Letter to the editor: Honored to serve

Donald Boudreaux is probably a fine economist, and I side with his views most of the time. However, his lauding of the end of the draft based on economic reasons is so very far off base (”Draft’s end most pro-freedom move of past 50 years,” Jan. 17, TribLIVE). I’ll dare him to equate patriotism and love of country with making money. Has he not a drop of patriotism in him which transcends these ivory-tower considerations? 

I take the opposite view and think that all citizens should be “drafted” into at least one year of service to country in a venue of their choice, whether it is military or social work. Is this “slavery”? I think not. Rather, it is looking beyond self to serve our beloved country and the people who live in it.

I must admit that I was not always smiling when I was in the military, but I am so glad that I was given the opportunity to serve. I never thought of myself as a slave but rather as a protector of our country, and I’m sure my fellow brother and sister veterans feel the same way.

James A. Bernauer

Crafton