If there was a war and conscription was mandatory would you go?

[visitingagain]

Do people think the government has the right to conscript people? Should people who won't comply get punished?

If it was mandatory, I guess I wouldn't have any choice. I wouldn't be happy about it.

Some places have this still, I wouldn't choose to live in one of these places

I have no idea what conscription is.

Placemarking while I look it up.

Ooooo, no.

I’d go and hide in a Forrest. Would probably be the making of me.

I’d be shit in a war.

Well, what's your opinion? Or are you just gathering them for an article?

Of course the govt doesn't have the moral right, and should never have the legal right, to force people to fight some bullshit war.

I think a war should be voted on, and only those who voted for it should have to fight.

Good god I wouldn't go, and no of course the government doesn't have the right to conscript you, they don't own you.

No, I'm opposed to conscription. I don't think ordinary people should have to go and die, be injured or kill for political decisions out of their control.

I don’t think they could ever have conscription again in Britain. People wouldn’t do it, and they’d be right. It’s a fucking horrible part of our history.

Conscription by its very nature is mandatory. You can't have voluntary Conscription. Therefore yes I would go because I suppose I would have to.

I don't really agree with Conscription though, although don't suppose there was any other option during the WWs.

The government can’t force people to wear masks, I’m not at all convinced they could force people to risk their lives

Hmm. So you would have preferred Britain to lose WW2? Assuming you were against conscription for all the Allied forces.
It’s an easy moral stance during peacetime, but rather different for a government facing the invasion of its country and the mass murder of its citizens, if it doesn’t rapidly conscript sufficient troops for defence purposes.

I view conscription as a tax. No-one wants to do it/pay it, but we have to for the good of our country.

I doubt most of those conscripted during WW1&2 wanted to do it, but I am thankful to them that they did so we can live in a free and progressive country today.

OP, is it actually conscription you’re asking about, or did you mean National Service?

Pretty sure they'd reject me

'for the good of our country'

What about the Vietnam war? Gulf War? What was the point of those?

They wouldn't want me. I know, I've already failed an army medical (and not for a reason that could change). I suppose I'd have to go and work in a munitions factory or something.

I doubt most of those conscripted during WW1&2 wanted to do it,

On the contrary - most saw it as their duty. Lads lied about their age to join up, there were queues at the conscription centres. It was a huge stigma not to join up.

I can just see Johnson playing the role of Haig, encouraging all the plebby canon fodder to go over the top. Or whatever the modern day equivalent of going over the top would be.

@Mysterian

I think a war should be voted on, and only those who voted for it should have to fight.

Would you have voted for WWII? Because without fighting we'd all be talking German now. Well I wouldn't as my grandparents would have been exterminated.

im too old but if i was young enough if join the Wrens,,,,nice uniform

I think conscription is impossible to imagine in our current climate. If conscription was necessary, the whole background climate would be different so everyone would make different decisions.

The countries with National Service have a different expectation of it, since its what they are used to.

I suppose in extreme circumstances it's necessary...

I'm not gathering anything for an article just interesting to see peoples opinions. Especially in the light of the Austria thread

Doubt they'd want me but yes, I'd do my bit for my country.

They wouldn't touch me with a bargepole for health reasons - I looked it up once out of curiosity

There are plenty who'd volunteer before it became mandatory for the mothers of toddlers, I'd hope.

I've got dodgy knees so hopefully I'd be too much of a liability if not.