This year, the United States senate passed the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act into effect. As part of this legislation, women that turn 18 on or after January of 2018 will be required to register for the United States military draft. Does this overstep the limits of an individual’s sovereignty over herself? I would argue that yes, it undoubtedly does. The draft in general is a way of getting members of society to participate in something against their own personal will, and therefore puts their lives at the hands of society instead of at the hands of their own individuality. On these grounds, military participation is not a decision for the government to have a say in. Instead, individuals should be granted the ability to choose. If not granted this ability, they will be performing national duty for the wrong reasons – out of obligation rather than passion. Regardless of how heavily correlated the government and the military are, it is socially moral and necessary to leave the decision to participate in military service in the hands of individuals.
In this particular piece of legislation, it is not only the nature of the issue that is immoral, but also the nature of the discourse surrounding it. Military service, in any form, is an action that affects all of society. Therefore, the issue should be discussed publicly rather than privately. Ted Cruz’s expressed concern regarding the discourse surrounding the law, saying that “the provision including women in the draft entered the bill through committee, rather than in public, open debate.” Was this the correct way to handle it? Is this an issue to be decided by the public or by elected officials only? I will argue that the section of 2017 National Defense Authorization Act that specifically deals with the draft should not have been left exclusively to private discussion among members of the senate. Due to the large effect the decision has on the public as a whole, it should have been placed within the realm of public debate. This is even more true when dealing with the possibility of incorporating the mandatory service of women. If the natural abilities of females would in fact prevent them from succeeding in combat to the same extent as their male counterparts, as many conservatives seem to believe is the case, then our military performance is at risk of suffering. A direct threat to our national safety, such as this one, should have been given more attention that it was granted.