Its not mandatory in the way slavery is, you can choose to do a civilian service instead. I do think there is some good value in having people serve their societies in less voluntary ways, I think the unifying social effects of that alone is really valuable, in this increasingly individualistic age we live in

I like your example, as the pyramids weren’t built by slaves.

The conscription military only works when people feel their country is worth defending. There are plenty of people who declined to serve for moral reasons. There are plenty of reasons to criticize the system (gender equality rises to mind).

I think part of the reason the Finnish political system serves the people more than some others is because it needs to. We have our problems of course, a lot of the population is old, so prioritizing young people doesn't always happen the way it ought to. Still, most people are OK with going, very few support abolishing the system because we know we all are needed to make attacking us fucking suck.

Well, all the men (like half a million of them?) who were involuntarily conscripted, kidnapped from their homes, tortured to comply and killed in action would prefer to be alive.

That's one way to say, "the nation-state must be part of your identity". I'm not into fighting wars for the wealthy.

What values? Genuinely. Which nation or union of nations is upholding good values? Germany? If you protest against genocide there, you will be beaten and jailed by the same government that wants to send you to die in Russia (again).

There is “no war, but the class war”

Perfect, so we just lay down and take whatever power desires to rule our place? You really think that Germany right now is a dictatorship and any other government would have no detrimental effect on your actual live whatsoever?

True. It’s like this for the entire humankind.

Still, standard people nowadays have far more rights and autonomy than in any other time. This was fought by our ancestors in last two centuries. Even the pure possibility to elect a leader, who decides about war, is a pretty new phenomen. If you do not fight for those rights at all needed levels, it will taken away by the wealthy.

The problem is not Russia defeating NATO. It is cowards stopping their support for Ukraine to "live in peace", idiots pressuring their government to stop helping to not get involved. That is the problem. That is what Ukraine is afraid of. And looking at how dumb and selfish most people are, yes, that can absolutely happen.

Putin is barely managing against a solo Ukraine

Because Ukraine is supported by Europe which for now is beyond the reach of Russia. So Ukraine is successfully striking deep inside Russia but Russia can't touch the supply chain of Ukraine. Putin obviously is not planning to conquer all Europe. He wants to damage infrastructure crucial to supporting Ukraine and divert NATO's resources away from Ukraine. He will use as little resource as possible to achieve that, not invade Europe with all he has. He will do it if he sees that Europe is too weak to respond and so far Europe is proving that it clearly is.

painstakingly avoiding open conflict with NATO

[citation needed]

Russia regularly sends in drones into NATO airspace and attacks infrastructure. They tried to blow up planes filled with ammunition on an airport in Germany. I wouldn't call that "painstakingly avoiding open conflict". They are testing the boundaries and so far NATO showed that they are willing to tolerate clear acts of war while Russia is getting closer and closer to open conflict.

If you think Germany will be solo against Russia

No one says that. What you're saying makes no sense. You think that Russia can't fight entire NATO but also think that Germany is somehow preparing to fight them alone. Germany needs the draft to be able to help its allies. Every NATO ally is trying to improve its military now because when shit hits the fan they will all have to work together.

And the lesson is dont resist someone who has already lost 1.5 million soliders?

If the war happens, this post would age like milk. Russia has FPVs and Shaheds, cheap recon drones like Orlan, mid range vehicle hunters Lancets. True, they are in a very bad shape and will likely lose if they face the while Europe + Ukraine at the same time in full strength, but people heavily underestimate the military tech advancements made in the war.

As it stands, the only undeniable edge EU has over them is in planes. Would it be enough?