what would happen if tens of thousands refused to register for the draft?

[Sperk]

And do you think there will be protests around the country at the local draft boards?

[bryant69]

1. Well,

This is sort of like asking, "What if we harnessed the mystical power of squirrels and eliminated our need for oil?" There's no question that would change the ball game, but is it likely?

There will be enormous protests if the draft is reintroduced and whoever does it will take an enormous hit to his prestige. Particularly if it ends up being President Bush, the comparison to Vietnam will be particularly real.

But I don't think tens of thousands will be willing to go to jail to protest. I think thousands maybe, but even that might be optimistic. My guess is that, as in Vietnam, most people will try to find creative ways around the draft board rather than challenging it directly.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[HFishbine]

2. Tell me more

about these squirells. Are they for the war? Are they owned by Halliburton? Would they have to register for the draft? Will the generate electricity by running on exercise wheels or will we have to grind them up and extract hydrocarbons from them?

[jayfish]

5. Obviously Some Sort Of Telekinesis.

Hey, maybe we can create a new “Church Of The Squirrel” and apply for 501(C) (3) status. Then we could take tax free donations and apply them to R&D. See ya Saudi Arabia.

Jay

[Lizz612]

12. From what I've heard from my peers..

Gay this THE way out of the military. Its not hard and you don't even have to pay a doctor to say it. Thats what I hear from most of my guy friends who don't want to end up in the military. Watch the "christian" right go bonkers as the number of "gay" men shoots throught the effin roof, and the draft flounders! That would be as funny as those squirrels!

[Screaming Lord Byron]

14. like I said before, just sport wood in the medical

you'll be outta there in no time

[Loonman]

3. What is the sound of one hand clapping?

n/t

[qb]

4. Halliburton would get billions in new prison contracts.

[JVS]

6. Tens of thousands would go to jail

Just like drugs

[Silverhair]

7. Abolish the registration. n/t

[quinnox]

8. What if tens of thousands did register?

n/t

[rman]

9. hmm... build more prisons?

-

[NewGuy]

10. Right now all anyone has to do...

is register for selective service in case a need arises. There is currently no draft in place. I don't believe draft boards even exist. The main penalties for not registering are federal student loan guaranties will not be available and you cannot apply for federal job training or federal employment.

[City Lights]

17. "I don't believe draft boards even exist."

From Salon:

"The Pentagon is quietly moving to fill draft board vacancies nationwide. While officials say there's no cause to worry, some experts aren't so sure."

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2003/11/03/draft/index.html

The Salon article links to this:

"Defend America
Serve Your Community and the Nation
Become a Selective Service System Local Board Member"

http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/sss092203.html

[depakid]

11. Tens of thousands would become ineligible for financial aid

Saving the feds & the states some money and further grinding higher education into the dirt.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. In 1980 I had to register thanks to Carter / Afghanistan

nobody was very happy about it, however I was not willing to go to jail either to protest. NOT registering carries some heavy penalties.

[creativelcro]

15. but now we have the internet

coordinating tens of thousands of people is easy... it could happen...

[Brewman_Jax]

16. Like Mom always says....

it's fun until someone loses an eye. For the neo-con chickenhawks, it's always fun to watch those people that you don't like go die for their country in a far-away land.

The uber-patriotic flag-waving chickenhawks will protest once they and theirs will be offered up as sacrifices to the Oil Cartel, like everyone else.

[Endangered Specie]

18. Depends...

If these tens of thousands were the children of rich republicains (absolutely nothing), or poor-middle class average joes (jail).