I was drafted in 1966. That was the best thing that happened to me. I went on to make the army a career, 21 years. Then went back to work for the army as a civilian for another 26. The change from 21 to 18 didn’t affect me, I really didn’t give it much thought. But I do think waiting those 3 extra years would give those a chance to grow up more. Even at 21, many are still stuck to momma’s apron strings.
There probably isn’t a solution to homelessness, much like joblessness, a person must want a job or a home. We’re a rich nation, but for quite a lot of our problems the solution has always been to throw money at it. If that money doesn’t work to solve the problem, it’s only because we haven’t thrown enough money at it. Your woman wanting five dollars, she wanted a hand out, not a hand up.

The draft, our military is way too small to handle the draft. The army has a bit more than 450,000 troops, The Air Force around 320,000, Navy 340,000 and around 175,000 marines. A lot of the bases that used to house the military when there was over a million-man army have been closed. No place to put all the manpower a draft would bring in. Also, the military is more technology driven than with manpower. There are certain professions the military will pay for their college, doctors and nurses are a prime example.

When I write my congressman, I get back a form letter. No request for money, but just a form letter which usually has nothing to do with what I wrote my congressman about.

No doubt quite a lot of money the military spends is totally wasted. But a lot of that falls on congress. There’s been many times the JCS, the military will tell congress they don’t need this or that. Can’t use it. But congress appropriates the money and by law forces the military to buy this stuff. The goal is to keep the civilian jobs back home or to add more. You should go to a DRMO sales where the military sells stuff back to the civilians. I bought 3 brand new laptops a few years back for 20 dollars a piece. Still in their original box, unopened. The only problem was they had windows 7 on them. Nothing wrong with windows 7, I’m still using them. But the army bought a bunch for 500 or so dollars each, then sold them off 5 years later, unused for 20.

Just keep in mind, when it comes to politics, there is no common sense in politics. Especially since the arrival of Trump.

It's high past time that we start electing Americans to congress and the presidency who put America first instead of their political party. For way too long we have been electing Republicans and Democrats who happen to be Americans instead of Americans who happen to be Republicans and Democrats.