Rep. Rangel Wrangling to Reinstate Slavery in the United States

by David Kramer, LRC Blog
Jul. 24, 2010

As the two-year investigation into the alleged wrongdoings of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) which I’ve already written about here and here comes to an end, the soon-to-be dis-Honorable (I hope, but I’m not holding my breath) Rangel wants young Americans to become slaves of the State. He has sponsored H.R. 5741 which proposes:

“To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.”

I’m still trying to figure out how a Black Congressman--who should know the U.S. Constitution which he has sworn to uphold--somehow never got around to reading the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

“Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps it’s considered “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude” if you’re forced to work for your ~~government~~ country.

[Thanks to Cristopher Robin Rodriguez]