned the well that not a single Republican will go...

May 16th
1:31 PM
Read More

'Occupy This Album,' with 99 songs performed by David Crosby & Graham Nash, Steve Earle, Tom Morello, Willie Nelson, Ani DiFranco, Third Eye...

May 15th
10:15 AM
Read More

Deficit Reduction: The Great Distraction ...by Dean Baker www.michaelmoore.com Once again our "leaders" are distracting the public from the...

May 15th
10:13 AM
Read More

In the “Loop” with Morello Standing Against ‘Grotesque Income Inequality’ ...by Donna Smith www.michaelmoore.com I listen to the lyrics of one of Tom’s songs...

May 14th
6:06 PM
Read More

This week's This Modern World on DailyKos: Daily Kos: The Austerions www.dailykos.com Readers should imagine the Austerions speaking in full, booming...

May 14th
2:44 PM
Read More

Plutocrats Deserve Public Scorn ...by Carl Gibson www.michaelmoore.com The only way to get the GOP (Guardians Of Plutocracy) out of office is to vilify them...

May 14th
2:13 PM
Read More

One thing I'm sure of: college students will not take this abuse much longer. The rumblings are everywhere. Student Loans Weighing Down a Generation...

May 14th
5:16 AM
Read More

Mother's Day for Peace www.youtube.com Gloria Steinem, Vanessa Williams, Felicity Huffman, Fatma Saleh and Alfre Woodard read the Mother's Day...

May 13th
5:48 PM
Read More

Militarization of the Mothers: You've Come a Long Way, Baby, from Mother's Day for Peace ...by Colee www.michaelmoore.com The five most powerful...

May 13th
5:13 PM
Read More

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. Here's where the idea came from: Mother's Day Proclamation, by Julia Ward Howe, 1870...

May 13th
4:59 PM
Read More

...and here's my segment talking to Rachel about the Silverdome, and how Michigan is capitalism's laboratory: Rachel Maddow Show www.msnbc.msn.com...

May 12th
3:12 PM
Read More

Here's the segment from The Rachel Maddow Show just before I was on, about the Pontiac emergency manager selling the Silverdome for $500,000: Rachel...

May 12th
3:08 PM
Read More

Subscribe to Mike's Blog RSS

Click here to suggest an article

Mike's Blog

See More Blogs

Vew the archives

View older articles