How will the draft work?

[bluestateguy]

We know how the draft used to work, but if and when this Administration reinstitutes the draft many of the old rules will be discarded. Will women have to serve? The fundies will not be keen to allow that, but who knows what will happen? What about gays in the military? What about people who just don't want to play ball--the conscientious objectors? Few people expect there to be college deferments this time, so how will the rules be written in such a way as to allow the children of privilege to escape serving, or serving in combat? Will they call it a draft, or give it some focus-group tested name like "patriot corps" or "national service"?

[Zeke]

1. Knowing These Nazi-Repukes...

They'll probably create a draft and flat out say:
all white Republican people are excused, but all minorities, Democrats and poor people must be drafted.

They'll call it: community service.

Yeah, that's what they'll do.

[herberthoover]

5. Drafty places

The repubo-thugs will probably try to do that by drafting felons out federal prisons first. Just look at the disproportionate number of minorities, the poor and gays in our prisons. They have been building up a supply of cannon fodder using our unjust justice system as a conduit.

[Wapsie B]

8. Yeah,

have them "volunteer" for suicidal missions in exchange for the hope of getting pardoned for their crimes should they make it back alive.

Welcome to DU!

[herberthoover]

10. Many thanks

I appreciate the freindly welcome to this open discussion forum, it is a breath of fresh air.:toast:

[theorist]

9. Sending a bunch of hardened criminals to the Middle East...

sounds like a bad idea to me. Even neo-con idealism can't cover up that fact. It would be total pandemonium compared to the horror going on now over there. We don't even hear the stories of our soldiers misbehaving over there. (Wouldn't you expect to be hearing at least something about the prostitution/drug industries in Iraq before and after the invasion?)

[herberthoover]

11. Iraqi crime rate

I would have to admit that Saddam and his gang of playmates were responsible for most of the rape, drugs and prostitution in Iraq prior to the US invasion. Furthermore the professionalism of the American and other coalition forces has been exceptional overall. And I am not forgetting Abu Grahib, in terms of numbers of incidence it is tiny and numbers of people abused even smaller. By the way college fraternities have worse hazing rituals than allot of the stuff in those photos. It is also likely that the reason you are not hearing widespread reports of criminal activity ,(drugs, prostitution, etc.) is that it isn't happening. Military brass knows they must police themselves. The 24 hour news cycle is unforgiving.:tinfoilhat:

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

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[JohnnyRingo]

2. One of the tactics I remember from the late 60s

When 18 to 24 yr old boys were arrested for non-violent crimes, plea bargains were out of the question....Go to 'Nam, or go to prison.

It's a backdoor plan, but it works.

A national "crack down on crime" could supply thousands of warm bodies and forestall the need for a formal draft.

There has to be plenty of other ways to "encourage" young working class men to enlist that haven't even been explored...yet

[theorist]

3. I'm sure it will be a fiasco like every other thing they do.

I'm sure it won't be called a "draft" by most of the press, as you have pointed out. This is a difficult subject for me, since I'm 23.

"Conscientious objector" (as I'm sure you know) is a well defined status, and it takes years worth of documentation from religious organizations and family to attain it. I have a feeling that someone with an advanced degree won't be subject to the same service as a new high school graduate. This will be one way of avoiding combat.

I have a feeling the new draft dodgers won't be draft dodgers at all. They will join branches of the military that have relatively safe jobs, and I say it this way because no military job is really safe. We'll have a lot of repub law makers saying, "See! My kid's fightin' the war, too." But it will turn out that he's filing paperwork stateside.

Personally, although I have a couple degrees and am almost halfway through with a Ph.D. and this would probably save me from dangerous duty (this government has invested a good sum of money in me already), I won't go. If my number comes up, I'll go to the draft board and tell them that what they are doing is illegal and that they are complicit in the murder of civilians and young Americans. In other words, fuck Socrates.

[Benson]

15. Look, if you know you're "Under the Gun," then

If you are about to be drafted, and there is some technicality that doesn't give you a choice in the matter...enlist with the air force.

I'll bet it won't be called a 'draft.' So there will be no such thing as a draft dodger. If that is the case, and you wait for the call, you will have no choice but to fill wherever the need is greatest.

Its better to choose where you will go.


My guess is we have a year before anything happens.

[Lerkfish]

4. knowing how the repukes turn a blind eye to military rape

of female soldiers NOW, I'd say it'll be interesting (and I mean that in a BAD way) if the draft includes women.

As usual, the rich and connected will avoid it. But, I imagine there will be a backlash for even the nascar dads when their little princesses get shipped out.

[Skink]

6. I just can't wait for the State of the Union...

[slay]

14. My fellow Nazi's...

...is exactly how he should start the speech. He's so close to making it a reality, it would be a shame to stop now really.

[Pobeka]

7. Falling dollar and defecit spending cranks up the economic draft.

In the meantime the robber-barrons of the 21st century continue to capitalize on the forced economic downturn by buying up more real-estate.

Just call it a hunch...

[Benson]

12. Hmmm. I'll bet its Blue States first....(nt)

[slay]

13. First they'll round up homeless people, then it's send in the liberals!

You just KNOW they would if they could.

[superconnected]

17. They'll use the excuse of lack of military funding to end Social Sec.

Most people will support ending Soc Sec to fund military protection, after the draft starts because their son's and daughters will end up in Iraq. I expect them to draft men and women.

I expect the gov to draft reps and dems. The republicans have always been too stupid to figure out they've always gotten sh*t on and robbed by their own party. They'll go supporting it and wanting to shoot anyone who doesn't.

I expect no sons or daughters of politicans to go.

Oh the dems in congress will vote IN FAVOR
- because they've f*&ed us up all alongs, why would they stop now. Everything I read has them currently trying to change the party into repukes ideals. I will likely head to canada with my family because I won't let that murderer(bush) put my family, personally, in Iraq.