Spreading word of the draft... Now? Or Never?

Trying to get the word out about the draft now could have two effects, as I see it.

1) Create a preemptive, innoculating thought pattern that keeps Americans aware that a draft may be coming, and might allow them to react to it with thought instead of fear. This is obviously a preferable effect.

2) Give the idea of a draft legitimacy, by simply proposing that it could happen. When the draft returns, there will be less outrage because it was expected.

Can these two effects be separated?

Is there a point in raising awareness of the draft now?

Should we go about raising awareness? How?

Bush will destroy the GOP for the next century if he brings it back...It aint gonna happen. If army recruitment is down, the dept of defense will simply increase soldier pay by 10-20k a year...more than enough incentive for many people to join. Remember, the feds can print money till the cows come home...It will be no problem to bribe new recruits.

have been hit already

SSS has been staffed

On orders from DOE the SSS and DOE are making sure the lists match, per Federal Registry, November 4th

The third potencial wicket was hit the other day... when a judge ordered a man to the army instead of jail

You think it is not comming, I have news for you... IT IS

since the SSS has always been staffed. Terms are limited, and the call for new draft board members is the normal one for when boards are emptied of old members.

The list matching is also an ongoing thing. Draft registration is the law, like it or not, and they are always digging through records to see who didn't register. Some years they are more diligent than others.

I don't know about the guy who got "ordered" into the Army, but that isn't all that unusual. Judges have often given small-time offenders the choice of jail or the Army. It was fairly common back in the '60s and '70s, but kind of fell out of use when the military raised its standards and didn't want too many of the offenders.

Be that as it may, the draft is a dynamite issue. Considering how this crew has managed to get its way with just about everything else, they might be able to cram a draft down our throats. Or, it could be their downfall. Who knows...

Desertions are way up, re-enlistments are way down, and if they want another war, they just might have to institute a draft. Before that, though, they'll hit hard for recruitment. Military leadership really doesn't want a draft-- draftees are much more of a pain in the ass to train and discipline.

The law authorizing the draft is sitting there waiting-- it only requires Congress to authorize the callups. What's interesting, though, is that it's pretty much the same old law-- only men between 18 and 26 would be drafted. So, now that we're in the 21st century, an interesting discrimination case could be made about not drafting women.

I served with a lot of people that were given this option. It happens a lot more than you think.

And there is nothing saying the army will accept him anyway.

It has already been demonstrated that Bush* can do whatever he wants
and get reselected because the Dominion controls the voting machinez,
and they want the draft to keep their Crusade going.

The theocracies of the Dark Ages ended because all the religious
fanatics went off on the Crusades and never came back. They won't
make that mistake again.

Louisiana is requiring driver's license applicants of draft age to be registered for the draft before receiving a driver's license.

The SSS has been instructed by the Bush administration that every draft age American is registered. As a result High Schools are being asked to turn over lists of all draft age students.

McCain was on the talking heads shows this weekend saying that 50,000 more troops are required for Iraq. This comes at a time when re-enlistment is dropping and many reservists are actively fighting their recalls. We've also seen reports of men in their 50s getting letters recalling them to active duty.

McCain and Bush have also made threatening sounds towards Iran that are eerily similar to the threats made to Iraq in 2002.

There's all kinds of signs that a draft may be coming.

As for killing the GOP's chances for the future, the conservatives love a strong, aggressive country. They want a strong military, even if it means forcing kids to serve. That's why they overspend on the military and cut all social programs like education, childrens' health programs, etc.

There will be no general draft.

Every election since 2000 I had thought that the GOP had gone too far and would alienate the masses. Yet, the GOP made gains, conservatism is the cancer which is slowly consuming America.

If they administration wants another war, they will be able to gain support for it and rationalize a draft to provide cannon fodder. Half the country is brain dead, the GOP can do no wrong in their eyes. It will take a lot of pain and death before the other half of the US wakes up. I would support your option ONE, get the message out now, those with rational thought, i.e. Democrats, will be best served.

I agree with you.

cancer is very painful and there is no known cure. the only way to get rid of it is to carve out to tumor. when we wake up, we will realize that it might take a lot of pain to remove the cancer. the longer we wait, the worse it will be. four years is to long, we'll be dead if we just sit and wait for 08, we must start cutting now!