Awkward Utopia

Friends, below you will find the meeting minutes for our rousing discussion on the draft. Cheers all around for all the bloviating! My apologies for any misspelled names.

510 Meeting called to order. Awkward introductions:

• Matt notes that he has never started introductions before and doing so now was awkward;
• Jimmy recounts that at a party at FSU he was accused of being a rapist-murderer and later had to drive his accuser home;
• Flynn recounts a story about his dog being not allowed at girlfriend’s apartment complex, as a result shouting at a representative of the management, which shouting was confused as being directed at his girlfriend, and how he caused the “bitch” to have a breakdown in the office;
• Ben S. concedes that he can’t match Flynn’s story but notes that during Thanksgiving he went a to family friend’s house, where no mashed potatoes were served; (It is generally agreed at this point that failure to serve mashed potatoes is unacceptable;)
• Dave announces that he can graduate next semester if he wants to, uses his introduction to advertise for Gator Stompin’ and offers advice on how to get former Playboy playmates to do nice things;
• Eric is credited with today’s topic, declines an introduction;
• Ben P. recounts how his bris convinced a friend’s mother to not circumcise her son, who, according to her, now “owes you a debt of gratitude… [for being] the stud he is today;”
• Ian last weekend camped out at BestBuy to get the Nintendo Wii; (Here Jimmy notes a way to avoid TV news cameras: shout, “motherfuckers! Jews!” as they roll film;)
• Rachel was in New York City for the holiday, and visited a candy store, where she felt awkward for be
• Ryan simply notes that in contrast to Ben S. he had a great Thanksgiving dinner;
• Josh N. feels awkward that he will be going to a show where his ex-girlfriend will be;
• Cory note that in his introduction to Hindu culture class [which he blames on bad advising], a girl giving paper on reproductive technology stated that “teenagers are fascinated by sex,” discussed “vital seed,” and was received with an “Oh yes,” by the teacher;)
• Bob relates a Thanksgiving plumbing story; (Here Sammy’s proposes some sort of Mexican conspiracy;)
• Sammy shares how a porn theater was converted to wedding chapel and still made losses;
• Josh M. says he feels awkward coming up with an awkward introduction and passes;
• Alexandra passes;
• Steve passes;
• Chris W. passes but gets into argument about Andrew Card speech with Ian)
• Mike R. did not go home for the holiday but went to Vero Beach to see an unnamed female friend and visited this friend’s senile grandmother and otherwise dysfunctional family; he adds 1) a story about a loud song at a crosswalk, and 2) a near crisis at BestBuy;
• Emily, Katheleen, Mandi share an odd story about sneaking into friends’ house to use bathroom;
• Vake was in Tallahassee with Raju, and spent time figuring out th futon; heard at a freaky barbershop: an old man had to fix pacemaker to have sex with wife later tonight; later, his backpack got soaked at Chipotle;
• Tom passes;
• Chris A. had an encounter with the police, which turned into something of a social event.

540 Awkward Introductions closed.
541 Tom explains nominations and elections
542 Chris W. makes point of order about nominations next week and then nominates Matt for president; Matt declines nomination.
543 Mike nominates himself for president; Chris W. nominates Amanda B. for vice president; nomination is accepted in abstentia.
544 Ben P. nominates for vice president Jimmy, who declines; Chris W. nominates Vake for treasurer, which is accepted; Cory nominates Josh N. for treasurer, and Josh accepts.
545 Flynn nominates himself for vice president; Mandi notes that “Emily would love to” run for secretary.
546 Jimmy nominates himself for historian, says “fuck that” to office description.
547 Ian nominates himself for historian.
548 Tom closes nominations for the day and opens debate on reinstating the draft, saying Rangel wants it to balance perceived income and racial iniquities in the military.
549 Sammy notes Rangel’s proposal would be national service, “socialized labor… Rangel’s just a dumbass;” Flynn echoes this point, trumpets value of military as a career option and claims draft would lower the quality of the services.
551 Josh M. echoes point but defends the draft. Nothing morally wrong with the draft.
552 Mike R. defends potential racial numerical disproportion in the military: We’re doing okay on manpower in Iraq.
554 Bob argues that a draft army is an army of slaves.
555 Josh M. responds that countries have to defend themselves. Doesn’t want to speak German. Bob responds that people have to want to defend the country.
556 Ben P. defends German language: wouldn’t watch scat porn in any other language.
[General amusement. Slight rabble.]
557 Ben P. advocates national service as a way to strengthen ties to community.
558 Mandi views the draft as an alternative to college for some people.
559 Flynn notes that the nation is not collapsing; needed draft in WWII to protect from Germans [Chris adds the Japanese]; Bob demures quietly, and Flynn reaffirms the point; Rangel’s proposal a political stunt; benefits would collapse under a draft; draft would not deter war and would blunt out combat effectiveness.
600 Chris notes that a draft did not deter the Vietnam War and that there was and would be political manipulation of the process. Notes that we won vietnam.
601-3 Tom polls on how many people think the draft is bad; Bob asks and receives a poll on how many people, who would not already volunteer, would heed the draft. Josh M. argues that is a paradox, Bob and Sammy dispute his position; Sammy notes historical two-tier system for benefits.
604 Vake suggests putting prisoners in the military; there is some disgruntled mubbling, but Sammy notes Australia, Josh M. notes Georgia.
605 Somene notes that the military is by necessity stretched thin in war. Discussion of capacity to wage war.
607 Mike R. defends generals in the field, suggests Congress increase the size of the Army; ther is debate over numbers of troop levels, timing of recent changes and Rummy.
608 Flynn notes Army is not designed or trained for stability operations, but is able to do it to some extent.
609 Flynn notes that segregation and two-tier systems would reduce combat operations. Sammy notes that one could be used for combat operations, draftees for stability operations.
611 Chris W. says the two-tier system worked before and digresses into the aesthetic ideal: nobility of the American soldier; duty, honor, country; a volunteer army shows the character of the people.
612 Dave proposes lifelong service to the state.
613 Tom disputes “army of slaves” point: living in society; service might engender virtue.
615 Bob responds to points about rights and living under society;
616 Tom and Josh M. respond: do rights come from the ether? Subsequent discussion.
617 Rachel notes that the right to life is categorically different from the right to property.
618-20 Sammy believes rights come from God. Bob discusses power of assertion.
620 Flynn: Constitution is great, but just symantics. It’s just a piece of paper. Low-intensity and stability operations are very difficult, a poor place for the weak of will, and likely for draftees.
623 Mandi notes the ideologies of rights; society protects rights more than grants them.
624 Eric says draftees have the survival instinct and disputes ability to withdraw.
626 Chris W. asks why a military draft is something that should be proposed, and claims that income tax creates slavery; argues with Flynn that just because the government has the power to take rights, doesn’t mean that they come from government.
628 Point of order with Tom.
629 Mike R. notes the state’s monopoly of violencel passive agreement with taxes and drafts.
630 Dave argues that rights granted by Constitution through due process clause; we are allowed to have armed forces, and there needs to be a supply of forces. We’ve agreed that the need must be met, even by a draft.
632 Ben P. origin or rights: Hobbessian state of nature.
633 Sammy notes Scripture was referenced more by the Founders. Ben P. responds.
634 Bob apologizes to Sammy for earlier comment, defers balance of time.
635 Flynn argues that rights are privileges from the government.
636 Bob notes State of Nature is a farce, rights come from our saying they exist.
639 Matt M. argues similar.
640 Back and forth between Bob and Flynn. Rachel clarifies a point, and Tom somewhat disputes it.
641 Josh N. disputes necessity to serve since he pays taxes. Mike R. notes that salaries and incentives can be raised via taxes, thus increasing the army’s size.
643 Tom agrees with that point, but notes that the taxes would have distortionary to the economy.
644 Chris W. says that the rights to life and property are not functionally different. [Ensues a large discussion of hobos, tax codes, imputed income.] Notes that it doesn’t follow logically that states give rights just because they protect them.
647 Sammy disputes that might makes right, plays Hitler card, questions the Americanness of anyone who says might makes right. [Huge rabble ensues.]
648 Tom has to imposes order.
650 Flynn disputes Sammy’s arguments
651 Josh M. argues that rights come from Creator or from “all that other crap.”
652 Vake constitution is indestructible. Matt M. people created rights, either by natural or divine inspirations. Meeting adjourned.