Five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"Conscientious Objector"
Technically speaking, the US do have mandatory military service, but it is inactive. Every American male must register for the Selective Service (i.e., the draft) upon reaching 18. Should the United States need to reintroduce active conscription, we are prepared to do so.
The US did have compulsory military service. They called it "The Draft". They believe that it ended in 1969, in favor of a lottery-type system, which was in turn replaced by the "all volunteer Army".
There are a number of military reasons that speak well for a volunteer army. Ideally, volunteer forces are more motivated, can be trained more completely and can produce more specialized and expert soldiers. The veracity of those benefits can and are debated. But, in many ways, it’s a moot point at this juncture to propose an active draft of American citizens would be political suicide.
On paper, it's a crime to "knowingly fail or neglect or refuse" to register for the draft. The penalty is up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Men who do not sign up for Selective Service in the US, are prohibited from eligibility for citizenship, financial aid, admissions to public colleges or universities, federal grants and loans, federal employment, and in some states, driving licenses.
However, to reinstate the draft, as we stand now, with that public, cultural millstone around its neck would be likely to be political suicide for any politician ill-advised enough to try.
«-Conscription Worldwide-»
However, what you surely didn't know and you will find very surprising is the large number of countries around the globe that even today in the first quarter of the 21st century still maintain a policy of compulsory military service.
But what you will probably find even more impressive is the fact of the amount of time it has taken for mankind to begin to dismantle and abolish its compulsory enforcement. Around 5000 years from the Ilkum of the Babylonian empire.
Oh! yes indeed. Today's topic is just because this weekend I was watching a couple of interesting documentaries that piqued my curiosity and led me to ask me some questions. Which consequently also inspired me and drove me to investigate, explore and snoop a bit more on the subject.
And this post today is the result of this investigation. Given the current political, economic and social climate around the world and the wide diversity of cultures that we cohabit here on the Hive blockchain. I assumed that it would be of your interest to want to participate in the suggested debate by giving us your opinion and valuable observations on the matter. I really hope you feel inclined to participate.
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Unfortunately even in countries without mandatory military service they still have poverty, ignorance and propaganda along with a heavily sedated populace to drive cattle to the slaughter. Maybe someday we will evolve...