Should military service (or related service) be required?

[Post-Keynesian Economics]

We're forced to do or not do a lot of things. That's why we have laws. Paying taxes and education are both compulsory at some level in the US, and yet the benefits outweigh the costs.

And people become resentful against paying taxes if they feel they're too onerous, too unfair, or they aren't getting benefits commensurate to the taxes paid. Same with education.

So we make sure that this service yields respectable benefits.

[Xirtam]

Seriously, how is conscription, military or otherwise, anything but slavery?

Slavery implies ownership.
I think it could be better termed "involuntary servitude".

[Regnum Dominae]

And people become resentful against paying taxes if they feel they're too onerous, too unfair, or they aren't getting benefits commensurate to the taxes paid. Same with education.

So we make sure that this service yields respectable benefits.

Or we use an all volunteer service, which is much more efficient and effective anyways.

[Vetalia]

So we make sure that this service yields respectable benefits.

I think it would be exceptionally difficult if not impossible to provide benefits comparable to what the person would get if they were free to pursue a position of their choosing.

[Post-Keynesian Economics]

So we make sure that this service yields respectable benefits.

I think it would be exceptionally difficult if not impossible to provide benefits comparable to what the person would get if they were free to pursue a position of their choosing.

But those benefits aren't removed. They are only delayed.

[Priory Academy USSR]

There are many other ways to grow the economy that do not require enslaving individuals to the state.

It isn't slavery when you get paid and you have a significant amount of freedom in choosing exactly what you do.

Do you know what would be even free-er? Letting people choose their own career path and become productive members of society on their own.

[Post-Keynesian Economics]

So we make sure that this service yields respectable benefits.

Or we use an all volunteer service, which is much more efficient and effective anyways.

More efficient? Yes. More effective - now, that's a real question.

Are you really telling me that we couldn't be doing more if we had millions of more people in the military and Corps services?

[Novia Soviet Socialist Republic]

No. There is no need for it anymore.

[Post-Keynesian Economics]

It isn't slavery when you get paid and you have a significant amount of freedom in choosing exactly what you do.

Do you know what would be even free-er? Letting people choose their own career path and become productive members of society on their own.

Since when is the goal maximum freedom?

[Vetalia]

But those benefits aren't removed. They are only delayed.

No, you still lose two years no matter what. Either you have to work longer or you lose out on them entirely.

[Post-Keynesian Economics]

But those benefits aren't removed. They are only delayed.

No, you still lose two years no matter what. Either you have to work longer or you lose out on them entirely.

You lose two years of retirement, as a practical matter. And I'm okay with that, seeing as people's retirement years are becoming more and more disproportionate to how long people are living.

[Pindian Republic]

Absolutely not. I'd do anything to evade it. I'm not willing to fight for my (or any other) country.

[Vetalia]

You lose two years of retirement, as a practical matter. And I'm okay with that, seeing as people's retirement years are becoming more and more disproportionate to how long people are living.

I'm not, I should be free to retire when I want, not have to give up two years of it because someone felt like forcing me to participate in national service.

[Regnum Dominae]

It isn't slavery when you get paid and you have a significant amount of freedom in choosing exactly what you do.

Do you know what would be even free-er? Letting people choose their own career path and become productive members of society on their own.

Thank you.

I hope to go into the scientific research field to help us develop technologies to minimize the harmful effects of climate change, something that is going to be of utmost importance in the years and decades to come. How would making me spend two years slaving away in Africa accomplish anything when I could instead be furthering my education?

The point is, education is much more productive and beeficial to society than military service for many people.

[Wisconsin9]

Hippo already brought this up. My answer is still no.

[Geilinor]

I think it would be exceptionally difficult if not impossible to provide benefits comparable to what the person would get if they were free to pursue a position of their choosing.

But those benefits aren't removed. They are only delayed.

Delaying the benefits gives them less time to rise up the career ladder. Two years can make a great deal of difference.

[Avenio]

it improves diplomacy and saves the lives of people living in poverty. The benefits would seem to outweigh the costs.

Sending armies of newly alcohol-legal, resentful teenagers into foreign countries is supposed to help diplomatic relations?!

[Regnum Dominae]

No, you still lose two years no matter what. Either you have to work longer or you lose out on them entirely.

You lose two years of retirement, as a practical matter. And I'm okay with that, seeing as people's retirement years are becoming more and more disproportionate to how long people are living.

So you want to artificially reduce quality of life in an attempt to further an oppressive moralistic goal?

[Post-Keynesian Economics]

You lose two years of retirement, as a practical matter. And I'm okay with that, seeing as people's retirement years are becoming more and more disproportionate to how long people are living.

I'm not, I should be free to retire when I want, not have to give up two years of it because someone felt like forcing me to participate in national service.

It isn't all about you. You're a part of a civil society.

[Jetan]

On one hand I think the idea of forcing people to support such a violent and unmerciful institution is a disgrace.

There is nothing disgraceful about defending your nation/the nation defending itself.

[72o]

Yes, one year is enough though. It's a good experience, good for personality development.

[Geilinor]

No, you still lose two years no matter what. Either you have to work longer or you lose out on them entirely.

You lose two years of retirement, as a practical matter. And I'm okay with that, seeing as people's retirement years are becoming more and more disproportionate to how long people are living.

Unless, of course, you become disabled due to age, can't work as hard, etc. That still happens, despite improved health care.

[Regnum Dominae]

Yes, one year is enough though. It's a good expierence, good for personality development.

For some people. For many others it would be traumatic.

[Geilinor]

I'm not, I should be free to retire when I want, not have to give up two years of it because someone felt like forcing me to participate in national service.

It isn't all about you. You're a part of a civil society.

I volunteer out of my own volition all the time.

[Astholm]

No, it should not be required. If anything, it should only be for those that want to do it. If I had the choice, I would rather be a paramedic in my own country (in my case, the United Kingdom) than doing military things, dealing with the average man in the street. I don't work in the medical field, but that's the better alternative. (I can remember writing this in an essay on WWII in high school years ago; conscription was one of the topics included; this was a mock history exam the teacher set to test our essay skills).
Also, you have disability issues to consider; not just physical disability, but mental and emotional ones as well, which rules out some of the population.

Surely it's better to let the individual decide whether they want to enlist in the military or not, rather than telling them "You will serve in the military".