Why would someone ask if the draft should be re-instituted?

Answer 1

Two quick links to the history of the U.S. Draft:
http://www.sss.gov/HIST.HTM
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/deploymentsconflicts/l/bldrafthistory.htm

This is a 28 year old question for me.
I was a kid during Viet Nam and clearly remember the impact it had on older teens and people in thier 20's. Those guys had also asked this question in 1969 or so when they reinstituted it for that war. During the 70's, the military was considered by the public to be truely evil, internal morale was horrible, budgeting was horrible, and they were just begining to evaluate how to change and rebuild thier institutions. A real mess.

In 1981 I was turning 18 and one of the first people required sign up when the effort to reinstitute Selective Service registration began again. This is when I asked this question.

With the public opinion of the military (and government) so bad and Viet Nam fresh in everybody's minds we were scared spitless. Several of my teachers had either served in the war or had struggled to stay out. They encouraged me to write senators, congressmen, the military and the selective service people in protest. The response was sign up by this date or be prosecuted. Pretty scary for an 18 year old. At the advice of my folks, a lawyer, and the teachers I did sign up and clearly indicated for the record that it wasn't voluntary. End of that story.

Now at 44, I look at it differently (a little). The two generations before me have a shared heritage common bond that everybody since doesn't posess. There's a sense of responsibility to the common good we just don't have anymore. In that sense, compulsory military service might not be such a bad thing.

I now also recognise that a standing military is the norm for the world, has been for a couple thousand years, right or wrong. That a military force is a usefull tool, BUT ONLY if it's used wisely (not as it's being used today in Iraq). Someday, there might be a nationally "Just" war like WW2, having a draft program around might be an appropriate too again.

And yes, I'm very much against war. I also recognise that wars are the failures of politicians.

Sorry this is so long. Felt I had to add extra verbosity to quell knee-jerk flamers who'll surely rip into me.

Answer 2

Because they are dull and need more drama in their lives.