I think the all-volunteer military has been a great thing for the US. As the world gets more and more technical, we no longer need warm bodies as cannon fodder in war; rather, we need people that want to be there and are willing to work hard for their country.

Mandatory military service should only be a last resort. Our military should not become a substitute for good parenting and/or the Peace Corps.

isn’t sufficient reason to mandate it. It’s good for people not to swim in water that is too cold, it’s good for them to not smoke, it’s good for them to wear their seatbelts. But I disagree in making it compulsory for adults on all counts. Sure they’d learn a lot and benefit from it, but they would benefit from a mandated proper diet too.

Like Finrod, I believe mandatory service should be a last resort when the nation needs it. The fair and true assessment that most layabout youths need it is insufficient cause to mandate it in my opinion.

“I think it’s a good idea.” & “Whether or not it’s in the best interest of national security is another matter altogether.”

Serious question for you scottbomb. Just what the hell is the point of military service?

are the very last thing we need in any kind of “National Service” and certainly not in the military. When we get to the place where we need cannon fodder, we’re about to be fighting in the rubble and eating each other. I don’t know what universe Rangel et al. are living in unless they want their Democrat version of the SA and want to pay these punks to be union and community organizers. Hey, I think I might be on to something there.

I’ve been hit with Navy recruitment messages since I entered college, due in no small part to my particular field of study. I do not want to spend my days in an underwater tin can, I have basically used my brain to pay my way through college, and I really have no desire to voluntarily enlist, therefore I have not. I will serve if called, but my talents would be better put to use building better weapons and vehicles.

Compulsory military service would waste the talents of the civilian population: the atom bomb saved the lives of a million Allied soldiers ,and you don’t bring a knife to a gun fight.

I’m no psychologist nor am I in the military but since I opened my big mouth and gave my somewhat informed opinion, I’m willing to explain my theory. Mine are just some observations from a layman.

Regarding using the military to teach values. I know it’s not the place of gov’t to do that but I think the benefits are worth exploring. I’m only talking about 1 or 2 years, not a 4-year or lifetime commitment.The fact is, a good portion of our population ARE slackers and too many of them end up addicted to drugs, in jail, getting young girls pregnant (then taking off, leaving the welfare bill for the rest of us), etc. We bemoan the breakup of the family and the negative effects of raising children without both parents. We can’t mandate that people stay married and we can’t teach a single mom smoking crack how to raise kids. So what then CAN we do? Build more prisons? We’ve been doing that and not much has changed.

I’m not talking about using the military as a welfare agency. 1 or 2 years of learning to be a man could prevent lot of problems in society by putting kids on the right track who may otherwise be lost. It would surely inspire some to continue their education and go on to become productive citizens. As another benefit, we’ll have more than “cannon fodder”. We’ll have kids going into college with some real-world skills and along the way, we may find some folks who make terrific soldiers/sailors/marines/airmen and decide to continue a career in the service.

I’m not talking about mandating lifestyles or life choices when one leaves the service. But as anyone who’s ever know a veteran (and yes I know a few, I’m even related to some) they usually out of the service as productive, patriotic citizens. Even those who were drafted!

As for the idea that people not wanting to be there are unreliable, I wonder how much of that idea is based on fact or myth. Such as position is an insult to all those who were drafted. Israel’s IDF is compulsory and they’re considered some of the finest in the world. Colonial militias used it in the Revolutionary War, both sides in the Civil War, WWI, WWII (the “greatest generation” consisted of a great number of draftees), Korea, & Vietnam. There’s always a few bad apples in every bunch (including the volunteer force) but most of these are men served wth honor and dignity, including those who were drafted.

DOMESTIC SECURITY force with funding EQUAL TO THE MILITARY.

Mandadory public service would be a seemless way to man up the DOMESTIC SECURITY FORCE (brownshirts).

Draftees would probably also have the option of working for ACORN or PLANNED PARENTHOOD.