I'm against the draft. I believe we should have a professional military; it might be smaller, but it would be more effective.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
A draft doesn't produce the people we need to satisfy our real manpower shortage. We need specialists to keep our jets flying.
One of the problems we currently have is there hasn't been in the population any serious engagement with the ethics of war because we have an all-volunteer army. I would think the return to the draft would be an intervention that would require discussion that might be more helpful in terms of our ability to limit war.
I do not care whether you're a Democrat or you're a Republican or an independent. We must pull for the people who are wearing the uniform of the armed forces. These people weren't drafted. They enlisted, because they believe.
It's possible that in the future, women could be drafted not only into the military... but actually drafted into combat. I'm very uncomfortable with that.
I hated the draft, but at the same time, it's something that made every American take war seriously.
We have an incredible national forest service, and we have an incredible child outreach program that the president has put together. I don't see anything wrong with national service for a minimum of two years. If we were to require that, we wouldn't need a draft.
To summarize, draft resistance can make use of the inegalitarian nature of American society as a technique for increasing the cost of American aggression, and it threatens values that are important to those in a decision-making position.
I'm a big fan of the military. I think we've got to preserve our military, no question about it.
I have never had a problem with national service. I am not sure the draft is the way to go about it, but I am positive that you live in a society and you take from this society, which every citizen here does. You owe something back to this country, and that should be paid back in some form of national service.
Maybe the answer to Selective Service is to start everyone off in the army and draft them for civilian life as needed.