As a veteran that protested the draft it’s odd that I would propose bringing it back.

But the fact that we can become so apathetic of issues till they invovle us gives me pause. The military is happy to have a all volunteer force, why?

They say that the commitment and quality is superior. I find that harder and harder to believe as I read of the suicides, incidents and stress that returning veterans face.

I think the military support for a all volunteer force comes from the fact that the citizens of the United States can comfortably ignore the costs.

I was amused when I read in the US Today a quote by General McCrhystal, that many fighters for the Taliban would stop fighting if they could find jobs in a stabilized country. They do it because it’s a job. It pays.

Granted we are a stabilized country, but a professional military is one that relies on on pay, not obligation, to serve. I know that many volunteers would say it’s their duty, but when we begin to hear of PTSD, atrocities, that’s not duty.

We are more apt to question if a cause is just when we are forced, not paid to carry it out.

We all have a stake, we all have a say. Are we silent because we support the efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, or because we are not asked to participate?

How many bumper sticker patriots are willing to serve?

Tags: Morals, Responsibility, War