Amanda Sokolnicki: the Youth are punished for other's mishandling of the defense

So, even if military service in a Swedish context, easily stands out as a practicality of how an authority, the authority shall arrange with the supply of personnel, is in practice something entirely different. A question about the people's right to decide over their own time on earth.

Still, there are times when it is justified. For what is the freedom to avoid having to obey the orders of the host the day a foreign power it boots into? A freedom is set against the risk of losing many others.

the trade-off that did that conscription was re-introduced in 2017. And it is the consequences of what the young people are now aware of. The past year has at least 24 individuals are convicted because they have not been followed totalförsvarsplikten, told TT on Tuesday.

It is not possible to have a conscription, without at the same time have sanctions against people who do not follow the rules. But where are the proportions?

One of them is 19-year-old Philip Åkerblom: ”I was sick when I would sign and lay in bed all the week. I completely forgot to book my time,” he says. It resulted in a fine. But above all: a dot in a criminal record – in the five years. Which, of course, is absolutely devastating for a young person whose circumstances as an adult, will be characterized during these years.

”I would have liked to have boarded a different day,” he says.

have a conscription, without at the same time have sanctions against people who do not follow the rules. But where are the proportions? What is the justification for a state to punish young people with a dot that, in practice, can put an end to their life plans? That will complicate the chances for jobs and housing?

If we in Sweden had taken enough responsibility and priority the defense budget in the time we had not had to punish sloppy young people. Then we had perhaps been able to afford a professional military at this point.