Draft verses AVF

Well the draft won't be happening anytime soon, despite the best efforts by some in Congress to bring it back. Surprisingly, most if not all of the people in Congress who have called for the draft to return are Democrats not Republicans. However, on the campaign trail, Kerry is saying Bush has a "secret" plan to bring back the draft after the election.

But is the draft a good idea militarily? Well the military doesn't want a draft. The quality of the soldiers it gets from volunteers verses draftees is much higher and with fewer discipline problems.

Some have said well if not a draft, some sort of "national service" to turn wayward youth into responsible young men and women.

Personally, I think that would be a terrible idea for the US. The problem would be who would control the program? The department of Education? What moral standards would be maintained? The military has a code of conduct that many of us civilians would find different (saluting, etc.). And finally, what would the kids in national service do? Patrol the border? Fight forest fires? Construction? Would it not be better to have professionals do these jobs instead of kids who may or may not want to be there?

I would rather have parents have their kids into organizations like the Scouts or sports or church groups etc. instead of expecting the government to take rebellious youths and turn them into mature adults. After all, does the child belong to the State or the parents? I hope the parents.