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Argument: Punishing conscientious objectors just looks bad
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Parent debate
- Debate: Mandatory military service - con argument.
Supporting quotations
Bruce Chapman. "A bad idea whose time is past: the case against universal service." Brookings Institute. 2002: "I also raise this practical question: exactly which citizenship rights will Litan deny those people who decline to perform government-approved national service? What will be done to punish the activist who thinks he can do more to serve humanity through a political party than through prescribed government service? Or the young religious missionary who would rather save souls than guard a pier for a few months? How about-at the other end of the virtue spectrum-the young drug dealer who is only too happy to help guard the pier? Will you keep him out of the service of his choice and compel him to do rehab as his form of 'service'?"