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[LostOne4Ever]

986. Are all 18 year olds mature? No they are not.

But then again there are some 35 year olds are should not be classified as mature adults either.

I draw the difference because the vast majority of children are incapable of the abstract and critical thinking of adults. This is why we have an age of adulthood and age of consent in this country. The brain of a child is not fully developed; and while it is true that we don't all mature at the same rate the vast majority of children have sufficient mental development by this age to make more complex decisions.

Its placement at 18 is arbritary, and if up to me I would set it slightly higher, but it is the age our country decided upon. Regardless, their rights still do exist but are managed by a custodian until the age of adulthood. If the custodian does not want their child to go to school they have the ability to choose to home school the child.

"Yes and like in some countries, this should be modified slightly, IMO."

I agree. Personally I would argue that it should be around 21 years of age but that is me. That said, even if we did move up the age, I feel that someone who the country does not feel is mentally ready to vote is most certainly not mentally ready to risk their lives for the country or to face the grueling nature of boot camp.

"Yeah, that's part of what I think should be done, individualism should be tempered with some collectivism and sense of community. That's part of it. But to say it totally erases one individual identity is laughable. "

I did not say "totally erases one individual indentity" and to make that claim is Reductio Ad Absurdum.

Not all forms of collectivism are equal and some are arguably harmful. In particular, the vertical or heirarchal collectivism promoted by the military as opposed to the horizontal collectivism of a charity. This type of collectivism furthers authoratarian attitudes and discourages questioning of the status quo.

If the military were such a great place to achieve the collectivist attitudes we want to promote why is it currently such a hotbed of conservatism currently? Because its promoting the wrong type of collectism.

Horizontal collectivism, on the otherhand promotes democracy, egalitarianism and more progressive attitudes. Rather than squalsh individuals it takes their thoughts into consideration and makes decisions as a group. I believe the way to promote this is through fixing and expanding our educational system and promoting VOLUTARY civil service such as working at a soup kitchen as opposed to such extremes as boot camp.

Forcing any type of service is only going to cause resentment and disdain and if anything, is going to drive young people away from such endevours in the future. Fostering a culture of voluntary service will promote people doing these sort of things because they WANT to, and that will extend far further into the future than simply till their requirements are met.

And if these people don't choose the military then so be it. If the military can't convince people to join without the use of force, then either there is something very wrong with the military that needs fixing...or it shows a lack of public support for the uses of the military by the political establishment (ie military action). Neither of the solutions to those problems require forced involuntary conscription, but either reforms to the military or political change.

I guess you didn't read any of the links...

Your links in your op did not seem to reflect any of my concerns as I am not trying to call this slavery or neocon and since I am opposed to this on principle, I have no interests on how other countries have gone about doing this before so I saw no reason to click any of them.

That said, I now have read all but the last one and did not see anything covering my concern. Rather It seemed like they glossed over it.

Fair enough, My apologizes. I've gotten a few comments and even DM's in support of my response and a whole lot of negative responses that have left me with a "I've already answered this" attitude, since most people have the same objections...

I stop reading every reply around 200 posts and only skim the replies to see if any of their reply lines catch my attention. I am probably not alone in this, and the odds are many probably only read the title line of the thread and that is all.

That said, that you are still making respones to relies in this thread is amazing. Your passion for this issue is commendable. But I still strongly oppose your proposition.