What you want is to revitalize the concept of the citizen-soldier.
The problem with that as applied to a modern society instead of like, ancient Mediterranean cultures is that we just don’t need that many soldiers anymore.
Hardly. They’re paid. There are exemptions for medical conditions and other things (I think medical students get exempted, and some choose to serve with the police, instead.) It’s not a perfect system by any stretch, but it’s not slavery.
That said, I’m against it overall. There are more and more rich kids “mysteriously” getting exempted. You’re expected to join by the age of 22, which interrupts university for many. And, it promotes a huge boy’s club where they learn to smoke and drink and preserve the patriarchy. It’s created a large gender divide where many young men are upset women are finally starting to get something closer to equal treatment (still not equal by any means) in the workplace here, but men are still expected to serve their time while women finish their higher educations and get a head start in the workplace. Honestly, if they’re going to have mandatory military service, they should just make it mandatory for women, too.
1: If you force someone into labor with the threat of violence or punishment, it’s slavery, and you’re at best arguing about semantics and adding extra steps.
2: There are plenty of slavery systems that pay slaves nominal wages, especially slave soldiers. The most famous historical example is probably the janissaries:
3: There’s probably an argument to be made about how it’s just a social need when you’re at war or have an aggressive neighbor but the problem is ultimately that the society hasn’t created a system where the citizens actually like the state enough to volunteer.
Is a loaded term. They are not making anyone who is physically or mentally unable in any way to do it. They are compensating those who do do it. (Yes, the pay is bad.) They get ample vacation time. There are many ways to postpone it or to replace it with some other form of public service. Many (most?) Koreans see it as their civic duty. It’s not so different from paying taxes or attending public school. Are those things slavery? We live in a society…
The classical republics expected literally every male citizen to train regularly and purchase at least some of their own arms and equipment as part of it, with wealthier citizens supplying more expensive material for everyone, aka, the well regulated militia.
Non-crediblenessousity aside I don’t think America needs 175 million soldiers.
You can argue that “citizens” wasn’t as inclusive then as we expect it to mean now but that’s still a hell of people unless a cool war starts again.
Conscription is slavery.
What you want is to revitalize the concept of the citizen-soldier.
The problem with that as applied to a modern society instead of like, ancient Mediterranean cultures is that we just don’t need that many soldiers anymore.
Yet…
Hardly. They’re paid. There are exemptions for medical conditions and other things (I think medical students get exempted, and some choose to serve with the police, instead.) It’s not a perfect system by any stretch, but it’s not slavery.
That said, I’m against it overall. There are more and more rich kids “mysteriously” getting exempted. You’re expected to join by the age of 22, which interrupts university for many. And, it promotes a huge boy’s club where they learn to smoke and drink and preserve the patriarchy. It’s created a large gender divide where many young men are upset women are finally starting to get something closer to equal treatment (still not equal by any means) in the workplace here, but men are still expected to serve their time while women finish their higher educations and get a head start in the workplace. Honestly, if they’re going to have mandatory military service, they should just make it mandatory for women, too.
1: If you force someone into labor with the threat of violence or punishment, it’s slavery, and you’re at best arguing about semantics and adding extra steps.
2: There are plenty of slavery systems that pay slaves nominal wages, especially slave soldiers. The most famous historical example is probably the janissaries:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janissary
3: There’s probably an argument to be made about how it’s just a social need when you’re at war or have an aggressive neighbor but the problem is ultimately that the society hasn’t created a system where the citizens actually like the state enough to volunteer.
Is a loaded term. They are not making anyone who is physically or mentally unable in any way to do it. They are compensating those who do do it. (Yes, the pay is bad.) They get ample vacation time. There are many ways to postpone it or to replace it with some other form of public service. Many (most?) Koreans see it as their civic duty. It’s not so different from paying taxes or attending public school. Are those things slavery? We live in a society…
I know we’re being noncredible but damn
The classical republics expected literally every male citizen to train regularly and purchase at least some of their own arms and equipment as part of it, with wealthier citizens supplying more expensive material for everyone, aka, the well regulated militia.
Non-crediblenessousity aside I don’t think America needs 175 million soldiers.
You can argue that “citizens” wasn’t as inclusive then as we expect it to mean now but that’s still a hell of people unless a cool war starts again.
Not America, no. But I see the benefit of conscription with turds like North Korea on your border.
I came violently upon seeing these words and wasn’t able to read the surrounding text.
disqualified from service for gooning about the service
Are you saying you don’t want 175M American soldiers? Get outta here with that…
More guns = better. Come get some Canada, we’re ready this time.