This December, selective service registration for eligible young men becomes automatic nationwide. This might not seem like a big deal, as it merely automates an already mandatory process that many states had in place. Rather than requiring men to register online or by mail, the government will use existing databases, such as Social Security records, to add men ages 18 to 26 to a pool of candidates if conscription becomes necessary.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D–Pa.) said the move will save "taxpayer dollars" and described it as a bureaucratic improvement. But this is not simply paperwork. It's a remnant of the military draft and a reminder that the government reserves the option to dispose of young men's lives.
