Even as a kid I never understood how the US was pictured as the land of freedom, the most free country in the world, while maintaining conscription.
And whenever it came up Americans go full defense with “well it’s not being used right now”. But you as a male (also discrimination) were forced to sign up or lose social benefits right? So now you can get pulled in to wars you don’t agree with if your government wills it or go to jail if you object?
It’s something we actually have poured tons of resources into so it has impressive stats. You get this kind of weird split brain where you are impressed by the immense scale of what we’ve built, and horrified by the massive expense, but then kinda glad that you have the biggest stick on the playground.
As for conscription, the last time we had a draft it was deeply unpopular. There is a good sense of national pride that we have an all volunteer armed forces. I think most Americans are aware that a draft could be instituted but consider it so unlikely and think that if it really happened it would be because of a serious threat that people are mostly fine with the idea.
All men are theoretically eligible for the draft, but with no draft in a half century and with drafts only ever targeting young men, it’s something you kinda vaguely are aware of for a little bit and then you establish a life and realistically aren’t going to get drafted even if they instituted one.
Especially because there no mandatory service requirement in America, most citizens can pretty safely ignore the possibility of serving.
Even as a kid I never understood how the US was pictured as the land of freedom, the most free country in the world, while maintaining conscription.
And whenever it came up Americans go full defense with “well it’s not being used right now”. But you as a male (also discrimination) were forced to sign up or lose social benefits right? So now you can get pulled in to wars you don’t agree with if your government wills it or go to jail if you object?
Americas relationship with our military is weird.
It’s something we actually have poured tons of resources into so it has impressive stats. You get this kind of weird split brain where you are impressed by the immense scale of what we’ve built, and horrified by the massive expense, but then kinda glad that you have the biggest stick on the playground.
As for conscription, the last time we had a draft it was deeply unpopular. There is a good sense of national pride that we have an all volunteer armed forces. I think most Americans are aware that a draft could be instituted but consider it so unlikely and think that if it really happened it would be because of a serious threat that people are mostly fine with the idea.
All men are theoretically eligible for the draft, but with no draft in a half century and with drafts only ever targeting young men, it’s something you kinda vaguely are aware of for a little bit and then you establish a life and realistically aren’t going to get drafted even if they instituted one.
Especially because there no mandatory service requirement in America, most citizens can pretty safely ignore the possibility of serving.