I have argued this for years; if everyone is subject to conscription it might make the policymakers more cautious about starting wars of choice. It also would mean more Americans with skin in the game, which would likely make stupid wars like the current one even less popular than they already are.
I believe the Selective Service should be extended to register EVERY American at age 18, regardless of gender. In the past tapping only males was a way to require young males to defer to older males and to *restrict* females on the assumption they were just baby makers. (*Restrict in the sense that poorer females had less little access to the higher education, travel, and professional careers the military offered.)
I also would love to see Selective Service expanded into National Service, which could be the military but could also be directed toward more humanitarian agencies as well as weather recovery teams such as wildfire fighters and FEMA. The whole concept needs to be revised.
While I understand the logic of this argument, no matter how much we might think the draft would be egalitarian, it would not . Billionaires and oligarchs will always make sure their sons and daughters do not serve. Always. The draft is only a symptom of a bigger problem and that is the wanting to wage war especially for political reasons. In fact having a draft may encourage poor leaders to wage war knowing we have the human fodder to back up their ill conceived war plans. Instead we should put our efforts into blocking wars on distant shores whenever possible when in the hands of impulsive leaders. The toll of veterans and their families returning from the Iraqi and Afghanistan war is very high—- still. And most of the casualties of our wars in the Middle East have been women, children and civilians. War is hideous! The only time draft should be activated is if we are attacked directly on our soil by multiple attacks. Sign me a mother of an adult son.
I have argued this for years; if everyone is subject to conscription it might make the policymakers more cautious about starting wars of choice. It also would mean more Americans with skin in the game, which would likely make stupid wars like the current one even less popular than they already are.
great minds think alike ...(ha!)
I believe the Selective Service should be extended to register EVERY American at age 18, regardless of gender. In the past tapping only males was a way to require young males to defer to older males and to *restrict* females on the assumption they were just baby makers. (*Restrict in the sense that poorer females had less little access to the higher education, travel, and professional careers the military offered.)
I also would love to see Selective Service expanded into National Service, which could be the military but could also be directed toward more humanitarian agencies as well as weather recovery teams such as wildfire fighters and FEMA. The whole concept needs to be revised.
agree, 100%
While I understand the logic of this argument, no matter how much we might think the draft would be egalitarian, it would not . Billionaires and oligarchs will always make sure their sons and daughters do not serve. Always. The draft is only a symptom of a bigger problem and that is the wanting to wage war especially for political reasons. In fact having a draft may encourage poor leaders to wage war knowing we have the human fodder to back up their ill conceived war plans. Instead we should put our efforts into blocking wars on distant shores whenever possible when in the hands of impulsive leaders. The toll of veterans and their families returning from the Iraqi and Afghanistan war is very high—- still. And most of the casualties of our wars in the Middle East have been women, children and civilians. War is hideous! The only time draft should be activated is if we are attacked directly on our soil by multiple attacks. Sign me a mother of an adult son.
We have an economic and racial draft now. Your valid anti-war arguments are exactly why I think we need one.
I understand. We don’t agree on this. Doesn’t mean I won’t keep reading your column.😊
I would worry if you or anyone was always on the same page with me! And I'm not even sure that I'm right.