[1]Selective Service System is still a good ole boys club
When I turned 18, I went to the post office and registered for Selective Service. About 6 months later, I volunteered to enter the U.S. Army, where I served with women who weren’t required to register.
From the Selective Service System website:
Almost all male U.S. citizens, and male immigrants living in the U.S., who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service. It’s important to know that even though he is registered, a man will not automatically be inducted into the military. In a crisis requiring a draft, men would be called in sequence determined by random lottery number and year of birth. Then, they would be examined for mental, physical and moral fitness by the military before being deferred or exempted from military service or inducted into the Armed Forces.
via Selective Service System: Fast Facts [2].
I hadn’t given it much thought lately until I heard a PSA on WDPS reminding young men to register. It warned that failure to register could stop eligibility for “student financial aid, loans, or grants; vocational training under WIA; government employment; and security clearances.”
In light of changes to the rules about women in combat, as of Jan. 24, 2013, when:
a unanimous recommendation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today announced the end of the direct ground combat exclusion rule for female service members.
via Defense.gov News Article: Defense Department Expands Women’s Combat Role [3].
it would seem to me that it is discriminatory to force the “Selective Service System” only on men, and only penalize men for not registering for the draft that probably would never happen. It’s time to level the playing field and ask women to make the same commitment to their country as men, if they also want access to financial aid, loans, grants, etc.
It’s been a long time for this country to live up to the words of the founding fathers – in our Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Women can vote, women can go to war, women can become presidential candidates- it’s time for women to register for the Selective Service System.
As usual, I find myself agreeing with David Esrati. Again I wish you would come over from the dark side and become a Libertarian. I am not convinced the democrats want you on their team, but I guarantee the Libertarians do. Oh, you may have some liberty-oriented “growing” to do, but I think you have what it takes to be a valuable libertarian voice.
As to the selective service issue, many years ago we purposely spelled our baby girl’s name like a boy would spell the name so she could register for the draft on the sly. When she turned 18, I strongly urged her to register. I was so disappointed when she chose to not try registering. Dang!
Sexism, yes. It is sexism.
But what about age discrimination? As our population gets older and stays healthy longer, there really isn’t any reason why a healthy 50 year old can’t be inducted into the military. Granted, they might not be capable of carrying a pack and rifle 25 miles ( some can, though), but many, many jobs in the 21st century military require more brains than brawn. Plus, traits like judgement, discretion, leadership, and reliability get BETTER with age.
I say we remove the barriers to serving in the military that are based on sex or age, and require EVERYBODY to register. Let’s see how anxious individuals are to support a war if they know that they might personally have to prosecute that war.
Interesting thought Dave C.
I can guarantee that most 50 year olds couldn’t make it through basic training-
but, I doubt this would ever come to happen. I believe in universal service, and I wouldn’t have a problem being called back, even now- but, I wouldn’t be doing what I did when I was 20.
High-fiber MREs……
I’m 54, and really could use some night vision goggles.
The Swiss conscript up to age 50, in some cases.
I’ll bet their MREs have chocolate bars in ’em.
Plus, you get a GREAT pocketknife.
The French should be OK with conscripting just about anybody. I mean, how hard is it to surrender?
They could just send somebody out with a white flag attached to their Rascal scooter.