Go to FLOTSAM & JETSAM
- Add a comment
- Go to MORE REASONS FOR MOVING TO CANADA
Wiley, I'm planning on it.
My daughter, son-in-law and grandaughter
who live in Montreal are another very big
draw for me to go to the great white north.
posted by
Cynthia
on November 8, 2003 at 5:02 PM
| link to this | reply
Thanks to all you folks, particularly Majroj
for your insightful comments. The Bush administration
has not made any annoucement about the draft. As I mentined
in my post, they are just putting the word out that draft board
positions should be filled. To coroborate what I've found out
I suggest you all check your local draft boards to see
what's cookin'.
posted by
Cynthia
on November 8, 2003 at 4:59 PM
| link to this | reply
Can Do Attitude.
Great Cynthia, c'mon to Canada and help us make the country into one that has troops for it's own defence and nothing else!! We can contribute much more to the world and ouselves as a peace filled nation!!
posted by
WileyJohn
on November 8, 2003 at 4:59 PM
| link to this | reply
Thanks to Cynthia for keeping this one open for comment!
posted by
majroj
on November 7, 2003 at 11:41 PM
| link to this | reply
Reagan (and Carter) enacted the "Total Force" policy
This made the reserve and National Guard forces more equal in tasking, training and equipment with their active duty counterparts, making them subject to more stringent rules of attendance, peformance, and willingness to be deployed.
Now, reservists/Guardspeople serve on the front lines, and everyday have been the primary air defense for the continental U.S., and a huge part of the military's air refueling, combat rescue, and cargolifting capacity. They also serve in the midst of front line combat, male and female.
This may have been what scared your folks north.
posted by
majroj
on November 7, 2003 at 8:07 PM
| link to this | reply
Now I am sure it was only a proposal
I found this on the web.
A return to the draft would take a vote by Congress and a presidential signature and even with a second-term president barred by the constitution from seeking a third term, it is questionable whether a Congress would be willing to take such a politically risky step. The last time this was tried by former US President Ronald Reagan it was roundly defeated.
posted by
gomedome
on November 7, 2003 at 1:16 PM
| link to this | reply
That may be true BigV as I said I was not certain.
But I am certain why the 2 young Americans chose to come to this country to live with their father and it was because Reagan had a draft proposal on the table. It must have been close enough to passing that some headed North.
posted by
gomedome
on November 7, 2003 at 1:07 PM
| link to this | reply
Is this for real?
Where would one go on the net to find out if this is indeed happening? I have 23 year old and a 26 year old sons. Both would be affected. I'd like to see some sources here. Thanks, Amanda
posted by
amandaroa
on November 7, 2003 at 12:37 PM
| link to this | reply
1973
... was the last year of the draft. Anything else was because they wanted to be there or they were so high they didn't know what they were talking about... which would not surprise me.
posted by
BigV
on November 7, 2003 at 1:53 AM
| link to this | reply
Actually I am almost certain the last draft in your country was in the 80's
During the Reagan administration 80, 81,82. to prepare for action in the Middle East. I am not certain of this but I did work with 2 American lads that were here ( in Canada ) to evade the draft either real or proposed.
posted by
gomedome
on November 6, 2003 at 11:21 PM
| link to this | reply
BigV, I read your links
I see where Rangel is going with this, a grandstand for minority voters, and if the Repubs were not in the Oval Office now they might very well have done the same. It is ill advised nonetheless.
Everyone forgets that the draft also sent high proportions of African-Americans (sorry MHW; you ought to weigh in on this) and rural poor whites due to educational exemptions.
Or you could join the Air Nat Guard in a unit which would not deploy, like inTexas.
Draft...fine. No exemptions. If the military can't use you, you can serve in an inner city or deep rural school. And the military can use you, since they are so dependent on civilian contractors, and they must meet standards for accomodating the handicapped. During WWII, conscientious objectors worked valorously in the Forestry Service and in medical facilities; In WWI, they were among those most exposed to danger, in the ambulance corps (out of which arose some of our exchange student programs of today).
Someone responding to an NPR request for a basic library about democracy cited Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" (and wisely directed people away from the movie). If you can shake off the militant overtone, the concept of finding a means to harness personal responsibility to citizenship holds water for me...and not neccessarily through military service.
posted by
majroj
on November 6, 2003 at 10:53 AM
| link to this | reply
Interesting points.
I was all set to go through OTC when I managed to smear myself over a road in a remote part of the southwest, hence managing to make myself completely ineligble for any form of military service. I think that the draft might be needed, if the country was under dire and imminent threat. But now? No. It's sad and pathetic to see how much we are losing these days. Bush fiddles while America burns...
posted by
telynor
on November 5, 2003 at 9:46 PM
| link to this | reply
Blame Rangel and the Libs
Just as a side note to all of you getting all wound up over the draft coming back, the idea is being proposed by Liberal Democrats... despite the best spin put out by the BBC. If you only heard the BBC's side, you would be prone to think the President was planning this... check out the verbiage
they plant here. Even when the real culprits are named, you have to read through three quarters of the article as you can see in
this article.Just food for thought.
posted by
BigV
on November 5, 2003 at 9:27 PM
| link to this | reply
The draft.....random thoughts and shots.
I missed being sent to Viet Nam by three points (they started "Vietnamization" that year). So three years later I joined up...very good timing and totally unintentional. I'd have gone if drafted.
I think you will find that Jads's neck of the woods, although very far away, is also draft free...as Mel Gibson's parents probably knew.
I thought the top limit for the draft was 26 years old in the old days? It was higher for some professions during WWII and Korea, I think, like nuclear physicists (joking there) and surgeons and pilots with combat experience (not joking there, they pulled my father in law back after WWII to the Korean conflict).
In 1987 they introduced a joker for commisioned officers called the "retired reserve". In the olden days ("In the Day" as they are now wont to say) general officers and full colonels were subject torecall from retirement; since '87 (the year I was commissioned) even second lieutenants can called back if they are under 65 and not physically invalided.
How about some links on this?
(Maybe I'll change my nom de blog to "WARRIORNURSE". I turned down War College, don't you know).
posted by
majroj
on November 5, 2003 at 8:57 PM
| link to this | reply
Cynthia
I'll do that and luckily I'm in Oregon so the border isn't to far away.
Though I'll admit that I still think that outcry would be more than even a lame duck President could get away with but I, like you, am always afraid of what could happen if God is on their side.
posted by
pastiboy28
on November 5, 2003 at 7:12 PM
| link to this | reply
pastiboy, I fear you may be
one of those affected by this and I'm sorry to upset you further, but the Bush administration went to war inspite of the fact that it was not supported by most of the civilizied world. When you are driven by idology and a belief that GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE, what the people think, especially after the election, is of NO CONSEQUENCE. You do not remember Vietnam do you?
The only thing that matters is if people wake up before the election and stop the madness. The bureaucracy to reinstate the draft has begun. Check it out. Research what is happening in your city and town and let me know what you find out.
posted by
Cynthia
on November 5, 2003 at 6:39 PM
| link to this | reply
Omigod...
Is a draft really possible? And...kudos to Chretien!
posted by
ginnieb
on November 5, 2003 at 5:23 PM
| link to this | reply
I hope you're wrong but....
...I fear you are correct. I have been fearing this since we first went into Afghanistan without a plan. On the plus side, even if Bush does get re-elected the public support for the war is so low a draft would never be allowed. It would be a suicide even the republican party knows it can't commit.
posted by
pastiboy28
on November 5, 2003 at 4:57 PM
| link to this | reply