Reply #50: Thank you both.

[TahitiNut]

About 80% of the guys in my unit in Nam (at USARV HQ, Long Binh) were draftees, mostly college grads. (We also had a couple of the activated National Guardsmen. Man, did that make news.) To say we discussed the draft would be an enormous understatement. By far, the overwhelming majority objected to the INEQUITY of the draft, NOT the draft itself. Male-only, deferments, privilege and elitism were merely some of the criticisms ... but the draft itself was regarded as essential in a democracy. That's why, imho, the draft was changed in the early 70s to a lottery-based system with very few deferments. It was an enormous improvement. Now, all that'd be needed is gender-neutrality in the draft. I still prefer a universal national service policy, but an equitable draft is better than what we have. Far better.