Hillbilly wisdom: There is a problem. The United States is behind in military enlistment. Sometimes, it is hard to understand the government’s approach. President Trump has suggested a possible draft and Secretary Hegseth wants to raise the enlistment age from 35 to 42. Does he honestly think there is a large group of men/ women over the age of 35 sitting around who wish to enlist in the service of their country. If that group wanted to be in the military, they would already be serving. This is as absurd as Hegseth and Cotton leading the troops into the Gulf.

Trump suggest dictators of the world empty their prisons of their criminals. Why not the United States? Impossible, you think. Think about the possibilities. Consider Tom Cotton’s state. Arkansas has one of the largest incarceration rates in the United States which has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world. The manpower is available. This is not a get out of jail free card. Chances are a large percentage would become cannon fodder. The realization that ground troops are going to be necessary if the United States continues to pursue military excursions into foreign sovereign territories is driving the need for more soldiers. We have the military equipment but we lack basic cannon fodder.

Young men/ women currently incarcerated would be allowed the opportunity to serve their country (work for a pardon since most do not have the money to buy one). At the end of their enlistment they would have their records wiped clean.

Arkansas has over18,000 currently incarcerated in a system designed for less than 16,000. The State is paying the counties to house around 2,000 inmates because there is no place for them in the state system. The counties receives around 40 dollars a day for this service which cost the county about 50 dollars to provide. The counties lose 10 dollars per inmate per day.

Under the 2023 Protect Act the number of inmates is projected to increase (current rate is about an extra 100 inmates per month). Governor Sanders has requested an additional 622 beds with legislative approval for 122. The shortage of space will increase. The cost to the Arkansas taxpayer is twofold: Money and Humane conditions for its overcrowded prisoners?

Open the program for up to 4,000 military volunteers instead. This would provide a job with health care, educational benefits and a chance to turn their life around funded by the federal government. Not everyone will volunteer. And Screening would have to be done with selection by a joint committee of U. S. military recruiters and Department of Corrections parole board. Entrance is not guaranteed. And substantial penalties for those who do not fulfill their contract or attempt to escape.

The military gets the numbers they need. Arkansas has a more manageable institute of criminal justice. Young men/women have a chance to be a productive part of society. Win, Win, Win.