With the war in Iran raging on, people have started talking more about the draft. With the newest fiscal year budget, President Donald Trump signed into law a provision that would automatically sign up all male citizens above 18, and most immigrants, for selective service on their 18th birthday.  

This should worry you for a few reasons.

No one wants to be forced into war. However, males are already required to sign up for Selective Service. This policy simply cuts the red tape and signs you up automatically.  

So, the real question is: Why is the red tape for the draft being cut, but medical insurance is still so difficult to get? If the Trump administration wants to cut bureaucracy in the government, they should cut it everywhere to make the lives of Americans easier. 

Another overlooked issue is that despite the Trump administration’s demonization of immigrants, the Selective Service requires immigrants to sign up, or face losing their path to citizenship and social security benefits.  

Immigrants are still expected to participate in the obligations of citizenship while simultaneously being excluded from the rights and protections of citizenship.  

The draft itself also reflects an outdated model of warfare.  

The United States military is the strongest in the world. With 1.32 million standing members, the military is a force even the founders might be fearful of. Modern conflicts increasingly rely on drones and cyber operations rather than large-scale infantry mobilization.  

In that context, a mass conscription system designed for 20th-century warfare feels misaligned with 21st-century realities. 

You should be worried about the draft, but not because it could send you to war. The draft is an outdated piece of legislature that keeps the poor man down and rich man safe. Just look at the president, who was able to dodge the draft a number of times during the Vietnam War era.  

Yet, he sends those same unfortunate sons to die in his war.