Compel training and reinstate the draft 

I am in full agreement with John Winthrop, and Bill Moyers, on reinstating the draft (“I’m with Bill Moyers: Bring back the draft,” Nov. 12). I would have every young American go through a universal basic training sometime between the ages of 18 and 23, with flat feet or bifocals, no excuse. At the end of six or eight weeks of universal basic training, they could choose a second stage, be it a branch of the armed services, teaching assistants in remote schools, working in health care, doing some public service, for at least a year. In time of war, the armed forces would have first choice, and the politicians who vote for us to go to war would know this very well. Expensive? You bet. But a lot less expensive than our current wars are costing us.