Conscription = Slavery ?

[Bengalzona]

There have been different forms or levels of slavery throughout human history. Different types include: forced labor, debt labor, sex slavery, child slavery and domestic servitude ( http://freedomcenter.org/enabling-freedom/five-forms-of-slavery ). All involve forms of control and exploitation of humans, the common themes.

I think many Americans tend to see antebellum cotton fields and black people when the term is mentioned. That is known as chattel slavery (I believe Matt mentioned this earlier). Chattel slavery is the most obvious and extreme instance of slavery in that it combines three forms of slavery (forced labor, sex slavery, and child slavery). But it is not the sole definition of slavery.

Joining the military, whether by volunteering or conscription, entails giving up certain rights. You can't go wandering off in the field picking daisies when you are supposed to be at roll call in the morning. That is the nature of the beast. A government temporarily revokes certain rights and establishes a level of control over a person to achieve a national goal or set of goals. So, control is part of conscription. But the other half of determining if a thing is slavery is exploitation.

Is exploitation involved in conscription? It generally is not, but it can be. This is determined by the goal or goals set by the country instituting conscription. If the goal is national defense, then it is generally not exploitation. The country is using all resources, including manpower, to defend itself. If a nation's goal is to extend power beyond their borders, then it might well be exploitation and there may be a basis for the comparison with slavery. This is how many Americans felt about Vietnam. It is also how many Russian peasants felt about World War I, which would ultimately lead to revolution.

So, is conscription the same as slavery? Generally no, but it can be depending upon the goals of the country. Even then, some people will still maintain a blind faith in their government and its motives. In every single country on the planet, there are always people who will thump their chests and exclaim "Don't you love this country? Don't you want to defend it?" There is nothing uniquely 'Merican about that.