Should There Be a Draft? Should Women Register For It?

If, as he suggests, everyone had to serve in some way, the Peace Corps for example, it would raise awareness of the seriousness of war, especially if the child of a wealthy family had the same obligation as the poorest kid in the poorest neighborhood.

all youngsters should serve our country
in one form or another - including women.

service should not only mean Military,
but civil and skill developing as well

No forced servitude

Foxfyre wrote:

From time to time there is a cordial (usually) national debate on whether it would benefit young people to be required to contribute to the general welfare whether that be in the military, Peace Corps, or other national service.

Judging from my personal experience, I think that's nonsense. Yes, I know, one person is an awfully small sample for judging things like this. But for what it's worth, I used to be a draftee in the German army, and the only benefit I can think of is that I learned to stitch buttons onto clothes. None of the people who have served with me think being drafted was a good thing for them. So if a nation has to forcibly conscript people into national service -- which I prefer it wouldn't do in the first place -- at least it should say honestly that that's what it's doing. The authoritarian parent's line -- "one day you will thank me for spanking you now" -- is tired and disingenuous.

If there should be a draft -- and again, I don't think there should be -- I see no reason in principle to exclude women from it. Depending on their effect on troup morale, they might be excluded from some units for pragmaticreasons -- but that doesn't raise to an objection to the principle that men and women should be equal in their misery.

But I don't think there should be a draft in the first place -- in case that isn't clear.

Judging from my personal experience, I think that's nonsense. Yes, I know, one person is an awfully small sample for judging things like this. But for what it's worth, I used to be a draftee in the German army, and the only benefit I can think of is that I learned to stitch buttons onto clothes. None of the people who have served with me think being drafted was a good thing for them. So if a nation has to forcibly conscript people into national service -- which I prefer it wouldn't do in the first place -- at least it should say honestly that that's what it's doing. The authoritarian parent's line -- "one day you will thank me for spanking you now" -- is tired and disingenuous.

If there should be a draft -- and again, I don't think there should be -- I see no reason in principle to exclude women from it. Depending on their effect on troup morale, they might be excluded from some units for pragmaticreasons -- but that doesn't raise to an objection to the principle that men and women should be equal in their misery.

But I don't think there should be a draft in the first place -- in case that isn't clear.

The army teaches brutality and servitude. Isn't there enough of that in the world already? Surely youth can be better enabled in a way that will have a positive, lasting impact on humanity's future? Education in science, environmental studies, sociology, psychology...?

Where is the vision? Things need to change - not go backward. Kids need hope and worthwhile causes -goals that will allow them to feel good about themselves when they are adults.
Learning to hate, torture, mutilate and murder other human beings, doesn't leave you feeling too good about yourself.
Once the brainwashing has worn off, like.

Pushing youth into the military is practically child abuse because adults KNOW BETTER - They know about the abuse, the deaths, the PTSD, the suicides, the failed marriages, the numbers of vets who end up homeless because they are unable to relate to society and feel abused by it.