Compulsory Conscription: An Avenue for Peace

     The discussions about the military industrial complex in class have brought up some disturbing realizations about the relationship between the United States and war. Still obviously every sane individual on this Earth wants permanent world peace and though it may sound like pie in the sky to many, I firmly believe there is a step that can taken to promote less military action by the United States. When you look at the constant state of war that the US has been in for the past 50 years it is almost impossible to imagine the US government halting its extensive military operations. All kinds of movements have sprung up trying to reach policy makings in an attempt to temper the war mongering that takes place on Capitol Hill. Yet I think the real issue is the lack of empathy between politicians and the families of service members who lose there lives. Everybody knows the saying its a 'rich man's war and a poor man's fight' and that rings just as true today. My method of slowing down the war machine would be to re-institute the draft from the past century.
Bring the impact of war to those dispensing the blessing of conflict by the possibility that even their family members will be made to wear the uniform.
     No parent wants their children to be harms way, especially if they are the President. I don't think it's a stretch believing that President Bush would not have given the go ahead to invade Iraq if his daughters were enlisted in the Armed Forces. The innate reluctance to let danger near a son or daughter can be used to create a sort of deterrent. The chickenhawks in Congress who did not serve and can't serve now, will have to put the possibility of their family member being drafted on their conscience.  
    An article in the Guardian looks at Greece's system of a mandatory stint in the army for every adult male in the country. Greece stayed out of the Iraq for the most part and many attribute it to the fact that every voter and politician would have to feel the consequences of deploying troops. It forces every citizen to be intimately involved with the blow-back that follows conflict. In contrast, most Americans are far removed from the suffering caused by the nations wars. I would even be in favor of something as small as a rationing of food similar to during World War II, simply to make sure everyone is aware that troops are fighting aboard.
    It has become clear to me that their is a lack of remorse while the US is waging war. War is not about ideologies and as much as it is about dollars and votes to these powerful figures. The clearest way to put accountable on politicians is to challenge them at home. It is a cynical route but what other recourse is there? To hold these decision makers back from conflict, we have to involve a precious third party.    

Guardian Article Link:http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/aug/30/bring-back-military-draft