Today I Learned

Can you imagine what would have happened during WW2 if that had passed? There were a number of Americans sympathetic towards the Nazis, and a much larger number of Americans sympathetic towards the Allies, but not sympathetic enough to risk the lives of their sons, fathers, and husbands. I struggle to see a world where a national vote would have resulted in a large enough majority.

I imagine it would have extended the war by at least another five years. I do think the Nazis would still have lost eventually, as they struggle to maintain control over the entirety of Europe whilst also trying to destroy the UK and Russia. But it would likely have been a Pyrrhic victory, leaving both victors almost completely decimated too.

Not a bad idea, but how would it work with the right to an anonymous vote?

The US hasn't formally declared war since 1942, I expect this amendment would have simply pushed that date earlier.

This doesn't seem particularly useful in the modern day. If you want to win a war today, you do it with highly trained soldiers and highly advanced equipment, not by handing rifles to a bunch of green volunteers or conscripts.

I'm pretty sure they just did an end run around this when they knew it wasn't going to work by making the Selective Service Act of 1917, where all men over 18 have to be registered for the draft. I had to sign up for selective service even though the draft no longer exists because they might one day bring it back, especially now they can't meet the recruitment numbers.

I like the idea, but in today’s world of perpetual warfare it would not work.

How fucking old is this story?

This is from 2013.

With a larger aging population it wouldn't work very well, but what if was an income tax instead? Like maybe 2%

I kinda like that

Queue the "I'd rather send those less fortunate than myself to war and treat veterans like shit when they get back" comments

Bring this back.