I think it's a generational thing. Young people born in time of peace romanticizing great battles, national pride etc. Peace is boring and hard, there are economical struggles, politics, many problems without someone to blame. In war time everything is much clearer, esp. for young boys, they just have to kill the bad guys (the other side) and receive accolades. Of course, the stage is usually already set up by propaganda, schools, one-sided history teaching and so on.
The United States doesn't conscript soldiers and yet can find hundreds of thousands of infantry soldiers to wage war.
I don't think it's controversial to say that there's way more going on behind the effort to staff an army than threat of punishment from the government. Historically there are many examples of citizens eager to line up and fight for their country (whether for pragmatic or idealistic reasons). This isn't just patriotic rhetoric, it's a very powerful social force once set in motion.
If our species has any enduring trait then violent conflict through war must be pretty close to the top of the list.
Yeah this is kind of my point. I guess I probably don’t get it because I didn’t grow up in a military family. I guess people will do whatever they have to do for money. Because they are poor.
I’m pretty poor too but I feel like I have other options than to put my life in danger.
Rudyard Kipling's writings (before and during WWII) are probably the best source if you want to learn the sentiment that leads to the war.
>million other people decide to also join in this fight
Most people don't get to decide. Most of them are conscripted.