Why Progressives Should Support the Draft

It is easy to forget how thoroughly common the experience of soldiering was among all classes once. In her diary Eleanor Roosevelt wrote: "I think my husband would have been very much upset if the boys had not wanted to go into the war immediately, but he did not have to worry very much because they either were already in before the war began, or they went in immediately..." The Roosevelt sons were in the military already, before the war began. And they were not in coddled positions. They were exposed to real risks. And so were the sons of many powerful families.

Progressives need to push for the reintroduction of the draft. It is fair, it is democratic, it will help prevent stupid wars. And that is why people who are determined to start wars don't want the draft back. A draft will confiscate their toys.

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