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I've regularly had this debate with my wife and best friend, who both happen to think that some sort of mandatory service would be a good idea. Now while I understand their arguments, I have to say that I generally oppose ANY such doctrine because I believe it is fundamentally against the notion of a free society.
Now some may argue that we have responsibilities as well as rights, and I won't argue that point. I believe that is true. But, as things stand right now, the people who volunteer for military service are giving up a certain amount of freedom BY CHOICE. They agree to be put under the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) for a set amount of time, which restricts what they may or may not do--including, but not limited to, publically disagreeing with the Commander-In-Chief in a time of "war."
What the draft proposal means, in the end, is that WE, as a society, reserve the right to strip citizens of their inherent rights granted under the Constitution (and, according to the founders, rights given to them by the "Creator") because we believe that it will serve a greater purpose in the end.
The designers of our Constitution believed that having a standing army in the first place was a bad idea. And it was our willful disregard of this concept that led to the power and influence gained by the military-industrial complex, especially over the past several decades.
Suffice to say that while I understand the reasoning of those who argue for some sort of draft or universal service, I must respectfully (or not so respectfully, as the case may be) disagree. There is NOTHING in the Constitution or ideals of this country that could justify this course of action. It's just plain wrong and UnAmerican.
There. I've said it.
Make of it what you will.
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