Current Events > How different would the US be today if the Army was mandatory, and not a choice?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Like it was many years ago? Barring medical illnesses, if you were of age, you had to join the Army once that notice arrive in the mail. I know many other countries still have this to this day, while the US seemed to have changed the law regarding it. It means, almost everyone on GFaqs would have been drafted at some point, as well as celebrities, athletes, etc. Meaning entertainment would be affected. Basketball, MMA, Pro Wrestling, Football, movies, tv shows, etc. Do you think our country would be better off today due to the discipline, and hard work taught?

Hang on, outside of the drafts during war time, when was military service ever mandatory for the US?
And I can get good work out of 75% of the people who actually want to be here, couldn't imagine having to deal with people who didn't want to be here.

It would be worse because that would lead to more imperialism.

America couldn't afford it. It spends too much per solider, compared to other countries.

Most of us in the U.S. are old, out of shape, health problems, mental problems

You really want someone with really bad eyesight or high blood pressure or whatever to be force to be in the military if there was another stupid "draft"?

This topic is dumb and you should feel bad

Axiom posted...

This topic is dumb and you should feel bad

I feel pretty damn good actually. Seems like something you would have benefited from

Sheiky-Baby posted...

I feel pretty damn good actually. Seems like something you would have benefited from

Is this the part where you tell us you've been serving in the army for over a decade and are a four-star general

Something wrong with our mercenary army of the poor?

Country would be worse off for it.

Sheiky-Baby posted...

I feel pretty damn good actually. Seems like something you would have benefited from

Nobody benefits from being forcibly remade into a brainless pawn for the state

Actually, it is required for male citizens and male immigrants to register for the Selective Service between the ages of 18-25. But it's not strictly enforced (I never signed up, and I'm now well beyond that age range).

TMOG posted...

Is this the part where you tell us you've been serving in the army for over a decade and are a four-star general

No, I won a tournament in Brazil and became the first Bullshido heavyweight champion.

Not sure, but its generous benefits would have to be almost, if not completely gutted though to have any hope of afford it.

There are several ways to interpret this hypothetical since the claims about the past aren't accurate, but all of them lead to negative results. Enslaving people (and adding an element of sexism to it assuming that isn't one of the things the scenario is changing) to "teach discipline" is tyranny regardless of whether you make up some garbage about it being for their own good.

granted it was strictly non-combat and far from harm's way (e.g., working stateside or pushing papers on a base in an allied country), it would probably be a net positive; would provide job skills, people / organizational skills, instill discipline, encourage some semblance of common values, and offer the perspective of living in places away from home

but i wouldn't personally encourage it because it's a gross encroachment on civil liberties

Was the US really a better country overall before 1973 (when the draft ended)?

I mean I'd probably be dead, for one thing

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They won't even do that for tons of people who want jobs but can't find them.

I would rather leave the country than join the military

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i'm curious what happened to job corps, it might be a starting point

Beneficial for some? Sure.

But then you wouldn't be your own grandpa, would you?

The population of this country is too large for mandatory military service. Plus the popularity of college football would cause the populace to reject this.

A lot of dodgers would be in jail.