Maybe if the mandatory service were installing fiber to rural areas the way we managed to get copper out there or dealing with infrastructure (especially water and schools) in Indigenous and remote communities. Maybe health care or emergency response.
But guns and bombs? No thanks.
Also, I’m old enough to be exempt by any rational measure. If it came to a vote, my vote shouldn’t be counted.
I’m glad I’m starting to get to be old enough to be exempt for any mandatory national service but damn if that wouldn’t make this country worse overall.
I agree. I’m also not a huge fan of rebranding “military conscription” as “national service”. There have been people talking about “national service” in ways that specifically excluded military service. This feels like yet another case of the right stealing a term from the left and redefining it to suit themselves. It’s something they have been doing with national and religious symbols and slogans forever as a way to hide their true intentions.
One thing I find particularly concerning is that military conscription has generally been reserved for invasion or active defense. What are they not telling us?
