Q&A: Congressman Pete Stark
- Details
- Category: National Service (Public Virtue)
- Published: Friday, 15 September 2006
- Written by PT Editors

PT talks to U.S. Congressman Pete Stark—co-sponsor with Rep. Charles Rangel of a House bill to reinstate the military draft—about concepts of citizenship, military recruiting and the prospective effects of a universal draft on foreign policy decisions.

PT: What are the main consequences of our commitment to all-volunteer armed forces?
Stark: The fact that our all-volunteer army consists mostly of low-income Americans from rural and inner-city communities has a huge effect on our country. With most Americans and members of Congress not having family members, friends or neighbors fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan, I believe that it is much easier for them to support going to war. Unfortunately, 99% of members of Congress do not have children fighting in either Iraq or Afghanistan. As a result, most are all too ready to commit American troops.