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I can remember the good old days when we had the draft. I believe that the draft was a solution to a LOT of problems. First, going into one of the services demonstrated that its virtually impossible to be the toughest as one learns rather quickly that there is ALWAYS somebody who can beat your ass. The draft also taught folks that everybody is, pretty much, just like everybody else. Some have different skin colors, some speak differently, etc. what seems to happen is that people tend to get over all that stuff and move on to get along.
I am, incidentally, for the draft! We lost the draft when we started in with stupid wars and mothers decided that their children dying over silly was an error in judgement. Instead we opted to have mercenary armies. That was a major change. Now, when somebody gets killed or maimed the common thought was something like; "he/she chose to be in the military".
I know, much of the above might offend, considered, wrong, etc. The fact, however, remains. as its how we have now and the current military is a LOT different in a lot of ways. I also realize that there are arguments on all sides of this.
I was going to tack this onto an existing topic but thought better of it.
I'm torn on this because historically the draft has been slanted to treat wealthy families a little differently. John Fogerty said it best.
Many countries have a mandatory program for military service, so it's not like this is something new, it's just something new for the current generations. Mandatory selective service has advantages and disadvantages and so does the concept of an all volunteer military.
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The draft also taught folks that everybody is, pretty much, just like everybody else. Some have different skin colors, some speak differently, etc. what seems to happen is that people tend to get over all that stuff and move on to get along.
University does that for people too.
The draft taught me that my government didn't want me, wouldn't have me, now and forevermore. I was not welcome in that club.
I dunno what sort of volunteer work you'd put all of those draftees doing though. Pretending to be soldiers wears pretty thin when there aren't any wars to be fought. We don't need a lot of cannon fodder these days, just look at the uproar Putin's little war is causing.
The Age of War has passed. The need for soldiers is practically nil.
First, if you want to fight in wars the United States is a pretty good place to be. We just got rid of one that went on for 20 years! The really interesting thing is that we have enough people willing and able to fight in our wars. Its never made much sense to me. The pay is lousy, there is little freedom, and you do what you are told (there is more but that's basic).
Anyway, when you got drafted it wasn't a joke, especially when we were at war! After you entered you got to be 'examined' and "probed", with a large group of nekked and then were thrown into a great big room to sleep with a couple of hundred of your very best pals (maybe not but you'll work through that) and that was just for starters. Basically it wasn't exactly a real good time. From what I understand much of that has now gotten better and more civilized because, I suspect, they needed to do that to keep the suckers applying. (except for the Marines who, I suspect, haven't changed one damned thing)
I also tend to believe that there is a growing chance that we are not only going to get into another war but this one is going to be done, in part, with nukes! "The Age of War" has NOT passed! The only real difference is that I may actually be talking about the very last war as well as the end of the world. This is currently happening, right now, inch by painful inch. Interesting times!!
I was just looking around and found this which I wrote in 2022. The only thing different is that there is currently no draft. I have, however, faith. Our military has not been having enough folks joining and they are all, I think, short of folks to wear the uniform. The Republicans are choosing the Russians over the Ukraine whiich also means that Russia will go after several countries when he is done with the Ukraine. When Russia really starts to move then, hopefully, we will send our militia to help stop him. If we don't it will show just how screwed up we are now, the rest of the world will recognize that and we will no longer be the nation and people who took care of business. I suspect the biggest problem will be the dollar losing big time.
