According to “news”, the Selective Service will start registering men automatically when they hit 18. “News” sources are treating this as bad because it happened while Trump was in office. It’s a safe bet that the agency has been planning this move for a long time.
The change is actually GOOD in context of existing laws. Since 1980 men have been required to register but not required to serve. They must register “voluntarily” or face loss of federal privileges like student loans. In theory, though not enforced, they could face prison.
Compare with another universal federal age-related program. Medicare is automatic. You don’t have to “voluntarily” tell the agency to turn on Medicare, so you can’t lose benefits through ignorance or distraction. The benefits just start in the month of your 65th birthday, whether you know about the program or not.
“Voluntary” participation in an automatic program is simply an opportunity for political persecution.
I went to prison to evade the draft in 1969, but my attitude has reversed with maturity.
In peacetime, one or two years of universal military service is good for men. The Army gives men discipline, social skills for teamwork, and job skills.
In wartime a conscripted army is much harder to enslave, much more likely to punish a bad officer. A volunteer army is made up of men who are EAGER to shoot and fight. This is why the draft was abolished in 1975.
Polistra's Mill 