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I understand there may be a need for compelled labor by the government, in a time of war or national emergency. Am I okay with it? I think that depends on whe
by lsiebert 8y ago
I understand there may be a need for compelled labor by the government, in a time of war or national emergency.
Am I okay with it?
I think that depends on whether it's a defensive war or a real national emergency. China invades, or yellow stone's super volcano erupts, yeah, those are legitimate reasons to force humans to cooperate, because survival is at stake. Vietnam type situations, or the Border Wall thing... I'd be protesting a draft.
U.S. law and supreme court precedent both say that a draft is not slavery, but I understand your opinion, or definition of slavery, may differ.
I also believe quarantine laws for infectious people are valid, that police should be able to arrest violent criminals, etc. Basically, I believe if your actions or failure to act endangers the health and well-being of others, then the government has a legitimate interest in compelling or restricting behavior.
Most people would consider providing for the national defense and preserving the lives of citizens to be part of what a government does.
- Fjolsvith 8y agoI frankly agree with Robert Heinlein's attitude towards military service. Voluntary, but with the caveat that if you choose not to serve, you do not earn the right to vote.
- lsiebert 8y agoYou might enjoy reading his 1973 address to the naval academy. http://www.phrost.com/blog/society/the-pragmatics-of-patriotism-robert-heinlein/ http://www.phrost.com/blog/society/the-pragmatics-of-patriot... I like his books, but I don't agree with his ideas.
- Pristina 8y ago>preserving the lives of citizens this is completely false. a war is never about killing citizens but about imposing political will. without a defense, the occupier would simply impose their political system on the occupied. a government, being a political entity, is only forcing people to DIE so they can maintain their political hegemony over some people.
- gbear605 8y agoThat’s just false, since a lot of times political will involves killing civilians. For example: Stalin, Mao, Andrew Jackson