If the draft returns, would you serve on your local Draft Board?

[politicat]

It just might happen, and it seems to me that having Dems, anti-war Dems especially, apply for the positions (kind of like a "stealth" neo-con School Board candidate) might ensure that deferrments got handed out fairly and make sure that rich sons of prominent politicians didn't go automatically to the reserves and guard.

Just a thought. Since I'm eligible, I signed up for the application packet.

Politicat

These are the requirements:
U.S. citizens
at least 18 years old
not a retired or active member of the Armed Forces or any Reserve component
live in the area in which the board has jurisdiction
be willing to spend enough time at the position.

[mhr]

1. Serving The BFEE Is Not A Noble Endeavor

eom

[Tatiana]

6. Ensuring FAIRNESS in the draft process is. N/T

[mhr]

9. Enabling The Escalation Of War Is Never A Noble Endeavor

One thinks the point is on the mark!

[Tatiana]

12. Are you serious???

So you would just allow the right-wingers to once again pack up and send off our nation's poor, impoverished, non-connection-having, vulnerable citizens to be used as pawns in this war?

Cause you know the reason why all those chickenhawks like Cheney and Limbaugh were able to defer their service was because people on a DRAFT BOARD approved their deferment, right?

If persons such as ourselves were on the draft board, we have the opportunity to make sure deserving people WHO ARE ALREADY DRAFTED get to stay home.

[mhr]

16. If You Think You Will Prevent The Poor Form Going

I Think you might be saddly mistaken.

The rich and well connected will always find a way out.

Just look at GW for proof.

I would suggest that you investigate how these boards operate.

I suspect that you might be surprised.

[WilliamPitt]

8. Missed point by mile.

[mhr]

11. Disagree, The Point Is Right On Target

If you honestly believe that serving on one of these boards will save lives, everyone interested will need to reexamine their motives.

The chances of a single individual overruling the majority will be slim.

If your draft board does not produce enough recruits it will be reconstituted.

[WilliamPitt]

15. Having one person on the board to ARGUE the point

will be better than a bunch of rubber stamps. And maybe, if enough of us volunteer, WE will be in the majority. I know a ton of activists already doing this.

"He who saves one life saves the world entire."

[mhr]

17. Will, I Understand Your Sentiment And Altrusim

However, I have served on other mixed boards and know that being the lone wolf, while morally satisfying, will not prevent the majority from overruling you.

These boards will have qoutas to meet. When you don't meet your qouta, there will be questions and an investigation. If the reason that the qouta is not met is a liberal bias, you will be removed and the next BFEE apologist will be appointed.

[Rocinante]

2. I actually filled out the form

online and got a nice letter from the state director and an application form. But I don't think I can go through with it. My original purpose was to get on the board and make double damn sure that it would be fair to everyone. But I am having second thoughts.

[Mattforclark]

3. Does serving on the draft board

make you ineligible for the draft?

Otherwise I would probably go to the UK.

[Tatiana]

4. Already applied. N/T

[WilliamPitt]

5. Yes, and every draftee would have a bad knee or gout or be insane

or whatever came to mind.

This is a good idea, folks.

[Dookus]

7. I already applied

online for the forms a couple days ago. Defer defer defer...

[dflprincess]

31. I applied too

and have ordered my "EXEMPT" stamp...Unless I see some Dick Cheney wannabe come in who says he supports the war (whatever one it might be), but has other priorites..then, and only then, it's ONE-A.

Who do you want on the draft boards us or them?

[mediaman007]

32. Applied last weekend

I might have a hard time giving a deferment to ... a set of Texas twins.

[Tatiana]

10. Everyone should apply!

Must be 18 years old or older
Must be a citizen of the United States
Must have registered with the Selective Service
Men born from March 29, 1957 through December 31, 1959 are exempt.
Must not be an employee of any law enforcement organization
Must not be an active or retired member of the Armed Forces
Must not have been convicted of any criminal offense.

If you meet the above requirements, click below:


http://www.sss.gov/fslocal.htm

[Renew Deal]

23. I agree...

We should load these with DUers. Not to screw the process, just to ensure we are represented.

[Robin Hood]

13. I plan on serving the anti-draft board.

by starting an Underground harboring operation where we pass drafted people who don't want to "serve" from family to family just to keep them from dying for Bush's stupid illegal war.

[Selwynn]

14. I applied.

I appreciate different points of view, but I believe that the more noble and decent people populate these boards, the better.

It goes like this: this boards WILL be no matter what. They can either be populated by people from the Free Republic, or the can be populated by people from DU - those are the only options. They are going to exist if there is a draft.

Now, which board would you prefer?

[Renew Deal]

21. That's how I felt.

I felt that if I was there, there would be one person I could trust. Me

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[OldSoldier]

19. Have pity on the drill sergeants!

"Everyone throw their duffel bag on the truck then get on that cattle car! And make your buddy smile!"

"You can't do that to me! My daddy's the President of the United States!"

"Fine, Private Bush. You can give your heart to your daddy, but your ass belongs to the Army! And what are you staring at, you maggot over there?"

"Someone who's about to be a private again. My daddy's Senate Majority Leader!"

"Oh, is that so? My daddy's Superman. Private Frist, drop and give me forty for wasting my time and making idle threats...not forty dollars, numb nuts, forty pushups. Hell, give me eighty pushups for trying to bribe a drill sergeant!"

It's up to you. Do you really want some poor drill sergeant to have to endure the terrible stress that will be caused if we start sending rich men's sons and the daughters of politicians to the Army? Do our brave, honorable drill sergeants really deserve that kind of torture? The lineal descendents of Sergeant Cloud shouldn't be dishonored that way.

Uhh...on second thought, I remember Sergeant Simental. Guys like him deserve to be heaped on.

[Walt Starr]

25. You obviously have never been involved with military personnel

If a Private Bush or a Private Frist were ever actually inducted (long shot at best even if the boards were made up of 100% DUers), there would be two initials permanently etched behind their names indicating they are to never be touched and never be placed in harm's way:

P.I.

Get back to me when you find out what that means. I've met several in the military that were tagged with those letters and I can tell you they equate to, "First in line for promotions, last in line for anything else."

[Renew Deal]

20. I requested an application.

Before they shut down the site. That was early last week.

Edit: Someone posted this working link. http://www.sss.gov/fslocal.htm

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

22. Sent in my application last week

Somebody has to keep an eye of those bastards

[Renew Deal]

24. You actually sent in an application?

Not just the request for one? Did they want to know anything special?

[WilliamPitt]

26. Kick

[MessiahRp]

27. Ouch

Those Repubs sure fucked you on their book review from Publisher's Weekly for The Greatest Sedition Is Silence... didn't they?

Oh well let them call you angry, they're going to be mighty pissed a year from now :)

Rp

[David__77]

28. Yeah, why not?

These boards have power to help people.

[politicat]

29. kick

still curious.

[Corgigal]

30. I applied

and was told my application is coming in the mail. I would be sick if I had to do this but would be fearful what will happen to these kids if I don't.

Of course I do live in the area that has cops pull guns on poor black and white kids at the local HS. I feel I have no option , I have to do this.