universal conscription is similar to how people are forced to go to school in most societies
I recognize the difference you are making, but this seems like huge a stretch. Children’s lack of knowledge requires some degree of restriction on autonomy at least to a certain age, in the interest of preparing them for life. Personally I think school mandates are excessive in most countries, but it is still very different from a mandatory activity for adults. Moreover, the military represents a far greater risk of personal harm. As to the idea that it is self-organizing, the degree to which that is true rests heavily on the democracy question.
In an ideal world, no country would even have a reason to have universal conscription. We do not live in an ideal world, though, we live in the era of dying imperialism, where the US Empire could lash out at any moment. In these circumstances, the decision to implement universal conscription is entitely rational. Further, I am not purely speaking of children, but also full adults getting their medical degrees and having to give back to the system by going to the areas most in need for a time.
As for democracy, the book I linked is the best source I’ve found.
Further, I am not purely speaking of children, but also full adults getting their medical degrees and having to give back to the system by going to the areas most in need for a time.
I definitely oppose that. It might just be a difference in values.
You may oppose it, but you also likely do not live in a socialist country. Understanding why socialist countries have the policies they do requires understanding their situations. For example, in Cuba, sending doctors to the rural areas helped provide medical access to people who never had it before. These programs are not at all comparable to slavery, but are pro-social policies decided within a class, not imposed by one class onto the rest.
Not sure what you mean, if you don’t live in China, Vietnam, Laos, the DPRK, Cuba, or potentially Venezuela, then I don’t think your country is really socialist. Either way, my point is that universal conscription isn’t at all the same as slavery.
I recognize the difference you are making, but this seems like huge a stretch. Children’s lack of knowledge requires some degree of restriction on autonomy at least to a certain age, in the interest of preparing them for life. Personally I think school mandates are excessive in most countries, but it is still very different from a mandatory activity for adults. Moreover, the military represents a far greater risk of personal harm. As to the idea that it is self-organizing, the degree to which that is true rests heavily on the democracy question.
In an ideal world, no country would even have a reason to have universal conscription. We do not live in an ideal world, though, we live in the era of dying imperialism, where the US Empire could lash out at any moment. In these circumstances, the decision to implement universal conscription is entitely rational. Further, I am not purely speaking of children, but also full adults getting their medical degrees and having to give back to the system by going to the areas most in need for a time.
As for democracy, the book I linked is the best source I’ve found.
I definitely oppose that. It might just be a difference in values.
You may oppose it, but you also likely do not live in a socialist country. Understanding why socialist countries have the policies they do requires understanding their situations. For example, in Cuba, sending doctors to the rural areas helped provide medical access to people who never had it before. These programs are not at all comparable to slavery, but are pro-social policies decided within a class, not imposed by one class onto the rest.
I actually live in a country that claims to be socialist, but I’m not sure they have gone very far to earn that label.
AFAIK no one is forced to become a doctor in Cuba
Not sure what you mean, if you don’t live in China, Vietnam, Laos, the DPRK, Cuba, or potentially Venezuela, then I don’t think your country is really socialist. Either way, my point is that universal conscription isn’t at all the same as slavery.
Me either