I hear you EC.
So then, maybe we also need to ask, "What should be the consequence of refusing to serve your country?"
I've said before that I believe service to your country should be mandatory in the US. To what extent I don't know, but at least to some extent. I think every man and woman should give service for the right to live in the US. If they don't want to then they should leave the country.
And why is this such a big deal? Obviously the people making the choices that some people disagree with were voted into office by majority. If you disagree that means you disagree with the direction and choices of the country. This may also mean the US isn't the country for you. So hop on a plane, boat, car, or walk on out of the country and go find one you do agree with. Is that so difficult? Of course not.
If you are not willing to serve your country, for whatever reasons you may have, you should leave that country and go find a country you would serve.
Everything has a price. The luxuries, or lack of, that every country has, or has not, was paid for by generations of service to that country by it's people, be it in investments of brains, or brawn, and be it by volunteer choice or forced. Somebody paid for what your country is today. Somebody is going to pay for what your country is tomorrow.
I'm not trying to talk anyone into thinking any way is right or wrong. There's a lot wrong and right in any and every country on this earth. You rolled the divine dice that placed you in the country in which you currently reside. Deal with it, serve your country, or go find another one. Plain and simple.
You see here in Croatia service is mandatory. I´m serving right now, but in civilian sector, cause I don´t wanna be brainwashed by some stupid excretory opening whose only point in life is to be a better killer. I rather do it in PB
Point is: as of 1.1.2008. service is no longer mandatory in Croatia. Why? Even though the last war here ended only a decade ago, there´s no point for tax paying people to contribute in servicing a military machinery. NATO will take car of that (unfortunately).
And for the conclusion: One of the first right of human beeings is a freedom to choose. So why must I service right now military when I should be looking for a job? Mandatory no. If somebody want´s to serve, go ahead. I´ll kill pixels instead.