Came in the door from work, hit the remote as I grabbed a beer and went to change clothes, and the first thing I hear is that the military desertion rates are up 80%!

The percentage is from the start of the war, but they also showed figures of over 4,000 soldiers currently on deserter status, and the number in the past year has been something like up 42%. And, most found guilty of desertion in the past year have simply been given bad disccharges, and no time; so, the military is no longer looking at desertion as betraying your unit, branch of service, and country, as it was in my time.

Now, explain again why we are better off with a volunteer army and should not reinstate the draft to keep our military numbers at the necessary strength to keep our country secure.

I say again, reinstate the draft; make the term of service three years (as opposed to the 2 years of the previous draft), to recoup the time and money spent in training; and, look into the possibility of allowing a citizenship component for those who have entered the country illegally, such as three years of successfully completed military service equals the right to become a citizen.

We obviously need something more than the current volunteer system.

Came in the door from work, hit the remote as I grabbed a beer and went to change clothes, and the first thing I hear is that the military desertion rates are up 80%!

The percentage is from the start of the war, but they also showed figures of over 4,000 soldiers currently on deserter status, and the number in the past year has been something like up 42%. And, most found guilty of desertion in the past year have simply been given bad disccharges, and no time; so, the military is no longer looking at desertion as betraying your unit, branch of service, and country, as it was in my time.

Now, explain again why we are better off with a volunteer army and should not reinstate the draft to keep our military numbers at the necessary strength to keep our country secure.

I say again, reinstate the draft; make the term of service three years (as opposed to the 2 years of the previous draft), to recoup the time and money spent in training; and, look into the possibility of allowing a citizenship component for those who have entered the country illegally, such as three years of successfully completed military service equals the right to become a citizen.

We obviously need something more than the current volunteer system.


At the current level of dissent in our country to initiate a draft would be a big mistake. If we were not partaking in the amount of military action we are then it would make sense, however with the amount of action our military is seeing, there would be a good chance that the system would be broken before it ever got off the ground.

The common thought would be this... So 51% of us did not vote for this president, yet he became president because of our system, and now we have to go fight and die for him even when we do not believe in what we are fighting for?

Tough to get people to fight unwillingly in this case.

Wow 4000 sure is a big number!

So is 1 Million which is an approximate number for our active duty...

The numbers while they are up, are still far below what they were with draftees.


Don't get me wrong though, I am all for compulsory service to the nation, be it in military or civil service.

Compulsory service may have its merits, but I think it contrary to the spirit of liberty.

Compulsory service may have its merits, but I think it contrary to the spirit of liberty.

I think more needs to be considered than the simple spirit of liberty though, Thor. We are talking about the most basic of needs: being a part of something larger than oneself. I know I have probabaly talked it into the ground, but the Israeli approach of compulsory service is a model that we can use to our advantage, if we so choose. Males and females alike would give three years service to their country, either military or another form of commitment.

I do not suggest this without having given it thought. I look at the state of the nation, in terms of unemployment, economy, the increasing cost of college tuition, the threats posed by forces outside the U.S., etc. It is once again time to initiate a draft, with alternative service as an option. This could also provide a boost to those crying out for border security, and infrastructure improvements; many alternative service projects could be made possible utilizing those who object to military service.

And again, as I mentioned above, this could also offer an option to those that have entered the country illegally, who wish to become citizens.

The spirit of liberty needs to have a firm foundation of citizens that believe in it, support it, and are willing to defend it. And, it is time for folks to stop thinking it is free. There is a cost to having this freedom we enjoy, and giving three years of one's life in service is a small price.

I think more needs to be considered than the simple spirit of liberty though, Thor. We are talking about the most basic of needs: being a part of something larger than oneself. I know I have probabaly talked it into the ground, but the Israeli approach of compulsory service is a model that we can use to our advantage, if we so choose. Males and females alike would give three years service to their country, either military or another form of commitment.

I do not suggest this without having given it thought. I look at the state of the nation, in terms of unemployment, economy, the increasing cost of college tuition, the threats posed by forces outside the U.S., etc. It is once again time to initiate a draft, with alternative service as an option. This could also provide a boost to those crying out for border security, and infrastructure improvements; many alternative service projects could be made possible utilizing those who object to military service.

And again, as I mentioned above, this could also offer an option to those that have entered the country illegally, who wish to become citizens.

The spirit of liberty needs to have a firm foundation of citizens that believe in it, support it, and are willing to defend it. And, it is time for folks to stop thinking it is free. There is a cost to having this freedom we enjoy, and giving three years of one's life in service is a small price.

I like this plan, serve your country but not forced to face combat.

The spirit of liberty needs to have a firm foundation of citizens that believe in it, support it, and are willing to defend it. And that foundation is the willing work of those who volunteer for various services. It is noble and worthy, but to compel service in the cause of freedom isn't any better than outlawing flag burning for the same reasons.