Is personal freedom and liberty a privilege or a right?

[DrLeftover]

Do you have the right and responsibility to decide who and what you are and will be?

Is "Mandatory National Service" actually slavery in the name of the Country, and does that violate your freedom even if it is across the board and there are no passes to 'certain classes' beyond medical waivers for serious disabilities (blind, etc).

Should you be forced to adopt a State Religion or face prison or worse, even if it is mandated that all inside the country observe its protocols without exception?

Beyond that, should "they" (be they the government, a religious leader, 'The Community', or some other entity) tell you that "you will be a farmer", "you will work in a bank", "you will be a teacher", and there is no reasonable alternative?

Is there any significant difference between the above and forcing citizens to enroll in a national program, even against their will?

 

[Nebulous]

Personal freedom and liberty should be a right.

Also, we shouldn't be sent overseas to die in a war (against our will) because our leaders are having a little spat. Thankfully there's plenty of people who WANT to go do that.

 

[Evil Eye]

Do you have the right and responsibility to decide who and what you are and will be?

Partially. Given the heaps of cultural influences (propaganda) piled on to a person from childhood, one might argue how much of any choice was really theirs. In any case, the right to be what you want can be taken away if a majority doesn't want you to be what you want to be.

Is "Mandatory National Service" actually slavery in the name of the Country, and does that violate your freedom even if it is across the board and there are no passes to 'certain classes' beyond medical waivers for serious disabilities (blind, etc).

It does violate your freedom. However, a mandatory draft in times of (defensive) war can easily be excused. Sacrificing a little liberty to gain a little security won't sound so bad then.

Should you be forced to adopt a State Religion or face prison or worse, even if it is mandated that all inside the country observe its protocols without exception?

What purpose would that serve? Forced obedience is no obedience at all; or piety as the case might be. Laws aren't just because they are equally applied.

Beyond that, should "they" (be they the government, a religious leader, 'The Community', or some other entity) tell you that "you will be a farmer", "you will work in a bank", "you will be a teacher", and there is no reasonable alternative?

One should be able to choose. If no choice is made, work might as well be assigned. No sense in keeping citizens alive if they're perfectly capable of doing that themselves.

Is there any significant difference between the above and forcing citizens to enroll in a national program, even against their will?

Any national program should be the result of the democratic process. Individual will doesn't factor, the mob rules.


Answer section for Civilization IV

Is "Mandatory National Service" actually slavery in the name of the Country, and does that violate your freedom even if it is across the board and there are no passes to 'certain classes' beyond medical waivers for serious disabilities (blind, etc).

Yes. That shouldn't stop you from using it to achieve your goals though! It's mostly great for fending off surprise attacks.

Should you be forced to adopt a State Religion or face prison or worse, even if it is mandated that all inside the country observe its protocols without exception?

Nah, happiness is more important than a little XP when you're not training armies all over the place. Having a non-mandatory state religion to please other civilizations tends to be worthwhile though.

Beyond that, should "they" (be they the government, a religious leader, 'The Community', or some other entity) tell you that "you will be a farmer", "you will work in a bank", "you will be a teacher", and there is no reasonable alternative?

This is fine, the extra production from workshops that leads to a better military or more world wonders is totally worth some happiness.

 

[DrLeftover]

Part of the idea for this thread was that there is at least one country that is currently making world-wide news that has one or more of these policies in place.

One of the favorite targets for bashing here, Israel, has mandatory national service, as do several other nations.

North Korea has more than its fair share of these policies.

Many countries in North Africa and the Middle East countries have a State Religion, although enforcement of its observance varies by jurisdiction.

And, of course, in the US, you are now required to have Health Insurance whether you want it or not.

 

[+paradox]

Part of the idea for this thread was that there is at least one country that is currently making world-wide news that has one or more of these policies in place.

One of the favorite targets for bashing here, Israel, has mandatory national service, as do several other nations.

North Korea has more than its fair share of these policies.

Many countries in North Africa and the Middle East countries have a State Religion, although enforcement of its observance varies by jurisdiction.

And, of course, in the US, you are now required to have Health Insurance whether you want it or not.

socialism and communism is strong in those countries, and pretty much every country on this planet...