The Question:  What should America do about the general widespread crisis that is affecting so many aspects of modern American life?   Our politicians have not been able to solve any of the major problems of our country.  And it is unlikely within the foreseeable future for them or any elected official to come up with anything truly helpful. 

The Answer:   I propose that we bring back the Draft.  For EVERYONE.  Yup, for both males and females.   It should not be too hard or too costly.  Simply have all eligible individuals register with the Draft when they reach the age of 16.  Then, upon reaching the age of 18, or graduating high school, whichever comes first,  you have a mandatory 2 years in the service of the country.  Everyone goes, even if they have a handicap or are disabled.  (I am sure the service can find jobs for most  individuals who fit into this category.)  This has to be done.  The parents do not have the time or money to bring up their children like it was done before. 

This plan is not foolproof.  But it couldn't possibly make things any worse - and more probably than not it will result in a dramatic improvement.

As things presently stand, many, if not most, of the parents have abdicated "parenting" in order to hand our kids over to the schools.  Then, we tell our schools to deal with our kids -  while at the same time putting severe limitations on them.  What limitations?  No corporal punishment for one.  How many of us grew up with the nuns occasionally (or not) cracking our hands with a ruler?   And yet we all survived to adulthood.   Some of us even learned about responsibility.   Right now, the schools are barely allowed to discipline.  Once the kids make it through the metal detectors and the drug-sniffing dogs, they pretty much are left alone to saunter through the school day chatting on their cell phones and plugged in to their Ipods.  Millions of students are unruly, unpleasant and undiscplined - and VERY unafraid of authority.

A number of countries in this world have already made mandatory service in the Armed Forces.  They don't seem to be suffering.

Furthermore, since we would require everyone to go, there is no discrimination or racism involved.  NO RACISM.  NO DISCRIMINATION.  The smart and the stupid, the ugly and the beautiful, the filthy rich, the utterly impoverished, every race, every ethnicity, every religion, every sexual preference, the whole-bodied, the handicapped - EVERYONE (except for the very very few that might qualify for a Medical exception or are otherwise totally disabled.)

Don't you think that the discipline and values of the military might do our youth a world of good?

Of course you will get some parents hollering "OH NO, NOT MY BABY" or  "NO WAY IN THIS LIFETIME!" or "WHERE DO I GO TO MAKE A PAYOFF SO MY KID CAN AVOID THE DRAFT".  Well, anyone that tries this would be criminally charged themselves - perhaps with assisting someone with draft evasion.

The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.

Oh yeah, and since it applies to EVERYONE - well, that means people who are both legally AND illegally in the US.  So all the illegals that are here would have a choice.  Either register for the draft and serve your time in the military, or leave the US and go elsewhere - perhaps to a country without a mandatory draft.  And, if you hop over the border illegally and are ALREADY of the draft age, you go straight into the service first - regardless of age - OR BE IMMEDIATELY DEPORTED. 

A mandatory draft

Would put a crimp in the gang problem in our cities, wouldn't it? 

Might keep some individuals out of prison in the future, wouldn't it?

Might deter some individuals who are on their way to the United States simply to exploit its social benefits wouldn't it?

Be a good world lesson for most of our kids wouldn't it?

Be a good social lesson in how to live in a racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse environment wouldn't it?

And it would allow us to identify problem people and make available help for those who are medically or otherwise excused.

A mandatory draft.  Think about it.  A constructive way to deal with many of America's problems.  A positive way to deal with many of America's problems.  That's the American Way.

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