Draft begets peace | The Salt Lake Tribune

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I agree with Stewart Owen ("Bring back the draft," Forum, Nov. 25) and Geraldine Livingston ("Draft or volunteers?" Forum, Nov. 30) that the draft needs to be reinstated, but for different reasons:

1. The national defense is the responsibility of us all. If the children of every family, including women, are liable to be called up, each family will have powerful motivation to engage in political discourse. And, as Owen said, no deferments.

2. There have been many recent comments lamenting the historically low number of military veterans in Congress. Spreading the burden of military duty more equitably among all young people would help remedy that sad fact.

3. If the child of a member of Congress could stand in harm's way, perhaps Congress would reassert its right to declare war. The number of members of Congress who would have a personal interest could overwhelm a president who feels free to usurp that power.

Carolyn Ewell

Altamont