Opinion of compulsory military service

[buritobr]

Some decades ago, it made sense because of national security issues. Nowadays, it doesn't make sense anymore.

Centuries ago, absolute monarchies used mercenary armies. The armies changed when the modern states rose. Modern warfare needed conscripted armies. However, post modern warfare doesn't need conscripted armies anymore. In recent times, the USA and the UK won many wars using all volunteer armies.

Army, navy and air force are job opportunities. We don't need to force young men to become soldiers.
Police and fire brigade never used conscripted men and, even though, policemen and firemen always existed.

[ElectionsGuy]

I don't have a very positive view of slavery.

[dead0man]

This isn't an issue as nobody wants it....except for a few that either want it for odd reasons or are very out of touch with the military and wrongly think the draft would "help" somehow.

[PJ]

I don't have a very positive view of slavery.

I'm not a fan of the draft by any means, but it is not remotely comparable to literal slavery.

[ElectionsGuy]

I don't have a very positive view of slavery.

I'm not a fan of the draft by any means, but it is not remotely comparable to literal slavery.

You're right, its temporary servitude.

I mean, what you do in the military is take orders from higher authority. And if its forced by the government, what else do you call that?

[Simfan34]

The defence of the nation, when fundamental rights, freedoms, and identities--assured by the existence of the nation-- is perhaps the highest civic responsibility. One cannot just idly take advantage of the benefits of peace and prosperity while abdicating any sense of obligation or responsibility in times of crisis.

So yes, freedom practice.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I don't have a very positive view of slavery.

I'm not a fan of the draft by any means, but it is not remotely comparable to literal slavery.

This.

[TNF]

In our current context? I'm not in favor, but I would serve if I were ever drafted, because I wouldn't want to disconnect myself from other working class people who don't have the option to opt-out and could potentially be radicalized enough by whatever conflict is going on to be won over to revolutionary politics.

In a socialist context, I'm obviously in favor of it. I am opposed in principle to the idea of 'professional' bodies of armed men, and would support the abolition of the standing army and the police in favor of a draft system in which all citizens over a certain age receive training and are regularly called up for service if need be.

[DemPGH]

You know, I'm not really sure. I think if America were less interventionist I would be much more inclined to support it or have a positive opinion of it. I think that because Physical Education in our schools is more akin to glorified recess than actual physical education, I could very much support military training, but service is a little fuzzy for me. I think training could be very beneficial on both psychological and physical levels.

[Jacobtm]

It's forced military slavery.

In Israel at least, it seems to inculcate young people with a very strong nationalistic viewpoint. Typical college-age kids who spend their time on the beach taking selfies have a huge deal of pride in their country and military because they served when they were young.

Taking 18 year olds, who are undoubtedly very impressionable, and running them through military training instead of sending them off to college to learn to "deconstruct toxic masculinities" certainly has a strong effect on making people turn out a different way.

Governments and societies are all in the business of brainwashing their citizens anyway, so this is one way to get them to turn out quite differently than if they didn't go. The military in all countries being a fairly right-wing institution.

[Clark Kent]

Unnecessary and unwanted. I plan to serve, but nobody should be required to except during a major war similar to World War II.

[Bigby]

HP, and not just because it's government force. Draftees are unmotivated, do not belong in an environment where they do not want to be, and are subpar soldiers. The military AND civilians do not benefit from the draft.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Poor, but the idea of compulsory national service can have some merit as it can be a means to churn together the social classes and avoid them stratifying.

[PJ]

It's forced military slavery.

Ugh.

What is with the continued use of this metaphor? It's insulting to those who actually had to endure the horrors of slavery. Slaves were held for their entire lives, forced to work without pay, beaten, raped, killed. This is far worse than the contemporary "definition" of forcing people to do something.

Poor, but the idea of compulsory national service can have some merit as it can be a means to churn together the social classes and avoid them stratifying.

Many implementations of compulsory service (although certainly not all of them), are classist in nature, the draft during the Vietnam War being the greatest example of this.

[SATW]

I don't have a very positive view of slavery.

 

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

You know, I'm not really sure. I think if America were less interventionist I would be much more inclined to support it or have a positive opinion of it. I think that because Physical Education in our schools is more akin to glorified recess than actual physical education, I could very much support military training, but service is a little fuzzy for me. I think training could be very beneficial on both psychological and physical levels.

[Horus]

It seems to have turned this generation of Israelis into bloodthirsty, overly ethnocentric embarrassments, so I'm not really in favor based on the examples I've seen.

[Thunderbird is the word]

Absolutely opposed morally, the draft was fundamentally classist and racist as rich kids could very easily get somebody to pull a string for them leaving it to poor blacks from the inner city and poor whites. However even in some hypothetical world where it was completely equal i'd be opposed because I do view it as involuntary servitude.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Poor, but the idea of compulsory national service can have some merit as it can be a means to churn together the social classes and avoid them stratifying.

Many implementations of compulsory service (although certainly not all of them), are classist in nature, the draft during the Vietnam War being the greatest example of this.

Yeah, the US draft during the Vietnam Era is not a good example of what I would want.  The college exemption in particular was wrong and likely contributed to the campus troubles of that era.

[Hydera]

Lean-FP.

Mainly because i've read about how compulsory military service can bring together people of different social backgrounds. And allow for networking and some say that social skills for many had improved since they were forced to be together.

[DavidB.]

I do not think it is moral for a government to draft people if the security of the homeland is not at risk. The government cannot simply impose a draft in order to "create social stratification"/"give people social skills"/"make people man up": the costs, in terms of time and effort for young people, are too high, and the Defense department is not some kind of kindergarten anyway. Therefore, I oppose the draft in countries that are "safe", such as the Netherlands and the U.S. However, I do support the draft if a country is genuinely at risk, and drafting people is actually useful/necessary. That's why I support the draft in Israel.

So it depends. Could be FP, could be HP.

[bagelman]

If it's for the defense of the nation - FF

If it's for the defense of some other country that we have business or political interests in fighting for- HP

No, the war in Vietnam and the war in Iraq were not for the defense of the nation, they were for the defense of other nations which both fell down like a house of cards as soon as we left after years of fighting and shedding blood for them, so I would've opposed drafts for such wars.

[Republican Michigander]

In today's society, I strongly oppose it. In most cases, emergencies only.  If there's an actual grave threat to the country, then everyone should have skin in the game.

My main reasons of opposition at this point:

1. It isn't needed.
2. US spends too much time being world's cop.
3. Historically, there's class based exemptions. (NYC Draft Riots in 1860's, Vietnam deferments)
4. Most of the military does not support a draft as they don't trust conscripts who do not want to be there.

[RFayette]

Poor, but the idea of compulsory national service can have some merit as it can be a means to churn together the social classes and avoid them stratifying.

Agreed, I have a pretty positive opinion of the idea of compulsory national service right after high school, though I tend to think the discipline of the military would be better to impart into young people than other types of organizations (like Peace Corps).   Though I'd be concerned with what the military is doing with the people, I definitely think that boot camp would be a great experience for all of us young people to have to go through.  

[Maxwell]

Absolutely 100% morally opposed.