Citizenship and the draft

Extending a conversation

I mentioned yesterday attending a meeting where a functioning Draft was an assumed fact should we go to war with China. News to most Americans, as I continue thinking about it, but maybe I am just not tuned it at this advanced age.

I received a passionate response from a subscriber incensed that men only must register under the Selective Service Act. Under that Law, decades in place now, men between 18 and 26 now automatically become registered as of this year. The subscriber pointed out that women are not required to do the same nor subject to the same automatic process, a double standard of reprehensible level.

I agree entirely with the criticism as citizenship, in my assessment, requires commitment and obligation, regardless of gender. Women are citizens today as fully as men, perhaps not true before 1920 when the Nineteenth Amendment, allowing said women to vote equal to men, reached sufficient ratification to become enforced, but definitely the case today.

The idea of reimposing national service might ease much of the various types of anxiety dividing into “haves” and “have nots” if it were applied equally. The idea what everyone could be subject to training and deployment rather than privileging the wealthy who can buy doctors excuses, or the children of those inside the Beltway exempted by who they know might bind us together as a society, or those who went to college. Would we find that the case if a comparable experience and obligation for all? I have no idea but perhaps so.

Are we comfortable that so many who currently serve are the children of prior generations in service as if a family business rather than more broadly res presenting and obligating all segments of society? There is nothing wrong with people serving behind their parents or nearby relatives but it narrows both the people affected by conflict and those with expertise about going into conflict. Is that a good thing?

Would having all Americans between 18 and 26 subject to conscription deter us from some of our actions overseas? Put otherwise, would we as a country be less prone to decide to go overseas using our military if that service could anffect everyone instead of those who choose to go? I don’t think we know for sure.

It is worth a national effort worth debating? Absolutely yes. To not do so, we are merely kicking the can down the line as our engagements overseas rise. At some point we must address that technology alone does not advance our interests. Perhaps we need revisit those interests. But we have run from that for half a century instead of embracing it.

I welcome your thoughts about any aspect of this. I sincere hope you will provide some feedback. I have no doubt whatsoever that those who currently serve do so with deep patriotism but wonder if we would be stronger if we widened that segment of our population to increase the understanding of what service to the nation truly can involve.

Thank you for your time. Please feel free to circulate these questions as I don’t have enough answers to satisfy myself, much less others. Thank you to subscribers, in particular, but any of you who help expand our dialogue rather than look back on decisions as if our choices had not mattered. Actions create consequences, after all.

I saw the following this morning.

Be well and be safe. FIN