If you are an American male, many of you have probably registered with Selective Service. While the ongoing wars the country is responsible for in the Middle East will continue to be difficult, President Obama has presented a timetable for withdrawal. Thus, it may be that it will not be necessary for the United States to institute a military draft.

Wait a minute. Military draft? Necessary? Is this illegitimate authority truly what the American people have signed up for? Are you prepared for the possibility, should it arise? War hawk politicians begrudge us military loans and other forms of short term nonbank loans, but they are happy to fight an endless war with other people’s children.

Vermont is one state that won’t stand for that. Daniel Barlow of the Vermont Press Bureau reports in the Rutland Herald that the state’s house lawmakers have rejected “a controversial amendment to a major transportation bill requiring all young men to register for the draft when they receive their driver’s license.” Johnny (and why not Jill?), get your Selective Service number.

A brief history of Selective Service

There have been three landmark Selective Service acts in American history. The first – the Selective Service Act of 1917 – was conceived by President Woodrow Wilson during the opening weeks of America’s involvement in World War I. The bill passed despite opposition, and it brought about the use of a military draft.

The second, the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, required men between 21 and 30 to register with local draft boards. Once the US entered World War II, the age range expanded to 18 to 65 for required draft registration, but only ages 18 to 45 were held liable for service.

Post-war

Finally, a 1948 selective service act required men aged 18 to 26 to register and ages 19 to 26 liable for 21 months of service and then five years of reserve duty.

Since 1948, several changes have occurred. Even though conscription was ended in 1973, Selective Service has remained as compulsory registration should conscription be reinstituted. That stayed in place as written until April 1975, when the registration requirement was dropped. However, registration became a requirement for American males upon their 18th birthday once more in 1980.

Back to Vermont

Lawmakers voted 68-60 against the measure, and debate did not fall completely along party lines. The split, according to Barlow, seemed to be along the lines of those who are against Vietnam-style actions and those who rest upon the idea that “freedom isn’t free.”

Democratic Representative David Potter, a supporter of the amendment, put it this way: “To have the right of freedom, there is an obligation of responsibility. This bill enhances that concept.”

Federal student loans and jobs

Those who do register for Selective Service are eligible to receive federal student loans and apply for federal employment. Supporters of the defeated legislation believe that requiring young Vermont men to register when they receive or renew their driver’s license is a great way to “ensuring that no one is denied the benefits down the road,” said Potter.

Plus, Potter pointed out that the driver’s license form would allow a person to opt out of Selective Service.

But Vermont’s reputation precedes it

The ninth article of Vermont’s state constitution protects “any person who is conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms.” Plus compulsory registration goes against the state’s independent tradition. Democratic Representative Michael Fisher said he would favor giving young Vermont men information about service, but attaching the requirement to a driver’s license is “not appropriate.”

“It is up to the young person and their family to make this decision,” he said. “It isn’t up to the state of Vermont to force people to do this.”

Then there’s the cost

Democratic Rep. Johannah Leddy Donovan said lawmakers “should be shocked at the cost of this provision” – an estimated $25,000 to $50,000 in fiscal 2011. Too expensive for Vermont taxpayers, and likely full of riders. But what patriots seem to forget is the cost of young lives in a draft. How much is that worth? I would ask each and every parent who has sent their children to war to answer honestly for themselves if it’s worth it when those children die. If you say it was completely worth the sacrifice, I will call you a liar.

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