University of Virginia Library

Lottery Not Enough

The American way became part of the
draft last night. The system can still hurt you,
but at least it does so in a random manner.
Just as America is supposed to be -
everybody has an equal chance to be shafted,
er, drafted that is.

For those whose numbers make them
relatively safe from conscription, the lottery
will seem like a very good thing. The plight of
those with low numbers, however, makes it
clear that the lottery system has not changed
the basic fault of the draft - involuntary
servitude. The draft will not be acceptable
until it is gone.

The effects of the lottery are difficult to
foresee. There will be a tendency for those
with low numbers, faced with the imminence
of induction, to become more militantly
opposed to the war and the defense
establishment. And ROTC will undoubtedly
lose a number of people whose birthdays
place them far down the list. These tendencies
may, however, be counterbalanced by defections
from the peace movement from those
whose numbers are high and increased
applications for 2-year ROTC programs from
those whose numbers make them likely to be
called.

One salutary effect ought to be the
diminution of the intimidating power of the
local boards. Yet, as Senator Edward M.
Kennedy pointed out in Sunday's New York
Times, there are still "no uniform guidelines
for most deferments. Instead, each of the
nearly 4,100 local boards uses its own
interpretation of 'community needs' to decide
which boys are deferred and which boys are
drafted. Furthermore, if a boy is not rich and
clever, there is no due process protection of
his interests in the decision-making of the
Selective Service System."

Moreover, most state draft board officials,
not to mention local officials, are highly
confused and misinformed on how the lottery
will affect deferments.

This will little comfort the thousands who
do get called, simply because their number
was picked out of a bowl first. The draft is
still an injustice, even if perpetrated by the
luck of the draw. Many needed reforms still
exist in the Selective Service System which
must be instituted by Congress next year. The
lottery is not enough.