• Knossos@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      It isn’t just about the military. I’ve not read the article, but Germany suffers from not having enough people working in social services. This problem got worse after getting rid of conscription. You could either choose military service or social work.

      By reintroducing it, they hope to fill in some gaps.

      • febra@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Yeah, instead of actually fixing the system and paying people normal wages, while also fixing the stupid education/certification system that social service workers need to go through, let’s just throw a bunch of teenagers at it, it will surely fix our problems!

      • psmgx@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        You could either choose military service or social work.

        Also some hospital work. Bedpan cleaning, etc.

        But it kept you out of the army, and took the strain off of hospitals and social services.

      • BaroqueInMind@lemmy.one
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        6 months ago

        U.S.A. should adopt this policy. It would humble out the nepo children of wealthy pieces of shit, and likely resolve the social issues that people complain about.

        • Xhieron@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          The nepo babies wouldn’t serve–same as always. And the political unpopularity of conscription has never changed. The last war draft is still in living memory, and US current military activity hasn’t been an improvement in terms of public appetite.

          The US introduces conscription again, and there’ll be riots–and I don’t mean “some kids camped at college and the jackboots locked them up” protests; it’ll be government-building burning, widespread-looting riots.

          If you want to do conscription, the kids have to trust the government not to kill them for oil.

          • gornar@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            They should never trust the government for that specifically - they’re always looking for someone to kill for oil!

        • lobut@lemmy.ca
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          6 months ago

          I think making the rich mingle with the normal people more would be beneficial. It’s harder to dehumanize the poor when you’ve met them. Can’t call them lazy or stupid and just not “wanting” it enough when you see them work as hard as you and not getting as far.

          Although, I think the way things are it’ll never happen though. Nepo babies would dodge everything even if something like this were to occur.

          • vividspecter@lemm.ee
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            6 months ago

            There’s better ways, like reducing car dependency and increasing housing density. Have people from all walks of life, live near each other and travel with each other, without being isolated in metal boxes. The ultra rich might still avoid that too, but at least the 99% will be around each other.

            And you don’t need to force people to go to war to achieve it.

            • lobut@lemmy.ca
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              6 months ago

              You’re absolutely right. I was trying to get what I hoped was the salient point out of the person’s post.

              I knew a few guys in Europe I think maybe Austrian or something where they came from lots of money but went to school with “others” and they seemed pretty well-adjusted. Although, they have a lot of the other advantages that you’ve listed as well.

        • Senshi@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          Maybe we should turn this idea around? I know tons of healthy rich old people that have nothing better to do than bicker and complain, how about we force them to do a free full year of community service? Why is their time and energy considered more valuable than the youths’?

          And maybe it would humble those wealthy nepo pieces of shit, and likely resolve the social issues that people complain about.

          • xmunk@sh.itjust.works
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            6 months ago

            I’d applaud giving Elon Musk a chance to live out his flamethrower power fantasies in person.

            Is a flamethrower a completely inappropriate weapon in modern warfare? Yes. Should we tell him that? Don’t you fucking dare.

        • Tryptaminev@lemm.ee
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          6 months ago

          I had a class mate who spent his holidays hiking in Nepal and places with his parents. When he was born a doctor close to his parents discovered a serious heart issue that made him ineligible for being drafted. I mean sure. You have a heart issue that you can’t run 30 minutes, but you are doing week long hikes in 5.000-6.000m altitude.

        • andrewta@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          I’ve not met very many vets that support mandatory service. When I say not many, I could count them on one hand.

          • elucubra@sopuli.xyz
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            6 months ago

            That’s because in the US you could be sent abroad to kill brown people for oil. I was a conscript in my country in the 80’s (Nato). In my country conscripts couldn’t be sent abroad, only professionals. I’d be ok with defending home soil. That doen’t mean that I wanted to do my tour, but I did it. I think I learnt a lot, not least about serving for the common good. Looking back it was good for me. Also, at hat time, after service you’d be in the reserves (simply listed) and the country could raise an army of millions, who’d only need some refresher training in a week, not like the green ass russian conscripts in Ukraine right now.

            I’m favor of conscription for limited duration, and no possibility of deployment abroad. Also, women too. That wasn’t a thing then.

    • catloaf@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      Sometimes open war comes upon you, whether you risk it or not.

    • hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      6 months ago

      Probably that, and also gender equality. I’m not really in the favor of drafting, but it’s unfair that men have to go and women don’t.