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Poll: Mandatory military service for US citizens....yea or nay?

F

Fausto

Elite Member
All the discussions here in OT regarding the war on terrorism, right to keep and bear, etc kinda got me thinking about this the other day. What if we had one year of mandatory military service for all citizens a la Switzerland or Israel? Seems to me that this would be a good thing on a few levels. First off, you'd have a populus who would be at least somewhat useful for national defense in the unlikely event of a ground war on US soil. You'd also have fewer morons purchasing weapons for "home defense" and blasting the dog in the middle of the night since the really had no clue as to how to handle a weapon. Another benefit I could see would be potentially straightening out troubled/misguided kids, or even starting some on the road to a career in the military (god knows there are plenty of 18 year-old needing a good kick in the ass).

On the other hand, you'd have a big issue with individual rights regarding those who have moral or political objections to involvement in the military on any level. Certainly those who feel that war in any form is utterly wrong are going to be screaming at the top of their lungs if they are suddenly shipped off to a year in the Army. How to address this issue? Allow exceptions for "concientious objectors"? Would refusing to go make you guilty of a crime? If so, how serious a crime? Misdemeanor? Felony? Deportation to Canada? Should there be other exceptions made for other reasons?

Anywho, I just thought I'd toss this idea out there for you all to discuss.
 
Our country is based on freedom. Forcing someone into the military would violate our rights. Sure, it would be great for some people to get some discipline, but it would never fly.
 
I am canadian, but I said no and I said this because I don't think that the US military needs it. In times of war things are different but I don't think it's really needed at the moment.
 
Good idea, but I'm undecided whether to vote yea or nay.

I can tell you this though; IF it gets done, one year is far from enough.

Army BMT is 12 weeks, Air Force is 6-7 weeks. AFter that, you need to learn a job, a skill. (MOS for the Army, AFSC for the Air Force.)

Your tech school could be anywhere from a month to 6 months or more...one year would be just scratching the surface and not allow you to see the "real" Army/AF/Marines/Navy.
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Good idea, but I'm undecided whether to vote yea or nay.

I can tell you this though; IF it gets done, one year is far from enough.

Army BMT is 12 weeks, Air Force is 6-7 weeks. AFter that, you need to learn a job, a skill. (MOS for the Army, AFSC for the Air Force.)

Your tech school could be anywhere from a month to 6 months or more...one year would be just scratching the surface and not allow you to see the "real" Army/AF/Marines/Navy.
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All the discussions here in OT regarding the war on terrorism, right to keep and bear, etc kinda got me thinking about this the other day. What if we had one year of mandatory military service for all citizens a la Switzerland or Israel?
Click to expand...

Israeli army duty is 3 years.
 
this is the main area that i disagree with the Libertarians

i am for a system by where those that CHOOSE to enter federal/military service get rewarded for that service with something more than just a couple of holidays and a DD214

to make federal/miltary service COMPULSORY would be distasteful to too many people (see poll results) , so i think a system whereby the people that choose to enter into the service of their country get an enhanced citizenship status or other REAL benefit would be the way to go

for example, veterans get two votes for every one of an "ordinary (non-serving)" citizen
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
this is the main area that i disagree with the Libertarians

i am for a system by where those that CHOOSE to entry federal/military service get rewarded for that service with something more than just a couple of holidays and a DD214

to make federal/miltary service COMPULSORY would be distasteful to too many people (see poll results) , so i think a system whereby the people that choose to enter into the service of their country get an enhanced citizenship status or other REAL benefit would be the way to go

for example, veterans get two votes for every one of an "ordinary (non-serving)" citizen
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That was pretty much what I expected to be the biggest objection (and would be mine as well). Americans don't like to be forced to do anything. I was just curious what everyone's input would be.

 
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I say all immigrants or the children of immigrants should serve at least 2 years in the armed forces.
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um why? it's not like the children of children of immigrants have done any more than the children of immigrants.
 
If that happens here in the US I don't think it will solve many problems. Partial list of reasons:
1) I've got a lot of friends from South Africa, France, and Germany. All of them had manditory military service. They basically tell me that it is a waste of a 1+ years of their life - something that most of them dread. They don't treat it like training, they treat it like being forced along with your parents on a boring family vacation. They sit around doing nothing but playing cards, drinking, and partying - instead of training. I don't think my University advisor (forced military training in South Africa) would know how to fire a gun if need be (at least he claims he can't) because he just avoided that part of training since he really is against military actions that were going on.
2) Which is better for morale? A military of troups that want to be there or ones that are forced there?
3) What about all the extremely overweight, handicapped, sick, etc citizens? Do they have to join and use up are precious military money or do they get exceptions? If they get exceptions won't this lead to a flood of people with "health" problems and defeat the whole purpose of training everyone? In my hometown one doctor diagnosed all of his child patients as having "excersized induced asthma" including me. The military had been calling me monthly until I got that diagnosis and I told them when asked if I had health problems. Now they won't even talk to me - even though I don't have any form of asthma. I imagine all the loopholes that will form like this - making the mandatory part ineffective. I guess this then leads to your crime questions...
4) Then there are people like me, I refuse to kill anyone. I'd gladly help America's military out with some of my skills (like my bioweapons detection research I'm currently doing). But I refuse to kill a person. Put me on the front lines and I'll just sit and wait to be killed - America lost a citizen, lost a ton of bioweapons detection research, and put a weak link in that division bringing everyone else down too. I guarantee there a lot more people like me. Thus leading to question #5:
5) Which is more effective: a small army of highly trained dedicated and skilled troups or a large army of unskilled low-morale troups who are just there since they were forced?
6) Isn't our military trying hard to move in the opposite direction? From large numbers of troups with low tech weapons to a small number with high tech weapons. How many troups did we really need in Afganistan? Very few since we had high tech jets and bombs. Isn't your idea the exact opposite?
7) Where does the money come from for all this training? Are we paid for this service - or do we have to save up to live a year without income? Who supports our families while we are training? All of these ideas lead to an enormous government cost - are we willing to increase taxes dramatically for this?
8) What about our current jobs? If 10 million people of military age suddenly leave today for military training what will happen? Will the job openings be able to be filled? Will this harm current businesses - will it harm the economy? Will the lack of students force closure of colleges and universities (In my state there are a few that are on the edge, a lack of 1 years worth of students would cause them to fail)?
 
nay.

i can see it in time of war, but why in time of peace? there are some people, quite frankly, that would be doing society a much better service by doing something productive... like research. i don't want these people to have their academic careers interrupted unnecessarily.

if you want to have it to straighten out problem kids, great... just send them to the military then 😛
 
Originally posted by: gopunk
nay.

i can see it in time of war, but why in time of peace? there are some people, quite frankly, that would be doing society a much better service by doing something productive... like research. i don't want these people to have their academic careers interrupted unnecessarily.

if you want to have it to straighten out problem kids, great... just send them to the military then 😛
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Yeah, since parents now-a-days don't know how to properly discipline their children :|

nik
 
Originally posted by: gopunk
playing cards, drinking, and partying - something that most of them dread.
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:Q
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Maybe I should type that better - they'd rather play cards, drink, and party with their friends/girlfriends/wifes/family in a place they choose then be forced to do the same with complete strangers. I'll edit it to make it clearer.
 
Originally posted by: Red Dawn
I say all immigrants or the children of immigrants should serve at least 2 years in the armed forces.
Click to expand...
If this ever becomes law, I'm coming to your house and killing you with a toothpick.
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
this is the main area that i disagree with the Libertarians

i am for a system by where those that CHOOSE to enter federal/military service get rewarded for that service with something more than just a couple of holidays and a DD214

to make federal/miltary service COMPULSORY would be distasteful to too many people (see poll results) , so i think a system whereby the people that choose to enter into the service of their country get an enhanced citizenship status or other REAL benefit would be the way to go

for example, veterans get two votes for every one of an "ordinary (non-serving)" citizen
Click to expand...

That enhanced citizenship status thing would never fly, anywhere! It is also unconstitutional.
 
wow dullard , if there was a poll right now, i would vote you as having the most sarcastic screen name 😉

nice post
 
Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Originally posted by: gopunk
nay.

i can see it in time of war, but why in time of peace? there are some people, quite frankly, that would be doing society a much better service by doing something productive... like research. i don't want these people to have their academic careers interrupted unnecessarily.

if you want to have it to straighten out problem kids, great... just send them to the military then 😛
Click to expand...

Yeah, since parents now-a-days don't know how to properly discipline their children :|

nik
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#1 problem in our society is bad parenting, imo. fix that, and i really believe the vast majority of the rest of our problems will magically go away too.
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
wow dullard , if there was a poll right now, i would vote you as having the most sarcastic screen name 😉

nice post
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Thanks, and I love it when people notice my alias sarcasm.

There are fixes and solutions to all my points. But these likely would add amendment after amendment to the forced military law - turning it into swiss cheese (full of holes). I think forced military works far better in countries with smaller populations. Having 280 million trained US troups seems a bit of overkill.
 
Originally posted by: TNTrulez
It is also unconstitutional.
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there are these things called "Constitutional Amendments" , they were included by the founding fathers as ways to make changes to the Constitution when needed
rolleye.gif
 
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