Answer," p. 31. Such a system would obviously be
All-Volunteer Force: The Conventional Defense of
Central Europe (Chapel Hill: University of North
unfair. It would also create perverse incentives for
Carolina Press, 1979), pp. 16779.
young men (and women, in the case of Wilson)
intent on avoiding conscription. One tactic would
98. Quoted in R. J. Q. Adams and Philip Poirier,
be to "tank" the relevant aptitude tests. And, as
The Conscription Controversy in Great Britain
noted earlier, on average, volunteers are brighter
190018 (Columbus: Ohio State University
than draftees--so even a Wilson-Murtha-style
Press, 1987), p. 223.
draft would not change the composition of the
force.
99. James Wadsworth, "We Must Suspend Many
Rights and Privileges," in Anderson and
109. Califano, p. A23.
Honegger, pp. 54344.
110. Walter Shapiro, "Onetime Dove Finds
100. That argument has been made since the cre-
Himself Flying with Hawks Later in Life," USA
ation of the AVF. See, for example, James Fallows,
Today, March 31, 1999, p. 12A.
"The Civilianization of the Army," Atlantic
111. Cited in Lippman, p. A13.
Monthly, April 1981, pp. 98108.
112. John Steward Ambler, The French Army in
101. Assistant Secretary of Defense, Population
Representation in Fiscal Year 1997, pp. iiiviii. Earlier
Politics: 19451962 (Columbus: Ohio State Uni-
surveys reached the same conclusion. See
versity Press, 1966).
Bandow, "An Involuntary Military," pp. 25859.
113. Doug Bandow, "The Volunteer Military," p. 9.
102. Martin Binkin, America's Volunteer Army:
114. See, for example, Terrance Cullinan, "The
Progress and Prospects (Washington: Brookings
Courage to Compel," in Anderson and Honegger,
Institution, 1984), p. 22.
pp. 44560; and Pete McCloskey, "Argument for
National Service," in Anderson, Registration and the
103. Sue Berryman, Who Serves? The Persistent
Draft, pp. 17378.
Myth of the Underclass Army (Boulder, Colo.:
Today even onetime advocates of a national
Westview, 1988), p. 4. Berryman's emphasis.
service draft are pitching voluntary initiatives.
104. Assistant Secretary of Defense, Population
Charles Moskos, A Call to Civic Service: National
Representation in Fiscal Year 1997, pp. 7-1 through
Service for Country and Community (New York:
7-2.
Free Press, 1988). However, after publication of
that book Moskos allowed that "if I could have
105. In contrast, in some years during the mid-
a magic wand, I would be for a compulsory sys-
1950s and mid-1960s, the Pentagon's accession
tem." Quoted in Jacob Lamar, "Enlisting with
requirements ran more than 50 percent of the
Uncle Sam," Time, February 23, 1987, p. 30.
pool of 18-year-old males. See Assistant Secretary
More recently Moskos declared that conscrip-
of Defense, Population Representation in Fiscal Year
tion might not be politically feasible but that
1997, p. D-1.
"philosophically it's a good concept," NewsHour
with Jim Lehrer, p. 11.
106. "Draft Men and Women," unsigned editori-
al, Austin American-Statesman, December 11, 1995,
115. Ricks, "The Widening Gap."
p. A8.
116. Steven Waldman, "Nationalize National
107. There will always be volunteers. In debates
Service," Blueprint (Spring 1999): 20.
over draft registration, even the Pentagon accept-
ed a base line of 8,000 volunteers a month--the
117. Advocates of national service have long
average in 1965 during the buildup in the
offered lengthy lists of "unmet social needs"
Vietnam War. Military Manpower Task Force,
that could be fulfilled by such conscripts. See,
"Draft Registration," Draft report, October 26,
for example, Richard Danzig and Peter Szanton,
1981, pp. L1 through L2. However, since renewed
National Service: What Would It Mean? (Lexington,
Mass.: Lexington Books, 1986), pp. 4041. But
conscription would take fewer people, it would
probably generate fewer "draft-induced" volun-
numbers of needs are worthless since they do
teers--those who join instead of being conscripted
not consider the opportunity cost of such "ser-
in order to choose the form or time of service.
vice"--that is, the value of the activities neces-
sarily forgone by drafting millions of people
108. Wilson and Murtha envision a highly selec-
into whatever activities a majority in Congress
tive process that would be more likely to take
happens to favor at any particular point in time.
brighter kids. Wilson, "Selective Draft Could Be
If cost is no object, there is no limit to the num-
34