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Should military conscription be banned? Should military conscription be banned?
Yes, military conscription should be banned. Yes, military conscription should be banned.
No, military conscription should not be banned No, military conscription should not be banned
It depends; military conscription may be appropriate or inappropriate in certain circumstances It depends; military conscription may be appropriate or inappropriate in certain circumstances
Military conscription violates free will Military conscription violates free will
Military conscription interferes with important aspects of a person's life Military conscription interferes with important aspects of a person's life
The quality of military service is heavily compromised The quality of military service is heavily compromised
Military service can cause long-lasting health problems Military service can cause long-lasting health problems
Military conscription objectifies young people's bodies Military conscription objectifies young people's bodies
Military conscription is money consuming Military conscription is money consuming
Military conscription promotes equality amongst citizens Military conscription promotes equality amongst citizens
Military conscription promotes national unity and pride Military conscription promotes national unity and pride
Military conscripts are trained in useful disciplines and skills Military conscripts are trained in useful disciplines and skills
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Should military conscription be banned?
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Yes, military conscription should be banned.

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Military service can cause long-lasting health problems

Several conscripts are not mentally or physically able to withstand training, and the law often does not account for this
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The Argument

Military conscription is damaging to the health of those drafted. Research shows that military service-related experiences may result in delayed health effects.[1] It is unfair to expect a population to sacrifice their health to serve their country without choice. The military also has detrimental consequences on mental health. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a staggering 11-20% of veterans have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[2] This is a condition which has severe consequences for a person's wellbeing and yet is notoriously underdiagnosed and undertreated.[3] Research has also shown that veterans have greater reluctance than non-veterans to seek medical treatment for physical health difficulties,[4] perhaps indicating that military service results in an unhealthy mindset towards seeking help.

Counter arguments

This does not mean that military conscription should be banned, simply that health care for ex-military should be prioritised, and more rigorous mental and physical health tests should be in place to prevent those who are not fit for it from being conscripted. Military service actually has health benefits. Most veterans report good physical health later in life which was developed during military service.[4]

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5230827/
  2. https://www.retreatbehavioralhealth.com/blog/how-many-veterans-have-ptsd/#:~:text=Ask%20how%20many%20veterans%20have,degree%20that%20it%20should%20be
  3. https://ct.counseling.org/2016/02/controversies-in-the-evolving-diagnosis-of-ptsd/
  4. https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/7/e028189

In the Wild

This page was last edited on Saturday, 7 Nov 2020 at 00:54 UTC

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