Should we mandate a draft, even during peaceful times?

Question

I think it would be good for the country as a whole and my opinion has nothing to do with Iraq.

Think about those who have dropped out of school, are jobless, lead hopeless lives. Or think about others who are still young, but need direction.

What better way is there to help them along? They get paid, they serve their country, they learn a trade that can be used to their advantage once they're out. They learn responsibility, they learn to respect others, they receive financial incentive and support to better their education. They grow up!

Self respect and realizing that you CAN make something out of yourself, is what creates character.

Think of this as having nothing to do with Iraq, but merely a way of serving your country. What are your thoughts? Would this provide many opportunities for those who have no direction in life? Will it help curb our crime rate?

Answer 1

Excellent question! And an articulate, thoughtful argument. Both are much appreciated in this area of Yahoo Questions.

There are some additional and also provocative arguments for a universal draft. These include the concept of making service to America a citizen obligation for all Americans. There are many variations on the proposal: whether service has to be military, the amount of time of service mandated, and so forth.

A second argument for a universal military draft is to put away the current criticism that our present method of filling our armed forces is essentially using the poor as cannon fodder. It echoes the argument for maintaining public education: we're all in this together -- rich, middle class and poor, white, black, yellow, red and brown, men and women. So let's pull together.

You are likely not to see the draft reinstated, however. Even if we remove Iraq from the issue (which you wisely asked us to do in considering your question), most parents with political influence (and their voting-age children) are not about to embrace a draft that would derail them from whatever professional track they are on (never mind who they'd end up having to associate with). We are a pretty self-centered people right now.

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I've just read through the 20 answers posted so far to this question, and want to say these are the most thoughtful and responsible answers to a question -- no matter which side is being taken -- that I've ever seen in the Politics & Government section. Just about everyone deserves a thumbs up here.

Answer 2

I'm for conscription, but only because I'm against the current war, and I know it would shorten the war if the draft were reinstated. I lived through the Vietnam era, and the draft was counterproductive. Yes, it supplied the manpower for the military, although at an enormous price. It was patently unfair, and produced great dissention here. If it comes back, it would have to address many of the same issues: some people are simply unfit for national service, such as the severely handicapped and mentally ill. How do you prevent others from claiming they are unfit? How do you treat religious objectors? Married couples with small children? College students? Next thing you know, it's unfair again, with the rich buying their way out. On the plus side, you're right about national service building character and providing opportunities for some. All you have to do is make it fair for ALL, and that's a big assignment.

Answer 3

While I think we have a better military because it is an all-volunteer force, there are societal advantages to what you suggest. If you think back to the final days of the draft after Viet Nam, despite negative feelings about the war, we still appreciated America more than many people do today. I think that has a lot to do with being in the military. You travel around and see other cultures and learn what a precious gift we have here.

There is another benefit. Today's kids grow up in their own little communities and are not exposed to other ethnicities...at least in a positive way. In the military, you learn to rely on your fellow soldiers...regardless of color, etc. That lesson carries forward to civilian life. I think there are more racial tensions in some areas now because there is no draft to FORCE people to learn to live together.

Answer 4

Interesting. Ive thought about something like this off and on for a long time.

I support some sort of mandatory SERVICE, not necessarily the military.

Lets face it, our educational system is a joke in most cities. Why not forgo the last year of high school, and require that everyone participate in a service of their choice. It could be Americorp, the peace corps the military or some other program where the graduating student spends a year or two or more giving something to the country.

Im not sure that we could constitutionally mandate such a program, but we could make it as important to one's college application or resume as a high school diploma. Not requiring it as such, but giving extra "points" for participation.

It would do more than just help those who are aimless, it would give the priviliged some education in the world and dealing with others as well. Most of the priviliged kids today dont even have summer jobs, they do internships at universities to pad their college applications. Everyday I see PhDs and MDs given to people who have never had a job in their life. This sort of program would help provide a much need "life experience" these kids lack.

Edit: To RLP below. When I went through basic there were 5 guys including myself who were there to take advantage of the GI bill to go to college. 16 members of our platoon were there in lieu of serving prison time for various non violent offenses. One, and only one, wanted to be career military and the rest were there because they felt it was their only option, like Suthryn described above.
Its fine to support our military and be proud of them, but lets not get carried away. There's room for everyone.

Answer 5

I'm 100% for the Draft....I did 8 years in the Military and I think that the people who support Bush should get their fair share of being on the Front Lines with the other soldiers who "volunteered", just to pay for college or were Poor....
I also would include the Rich and Spoiled (the Paris Hilton types)....

I believe that we should put "Military History & Studies" in the school curriculum and make it mandatory for all students...
I agree with the people who say that we should make the Draft fair for the Poor, Middle Class, and the Rich...Yes there will be issues that we must face in terms of the people who are simply unfit for national service (the severely handicapped and mentally ill), religious objectors, and married couples with small children...We can have these people handle the Administration part of the Military..
Of course not that everyone can nor will pick up a Weapon, but the Military needs many types of skills besides these...

Freedom is NOT for Free nor Voluntary..It comes with a Price!!...We are all in this Together!!!...Do you love America???

I want to be on The Draft Board....

Answer 6

If you discuss this with military experts you will see that the forces are better that ever because we have people who want to be in the military instead of people who are forced to come in and then only spend a couple years in the service. We waste our time and money training these draftees and then when they leave we have to go out and draft more. We need to increase the pay for the military, provide better benefits to the troops themselves and their families, improve supplies, and finally increase the size of the services that were cut by the Clinton Administration.

Answer 7

With all due respect to you and what you would like to accomplish by imposing a “draft”, I think it’s a terrible idea.

I think an all-volunteer military is the best way to protect our nation. I remember when I was young, when a person got into trouble, the judges would give them a choice of going to prison or, going to Vietnam. I remember people being hauled off unwillingly to Vietnam. I can’t imagine any of these people really cared why they were there.

With an all-volunteer military, every person has made the choice on their own and are committed to doing the best job they possibly can. It’s not an alternative to going to prison, or being drug by their feet to fight a war they may not agree with.

As for people leading meaningless lives, that again, is their choice and they alone will have to live with the choices they’ve made.

Answer 8

Sorry just to splendid you there, Muslims, Jews and Christan's lived there in peace for hundreds of years. Which some exception distinctly the crusades while all and sundry of those communities have been killed by potential of the invaders. throughout the time of the mandate there replaced into nonetheless some peace however the mandate rulers did weigh down numerous rebellions by potential of the folk. motives why the county is in this manner of mess is as a results of what occurred throughout the time of the mandate. it fairly is not unique in historic past or Islam, many Jews and Christans stay in Islamic lands now, like they did then. shall we no longer forget approximately Spain below Islamic rule.

Answer 9

A little known fact is that some people are given the choice of going to jail or going in the military. This does not allways work out.

I think the key to to offer great benafits to people who inlist. Better pay, cheap loans, better schooling options, money for a home if medicaly retired or time in retired. Better equipment.

When you make it better to serve then work at McDonalds AND a salery job then you will see more people join.

Some people are cowards, some people think they are cowards, forceing the issue is not the right way.

We should have in place a "quck draft" in case of need.

However I think you should have to serve your country in at least one way. In israel you have to serve, and the people are doing fine.

In a time of need I thin you should have to give up feedom to protect it as all of our military does every day.

Answer 10

Although some service in the nation's military would be of a great help with society as a whole , I just don't know how a draft would work in our current times . Take one look at these boards . How many of these cowardly subversive teens would defect ? I think loads of them would . Again , I'm not sure if it would work , but if someone comes up with a plan then I'll be open to considering it .