Controversial Political Opinions

[David Horn]

(05-22-2022, 09:35 PM)JasonBlack Wrote:

(05-22-2022, 09:49 AM)David Horn Wrote: Not to pour too much gasoline on the fire, but killing the draft was probably the greatest mistake of 1970s America, and near the top of the list for America in general.  Nixon did it to win votes (it worked), but it meant that the very idea of shared civic duty died right then and there.  No one is answering JFK's question about what any of us should do for our country, it's all transactional: I vote (or not) and you give me things.  No nation can operate that way forever.  Right now, the military consists of 1% of the population, and most (though certainly not all of those 1%) considered themselves super-citizens.  We can't have a special class of citizen unless we wish to become what we abhor.

There are plenty of programs which have the potential to foster civic spirit without coercing people into shooting young boys overseas (college age males still feel like "boys" to me). I admit, war has a long and consistent track record of raising a country's moral, but for once....I'm going to be an idealist and say I think we can come up with some better alternatives.

The point I was making had nothing to do with war, little to do with military service and everything to do with civic engagement.  Don't want to serve in the military (assuming there is no overwhelming need to defend the nation) -- fine.  There are many other options. How about the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps?  Neither is connected with the military in any way, but both provide service to others through US Government entities.  I've had friends serve in both, and other local and state options also exist.  

All of these options do two valuable things: they bring disparate people together to perform common tasks for the general good.  This is the spirit of communitarianism.  They also teach, by example, why the communal and cooperative model is both valid and valuable.  We lack a sense of civics and the teaching of civics is only part of the problem.  

And note: you don't even have to serve to understand that you have a responsibility to serve if called.