how (not) to end war

Skip M. Oliva reckons that N.Y. Rep. Charles Rangel is trying to enslave American youth under the pretense of helping avoid war, with Rangel's recent bill to reintroduce a national service draft that will indiscriminately target youth of all stripes and persuasions. Per Rangel's tortured logic, politicians would think twice before declaring war since their own relatives will be at risk of conscription.

Skip offers some evidence for his suspicion of Rangel's ulterior motive:

[Rangel] said having a draft would not necessarily mean everyone called to duty would have to serve. Instead, "young people (would) commit themselves to a couple of years in service to this great republic, whether it's our seaports, our airports, in schools, in hospitals," with a promise of educational benefits at the end of service.

Where Señor Oliva doesn't actually finish the complete analysis of Rangel's national enslavement bill, I will.

A. The bill won't accomplish what it is set to; in this case to end the drive for war, since the "national service" draft contains such a broad category of possibilities, giving politicians the peace of mind they need to kill other people's children when their own loved one's will be strategically positioned somewhere in the relative safety of National Guard duties :cough: Bush :cough: or some cushy desk job at the National Propaganda Agency.

B. As a few Mises commenters point out, you don't fight the war machine by enabling easier access to unwilling labor assets.

C. As Tarran brilliantly writes there--

If you want to give pause to those who wish to start unpopular wars, the answer is not to force people into the military, but to allow those already in the military to leave more easily!

After all, if my employer orders me to go to my competitors offices and break their legs as they come in for work, I don't have to do it, I can say "cheerio" and quit. Soldiers aren't given that option (in fact they are threatened with death for attempting to quit).

Let's give them that option. I think something like changing the rules so that any soldier can quit, anytime, and they get evacuated after the wounded (if the exigencies of the fighting permit), are transferred to the U.S, and honourably discharged.

Thus, every soldier who risks his or her life would not be doing it because they feel they have no choice, but because they feel the risk is worth it. It would blunt the U.S. government's abilities to conduct offensive operations, but would enhance the U.S. government's ability to conduct defensive operations (should the warlike Canadians ever decide invade us).

Thus we can safely concur with Señor Oliva and conclude that congresscritter Rangel is not looking to end war, but rather sneak involuntary servitude over the great, brainwashed hoi polloi.