Yeah, my father-in-law, wife and brother-in-law all took hitches in the military. Nothing wrong with it for career building. And yes, the entrance exams are going to reflect your education, and impact where you get assigned. So the real question isn't universal draft apparently, it's education.

As far as women in the draft, I say draft 'em. equal rights are equal rights. I say this not because I'm a chauvinist, but rather a fairly rabid feminist. Same reason I don't hold doors open for women, or give up my bus seat for preggos.

Public service should be a choice, not a requirement. If there are enough applicants without a draft, then one is not necessary. Personally, I think too much tax money is spent on the military, but that is another discussion. Forcing someone to do something does not increase civic pride or result in motivated service. I would hope that politicians think of the whole US as their constituents when it comes to international affairs not just their cronies. What would prevent them from influencing how a person would serve if they didn't. Let's not forget that the army is traditionally a republican oriented organization, and the current administration still went ahead with the war.

People do choose to serve the US in other ways not just the military. Currently I just finished working on a project funded by DOE. I was not forced to do this. It was my choice. If I were foced to work on a project which I did not choose, the quality of my work would probably have been much lower. People need to make the choice of doing something for the greater good. More meaning is given to actions when they are done by choice.

The greater good is not necessarily defined in terms of military service, and politicians are not necessarily motivated by who is serving in the military.

Talk about turning things around. If 12 years of mandatory schooling isn't already brainwashing. Then there is the activism that goes on in the college classroom. I'm not talking about public service as indoctrination. I'm just talking about kids having a little time to mature. A lot of schools offer four year fast track programs. Decide at 17 or 18 what you want to do with your life and the school will guarantee graduation in four years and no price increase in tuition, just sign on the dotted line. I just want to take people out of the workforce because we have hit the age of the baby boomers babies joining the aarp the biggest lobby power around. how much y'all wanna bet the retirement age goes up -- social security is expanded and the tax on retirement benefits decreases. Gotta look out for the people who will pay for all that so why not take a couple years from anyone seeking a college education.

as for the family of poloticians i bet you right now news organizations have a list of everyone who might be even vaguely connected and are keeping an eye out waiting with baited breath to hit this administration with it. It is not naive to think this. though if they could possibly hold the story for an election year and just discover it. or is it to paranoid to think they might do that?

1. both genders would be drafted. Everyone serves. No deferments.

2. significant portions of those drafted could 'opt-out' of military service in exchange for other civil services. Say, teaching in places where teachers are in short supply, or dealing the annual wildfires/hurricanes/floods that are a problem.

3. it doesn't interfere with eduction. If a draftee is in school, they serve in a reserve unit.