I'm an American citizen living and studying in the UK. In less than two weeks time, I will turn 18, whereupon I am legally obligated to register with Selective Service.
However, the primary carrot used to make people comply with this rule (namely that all males legally residing in the States, or with American citizenship, between the ages of 18 and 26, must be registered) is that non-registered people may not receive any federal financial aid for education. In practice, it is very difficult to get done for not registering; instead, they just withold student loans and the like.
I filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid more than a year ago and found that the US government will not fund me at all, or give me a loan, because I am studying outside the US. I was born in the States and hold no passport other than an American one.
Therefore, should I register with Selective Service on turning 18? I have no interest in being conscripted into the military should the draft be reinstated, because I disagree with the conflict for which they are most likely to reinstate conscription. However, more generally, I feel I owe absolutely nothing to the Federal government in this respect because they do not seem to be living up to their end of an implicit bargain by denying me, a US citizen, financial aid for which I would otherwise qualify simply because I am studying outside the US.
It is the responsibility of a citizen to aid the government if needed, but this is a reciprocal responsibility, and I don't believe I owe them anything further than the (very small) taxes I pay so long as they fail me in a fairly fundamental and arbitrary way.
Should I register?
Originally posted by royalchickenI would, and did. its the law, and besides once I did it, they quit hounding me, and I doubt that the draft will come into effect. No one likes taxes, but thats what builds our roads etc. I would do it because its the law, and you should respect the law. However wait untill your 21. The military usaully wont draft a 21 year old, and you still be registering within the legal limits I think. And I think its better that the goverment dont have your name if its not nessecary
I'm an American citizen living and studying in the UK. In less than two weeks time, I will turn 18, whereupon I am legally obligated to register with Selective Service.
However, the primary carrot used to make people comply with this rule (namely that all males legally residing in the States, or with American citizenship, between the ages of 18 and ...[text shortened]... s I pay so long as they fail me in a fairly fundamental and arbitrary way.
Should I register?
Are you planning on residing in the UK? if so that might also affect things
Originally posted by knightwest"typical liberal"
Ask not what you can do for your government, but what you government can do for you.
Since they won't do anything for you, stuff 'em. You're not losing out on anything, and if there is a draft, they won't know where you are.
The world revolves around you, dont it?
I would be asking it the other way around
Originally posted by royalchickenTell'em you're gay.
I'm an American citizen living and studying in the UK. In less than two weeks time, I will turn 18, whereupon I am legally obligated to register with Selective Service.
However, the primary carrot used to make people comply with this rule (namely that all males legally residing in the States, or with American citizenship, between the ages of 18 and ...[text shortened]... s I pay so long as they fail me in a fairly fundamental and arbitrary way.
Should I register?
Ok, serious time. Unless of course you really are gay? In which case - congratulations!
If the US decides to begin the draft they'll find you. If you're in the US they'll drag you in if they have to. If you're outside the US then they'll never stop hounding you and it will be difficult for you to return back home.
But the odds of the US drafting again for military service are almost none. Even conservatives realize the importance of having an all volunteer service.
The penalities for not registering are more than just not getting student aid.
http://www.sss.gov/qa.htm#quest4
And the only way to live in the US anymore without being "found" by our government is to live in a cave in the mountains somewhere and grow your own food. 🙂
In the end you have to make a tough decision. I don't envy you. My advice is to register and cross your fingers for a few years. After awhile you'll be old enough so that even if they do start drafting they'll get all the young ones before you.
Good luck.
Originally posted by wibI'd agree with you if my concern involved worry about being drafted, but it doesn't, because I agree that that is laughably unlikely. Instead, it's a question of principle; other people have access to a large piece of the federally provided pie which I am denied even if I take the same risk they do. Thus, why should I have to take the risk?
Tell'em you're gay.
Ok, serious time. Unless of course you really are gay? In which case - congratulations!
If the US decides to begin the draft they'll find you. If you're in the US they'll drag you in if they have to. If you're outside the US then they'll never stop hounding you and it will be difficult for you to return back home.
But th ...[text shortened]... o that even if they do start drafting they'll get all the young ones before you.
Good luck.
I dragged No1 out of hiding!
Originally posted by flyUnityWhy would I want to do anything for any country? When a ship full of armed Commie Islamofascists (thanks, SVW!) bent on harming me or mine sails into the Kennebunk or Thames rivers, I will fly or get the Tube to that place and try to convince them otherwise, by force if necessary 😉. While it would be nice to help if the same ominous ship were sailing up the Mississippi, I don't see why I should be made to anymore than I should be made to go to Darfur and fight the Janjaweed, for example, who are the metaphorical equivalent.
"typical liberal"
The world revolves around you, dont it?
I would be asking it the other way around
Adding to this the fact that the US government tends to get involved in and (historically) draft people for wars that are much less morally clear-cut, I have no interest in doing anything for my country beyond paying taxes. I'd be interested to talk about national identity and the responsibility it may give us in another thread, but here I just want to moan about how I have to pay for second-hand abstract algebra texts, tea and cigarettes out of pocket because the Feds won't give me my bleeding Stafford loan regardless of the outcome of this thread.
Originally posted by flyUnityNo, the point is, I would support them if they would help me. My problem is that other people, who are exactly the same as I am in the government's view, except that they are studying in America, are eligible for aid after they register. Even if I do register, regardless of the fact that I am an American-born American citizen with an American passport, American parents, an American Social Security number, a history of paying American taxes and half of an American accent, I will get no aid because I spend nine months out of the year, for four years, studying at a non-American institution.
If you dont support our goverment. Why are you trying to get them to pay for your college?
Originally posted by no1marauderlol, Whats Jesus got to do with this?
Would Jesus have registered for the draft or not??
He wants us to obey the laws of the land, and when asked if we should pay taxes to somone we dont support, he said we should pay to the goverment what is theirs, and pay to God what is God's. I have no authority to say weather Jesus wouldve or not. If its againts your conviction, then we must obey God rather then man.
Originally posted by royalchickenYou will generaly find that a goverment wont support somone to go to anothers countrys college. This even applies to State goverments, Im paying way more for college because Im doing it in another state, in my college they offer a cheaper rate for students who live in their own state cause they dont want them going to another state.
No, the point is, I would support them if they would help me. My problem is that other people, who are exactly the same as I am in the government's view, except that they are studying in America, are eligible for aid after they register. Even if I do register, regardless of the fact that I am an American-born American citizen with an American passpor ...[text shortened]... use I spend nine months out of the year, for four years, studying at a non-American institution.
They also might think if you can afford to go into anther country, then you probally dont need the aid, IDK
They should bring back the draft or conscription as they call it here in the UK. Although I was too young to remember it, I would still have to agree with those that say this country has gone downhill ever since it was stopped. Discipline is an unheard of concept these days.
Highly unlikely they will bring it back though, here or there.