(to moderators: don't remove, AI used to check if the post is gramatically correct only, it's not my native language - orginally written in polish)

Hello Guys

MRActivist from Poland here. Here are few arguments why you still should use the "draft" argument in discussions with your counterparts.

In many discussions in other subreddits, I've noticed that whenever someone brings up the argument of draft and conscription, there is ALWAYS ready American feminist to respond: "Oh no, conscription hasn't exist since Vietnam War" or even more often "it's just a piece of paper for federal government, not your life, man up". This really shows how Americancentric they actually are. I want to offer some ammunition and a word of support to you American guys:

Always remember while arguing, that world does not end at the East or West coast. There are around 60 countries with active conscription in the world, and in 50 of them it applies only to male citizens. Male-only conscription is not just an issue of third-world dictatorships, it happens right in the heart of Europe - even in so called "progressive" nations, where women rights are highly respected. There we go (fact check):

  • Austria Every male citizen has to serve 6 months when they turn 18. If they refuse military service, they must spend 9 months doing "civil service," which is basically underpaid forced labor in hospitals or elderly care, completely acceptable by Austrian standards of "equality." If you refuse of course you go to prison. A gap year for an Austrian boy means cleaning vomit in an ambulance on night shifts; for an Austrian girl, it's Thailand, the Maldives, or Copacabana.
  • Finland Same as above, but military service lasts between 5.5 and 11.5 months, and civil service takes 11.5 months. If you refuse both, you face up to a year in prison. Women, of course, are free to volunteer if they want to, or they can do literally anything else.
  • Switzerland In a referendum, men and women equally voted to keep military service (up to 8 months) or civil service (about a year) for young men only. If you are unable to serve due to health issues, you have to pay a special 3% income tax as "compensation to society." This tax applies strictly to men - even disabled men have to pay it, unless their disability is severe (like being in a wheelchair or completely blind)
  • Estonia Military and civil service lasts up to 12 months. Recently, a high-ranking female politician stated that maybe by 2040 we could talk about conscription for women, simply because not enough boys were born in recent years to fill the quotas!
  • Lithuania Military service lasts 9 months, and civil service is 10 months. Women can volunteer, while men are drafted every year through a randomized computer "lottery." You are the lucky one boy and don't want to serve? Prison welcome.

All the countries listed above rank incredibly high on "equality," "human rights," "democracy," and "freedom" indexes. But when it comes to young men, they are forced to serve their country and sacrifice the best years of their lives. They start their careers later, they start university later, they end up financially behind girls their age, and they can't even compete on equal footing in today's dating market.