# Poll: Will there be a draft during the next presidential term? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403 "2004-10-09T21:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/21 "2004-10-11T19:34:15Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > If Bush is re-elected, better than 50-50 odds. > > Why? 'cause he’s gonna need boots on the ground to keep things under control (not to mention that precious Iraqi oil), and there’s no chance in hell anyone else will want to help out the US if he gets re-elected. I think whoever wins will let Iraq go to hell before we see a draft. With much of the public already skeptical of the war, there simply wouldn’t be enough support to sacrifice troops at a rate that would require a draft, it would end up being political suicide for the party in power. Of course N. Korea might nuke Tokyo or some similar geopolitical event and then all bets are out the window, but barring that, I vote No. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/22 "2004-10-11T20:28:27Z")
No. It would create a counterproductive subculture within the military. The “draftees” and the “real soldiers”. That is just one reason of many why it won’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/23 "2004-10-11T20:40:37Z")
I can see no faster way to take the re-election rate of incumbents from 95%+ to \<50% that to institute a draft. Voting in favor of it would be an almost guarantee of going back to civilian life. And congress has, as its primary goal, its own re-election. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/24 "2004-10-11T21:17:04Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/25 "2004-10-11T22:53:40Z")
I am requesting that you not quote another poster in your reply-this is supposed to be a poll and not a debate. Give your _own_ opinion and move on. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/26 "2004-10-11T23:59:09Z")
If Bush is elected, there will be no draft… It will be called “Homeland Security Registration”. People between the ages of 18-25 will be required to register, not for the draft but for their “willingness to help”, if needed. And they will only have to help on a limited basis, unless it is deemed absolutely necessary by the office of Homeland Security for a more long term commitment on their part. And even then, it would only be for a really short stint to just mop up a few lose ends, sort of like a summer camp cleaning crew. But if you are studying for mid-terms at Yale, or Harvard or a few other universities, you would not be interrupted as a good education will help keep America strong. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/27 "2004-10-12T01:43:25Z")
Absolutely not. Not a chance in hell. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/28 "2004-10-12T01:46:57Z")
Sir No Sir!! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/29 "2004-10-12T02:12:56Z")
As I said in another thread on this subject, while there IS a case to be made for a draft, George W. Bush is not going to be the man who makes it. Indeed, the ONLY people people pushing for a draft are liberals like Charles Rangel, who are doing so to UNDERMINE the military (he figures the American people would never support military action anywhere if there were a risk of their own kids getting drafted), not to strengthen it. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/30 "2004-10-12T02:24:36Z")
If Bush is elected there is a snowballs chance in hell. If Kerry is elected then hell will freeze over first. In other words, rjung aside, there is basically no chance there will be a draft during the next presidential term reguardless of who is the president. The only caviot I’ll make is if WWIII happens, or if there is an alien space invasion then all bets are off. 🙂 -XT ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/31 "2004-10-12T16:20:35Z")
Let me amend this poll to take into account the wishy-washy “…not unless X happens…” responses. Take your stand, and just say “no,” if you believe the answer is no. No qualifications for such exceptions. For instance, I believe that, if we don’t get involved in military conflicts with any more countries than we already are (Iraq, Afghanistan), then there will be no draft. But I also personally think that it’s highly likely we’ll get into trouble with Iran and/or Syria (and a showdown with North Korea is not out of the question) during the next President’s term, whether he’s Bush or Kerry. But such conflicts are possible, and just another factor–like whether Kerry or Bush wins the election, like whether or not the resistance gets worse or better, like whether or not the Sears Tower gets blown up–in determining a yes or no answer to the poll question. So “yes” or “no”, please. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/32 "2004-10-12T18:15:09Z")
Czarcasm please repond to [this.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=5359143#post5359143) Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/33 "2004-10-12T18:21:33Z")
No Draft. An offer of 20 years’ tax exemption for volunteers and their spouses who sign up on or after June 1, 2006. That way he can get the poor people to step up and the richies won’t need the benefit. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/34 "2004-10-12T18:37:29Z")
Ain’t gonna happen. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/35 "2004-10-12T18:59:54Z")
No. Not politically expedient. Applies to either party, btw. ---
**Author:** ![smartini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@smartini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smartini)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/36 "2004-10-12T20:11:17Z")
No, I don’t think so. I don’t think the electorate would allow it. Now if we would draft corporations, maybe. Starting with Halliburton…they seem to like being in the midst of things. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/37 "2004-10-12T20:15:14Z")
No. Won’t happen. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/38 "2004-10-12T20:32:33Z")
As per the OP’s request, I’ll change my answer to a flat no. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403/39 "2004-10-12T20:57:12Z")
I cannot answer the question given the conditions imposed. –Cliffy [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-will-there-be-a-draft-during-the-next-presidential-term/268403.md?page=1)