i'm not at all an expert on constitutional law nor do i know much about the history of the draft.  i suppose i could start with how i 'feel' about it.  i'm not a huge fan of the draft for the obvious reason of giving up what i have in my comfortable dorm room to fight in a war i may not necessarily agree with.  that' that.

i think if we look at countries around the world we see that many, if not most, require out of their male citizens 2-3 yrs military service. so for many people it is the norm to go into the service.  i think the reason why americans get so upset with the idea of a draft is because they think they are a single island, with their own will and in america you can pursue whatever it is you like without anyone roadblocking your desires.  who wants to go to war?  seriously, and because in the U.S. people join the military on a volunteer basis, not many are going to sign up.  the question is does your person/body belong to the state.  'render unto caesar's what is caesar's.'  i know that that reference is referring to paying your taxes but in a sense we owe our country for the freedoms we enjoy.  as far as restricting a person's human rights, i think that a draft doesn't so much restrict their rights as much as it restricts their preference.

i think there is little benefit to a draft since it means taking people out of their normal lives and thrown into a war.  if military service is going to be necessary, then i think the U.S. should adopt a mandatory 2-3 yrs like most places, this way it will be a part of our normal lives and an expectation.  i realize not many people agree with war or violence, that's fine.  i realize many don't want to join the military and fight a war they don't agree, although they would fight one that they feel is right. 

when it comes right down to it, if uncle sam says we have to fight, we have to fight or pay the consequences.  i may or may not agree with this, but that's just how things are going to be. 

as always, even my firmest resolutions failed to stand up to the pressures of time wasting...aka, reading what i really wanted to read instead of what i should have been reading.

i don't exactly think that's time wasting, but certain powers that be don't agree with me.

not many are commenting, i guess suicide is more popular than draft, hahaha,

I dont believe military draft is backed by any law, at least the ones i know of. It shouldnt be legal, at any time whatsoever. If i actually liked war, military ect.. i guess i could see why it would be "good" for the country. I personally think that war with in itself is stupid, why cant humans just talk it out, and be civilized? We can create cell phones that can do EVERYTHING, but we cant sit down and talk to people about issues. I dont believe society has progressed at all. We're not cavemen, but we act like them. god save the queen!

jeremy

"id rather die on my feet, than live on my knees"

I try very hard to stay out of controversy [unless it's in a debate round of course ;)] so..here goes. Oh, and do me a favor and don't crucify my responses. =)

I see that a lot of people have already listed cases and various other sources to back up their comments, therefore I'm only going to put my opinion.

I approve of the draft because I think that people cannot only reap the privileges of living in a society without sacrificing for it as well.  Also, the military is a good disciplinarian and would instill a greater sense of responsibility to the society in which one belongs.  What happened to the days when people fought for their country without being dragged kicking and screaming?  I guess a more global society creates for less nationalism and patriotism in general.

thank you grace! that is how i feel too.  what happened to our patriotic duty.  let me ask you this. are you okay with them forcing criminal offenders into war?  in La. i know of several people who either served our were jailed.  i think this a great idea.  they can do their duty without being a burden on tax payers