What Will Be Left to Protect?

H.R.5741 -- Universal National Service Act
”To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.”
Introduced in the United States House of Representatives, July 15, 2010

"Of all the statist violations of individual rights in a mixed economy, the military draft is the worst. It is an abrogation of rights. It negates man's fundamental right--the right to life--and establishes the fundamental principle of statism: that a man's life belongs to the state, and the state may claim it by compelling him to sacrifice it in battle. If the state may force a man to risk death or hideous maiming and crippling, in a war declared at the state's discretion, for a cause he may neither approve of nor even understand, if his consent is not required to send him into unspeakable martyrdom--then, in principle, all rights are negated in that state, and its government is not man's protector any longer. What is there left to protect?"
Ayn Rand in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal

Comments

Kim said…
Frightening! I just wrote a letter to my Representative. Ayn Rand was so right. It still infuriates me that so many Americans have been forced to fight in wars and die because of the draft. It is unconscionable, immoral, and unconstitutional.

This bill is absolutely disgusting!
July 22, 2010 at 4:03 AM
Lynne said…
Ayn Rand was so right.

So true.

And so are you regarding this bill. Nothing of this sort, no matter the political manipulation behind it, should ever be considered seriously by an elected official of the United States, let alone presented to Congress for its consideration. It represents a complete abrogation of individual rights, the protection of which is the one legitimate function of our government!

Thanks for the comment, Kim.
July 24, 2010 at 2:46 PM
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