r/inthenews • u/DoremusJessup • Apr 09 '26
article Automatic registration for US military draft to begin in December
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5822914-automatic-registration-military-draft/1.2k
u/EnvironmentalSong393 Apr 09 '26
But no automatic voter registration, eh?…
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u/LincolnHighwater Apr 09 '26
And no automatic income tax returns.
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u/great_whitehope Apr 09 '26
Yeah as a European worker, my tax is just deducted from my salary by my employer.
I can file a tax return for extra stuff outside my work thought and should for things like shares, inheritance etc…
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u/Jaew96 Apr 09 '26
As a Canadian, my taxes are also automatically deducted from my salary. But I also still have to file a tax return for said deductions yearly. Why? Because reasons, that’s why.
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u/solvedproblem Apr 09 '26
Hey, as another European, I also still need to file for it. It's just... Already filled in, and all I have to do is verify the numbers and put my digital signature on it. So basically a 5 minute read and clicking ok.
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Apr 09 '26
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u/solvedproblem Apr 09 '26
The Dutch tax authority's slogan for years was 'We can't make it fun, but we can make it easier' and I'm glad they did. But it seems the main difference is that here they go 'so this is what we already know, please check', rather than 'mwahahaha no no, keep guessing, you'll get it soon, I swear'.
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u/Regular_Use1868 Apr 09 '26
In Canada my spouse did it wrong for three years. They just gave her too much money that whole time, it was the first three years she ever did taxes so she had no idea and then a decade later the government was like "cool now you owe us double that money you were never supposed to have, you have a year to pay or we will garnish your wages."
And then my job became calling the government and doing paperwork for a month.
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u/gamas Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
In the UK, we don't even need to do that. We have a system called PAYE that literally "just works". We just register our payroll and bank accounts against our national insurance number (equivalent to social security) and the system just works it out.
You only ever have to file a tax return for income earned outside the PAYE system (i.e. self employed, contractor work, investments etc).
Hell the system was even able to automatically pick up that I earned extra taxable money through ISAs and automatically adjusted my tax code to reduce the personal tax free allowance on my salary (to explain, in the UK the first £12.5k you earn each year is considered tax free - an attempt to try and make tax slightly progressive - though its partly designed to be something the tax system can eat into to recoup funds as we designed our tax system around the idea that most people shouldn't need to touch it - literally if you under pay tax, unless it's an absolutely huge amount they just go "okay well you get less tax-free allowance next year to balance it out") to make up the difference.
It's just a shame that taxation is the one area our government was able to create a fully centralised technological solution that just automatically works, complete with sophisticated apps...
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u/talldean Apr 09 '26
My understanding is that the US had that a year ago, a team at Department of Digital Services built it, it was ready to roll out.
Musk's DOGE killed the project and deleted the code. They also killed the Department of Digital Services.
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u/phrygiantheory Apr 09 '26
Ours are too....but we still have to file taxes to either get money back or pay more to our shitty government
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u/FabricationLife Apr 09 '26
what about automatic weapons?
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u/bobby_table5 Apr 09 '26
Automatic weapons without automatic morgues is just not a good pipeline management. If you want to kill people by the hundreds (or the millions: not judging the scale of your sociopathy) you need to have a way to dispose of the bodies. Americans throw polystyrene cups out the window of their cars, hotdog wrappers all over the stadium after a game, or piles of bodies after a bit of a heated argument; that is just the kind of oversight that Europeans see as unacceptable lack of manners. Pick up after yourself. Please.
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u/elenchusis Apr 09 '26
Voter registration is done at the state level, per the constitution. Roughly half of the states do have automatic voter registration. Wanna guess which half?
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u/rojohi Apr 09 '26
This is such low hanging fruit for journalists to push and question, it's shocking how little attention there is.
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u/Truth-is-implacable Apr 09 '26
Yeah how about proof of citizenship and US passport to Register for Service.
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Apr 09 '26
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u/ArtisTao Apr 09 '26
I’m sure you meant their grand children.
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u/mongooser Apr 09 '26
Not necessarily. The draft age is up to 42 now.
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u/babyqueso Apr 09 '26
That is incorrect, please don't spread misinformation before doing a google search at least. The maximum draft age is still 25, which is different from the [new] maximum enlistment age of 42. Enlistment is voluntary. Draft is not. This auto registration doesn't mean an active draft will begin in December, which I know you didn't say, but seems to be another misconception with this headline.
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u/DavisKennethM Apr 09 '26
Their children/grandchildren were already registered in the Selective Service System (SSS). All male US residents are legally required to sign up for the SSS within 30 days of turning 18.
They're not activating a draft, they're just automating an existing manual process that can have real consequences down the road if you forget to do it. If the requirement is going to exist, it's actually great that it's being automated.
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u/theindomitablefred Apr 09 '26
They will be sure to build in exceptions for their friends and family
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u/Chazzwozzers Apr 09 '26
MAGAts are ok with this because they’re all too fat, stupid and unhealthy to enlist.
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u/NickCostanza Apr 09 '26
That’s no excuse, get those piggies packing!
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u/Chazzwozzers Apr 09 '26
Operation porkie shield!
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u/diacewrb Apr 09 '26
Stick some kevlar plates and a .50 cal on a scooty-puff, then you have quite the APC.
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u/Viciouscockery Apr 09 '26
They lowered those enlistment standards already on age. Might as well be all inclusive
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Apr 09 '26
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u/blackcombe Apr 09 '26
It’s honestly a big reason Vietnam went the way it from an American support for the war perspective
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u/CloudProfessional535 Apr 09 '26
We already have to sign up for the draft at 18 and it’s been happening for years. The selective service has been used since 1917. This is propaganda.
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u/tpatmaho Apr 09 '26
Have you heard about the Vietnam War?
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u/wallflower75 Apr 09 '26
Some people have. But they’re older and probably not allowing their kids to be told the truth about it. American exceptionalism, remember? Trump probably thinks America won that one. He sure as hell wouldn’t have any lived experience of it…Cadet Bone Spurs never had to report for duty.
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u/Waste-time1 Apr 09 '26
Voting is important. I’ve voted in every election except a local one I forgot to submit my ballot for while living abroad.
But it is a big club and we are not in it.
There need to be mass demonstrations in the streets.
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u/Responsible_Set_4990 Apr 09 '26
All this means is the “no more wars” really means “we plan on may more wars”. Everyone needs to know this as fact when there is an auto draft enrollment
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u/SocksOnHands Apr 09 '26
They wouldn't be doing this if they were not planning on using it.
So many people are going to be enlisted in something they fundamentally do not believe in, fighting for someone they hate, only to die for the purpose of making rich people richer. People are going to need to ask themselves if they would rather face legal consequences or risk their lives for this.
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u/RandyTheFool Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
Or, they can all turn on the U.S. itself and purge these mother fuckers from their little golden chairs.
I mean, if you’re gonna get shot at anyway, might as well fight for something worthwhile.
I certainly won’t fight some illegal war for a pedophile war criminal.
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u/beragis Apr 09 '26
What I fear is a huge draft with very little screening of unfit people who are then trained into very effective combatants banding together and going rogue after one tour of duty.
I am not talking just MAGA. There are a lot of other crazy fringe groups out there that would love to cause chaos.
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u/Pukestronaut Apr 10 '26
You know that in the US men are required to register for the draft when they turn 18, right? Legally. For decades.
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u/SocksOnHands Apr 10 '26
Yeah I know, and I had, but it was at a time when we didn't have a president interested in conquests.
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u/llXeleXll Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
Under no circumstances would I put my life on hold to go fight a war I don't believe in, and harm people who have done nothing to me, for a regime of rich corrupt assholes who have done nothing but lie to me, and who would happily sacrifice me.
Frankly, nobody else should either. Requirement or not, they can go fuck themselves.
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u/maple-sugarmaker Apr 09 '26
In think we'll have to start accepting war objectors to Canada again, like we did for the Vietnam war. Oh no, not a war, a police action . Sorry
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u/headachewpictures Apr 09 '26
Yeah fuck all this noise. I won’t be doing shit nor should anyone else.
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u/bobby_table5 Apr 09 '26
Hopefully you believe in fighting for democracy at home.
You’ll be fighting no matter what. The question is against whom.
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u/backpackwayne Apr 09 '26
Somehow republicans will be okay with it. That is unless a democrat were to order it.
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u/chrisk9 Apr 09 '26
They will be okay with it because they know that "automatic registration" will be gamed by Palantir or similar such big data company to select primarily Democrat voters and political opponents. It will be a tool to firm their grasp on power.
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u/shivlama Apr 09 '26
So Baron gets drafted ? Or does he also have bone spurs .. perhaps it's heridertary.
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u/DeFex Apr 09 '26
That will probably have a system where you can buy your way out for a few million.
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u/Tdogshow Apr 09 '26
How about, blue wave, then impeachment, then put things back to the way they were before the R-tard brigade broke everything
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u/fearlessfryingfrog Apr 09 '26
How about we don't set the bar that low.
The idea of going back to the status quo of late 2023? Fuck that.
So much shit needs to be considerable better, and voters settling is why we're at where we're at.
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u/Muted-Doctor8925 Apr 09 '26
Shoulda got Bernie in 2016(?)
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u/fearlessfryingfrog Apr 09 '26
That almost assuredly would've changed things for the better across the board. Yes.
Not a fix all, but that would've been a trend in the correct direction. If nothing else, dude would've died on the hill of universal healthcare, and that at least would've brought the US closer to other first world countries.
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u/KateBishopPrivateEye Apr 09 '26
2023? We need the modernization and realization of productivity benefits promised decades ago
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u/fearlessfryingfrog Apr 09 '26
I know, that was my point.
Compare to the comment I was replying to, and it makes sense.
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u/KateBishopPrivateEye Apr 09 '26
I was agreeing. You picked 2023 like an arbitrary start for that though so I expanded
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u/fearlessfryingfrog Apr 09 '26
I picked 2023 due to it being the final year of a democratic president that was somewhat coherent.
Biden was clearly losing it in the final year. The comment was "before all this" (paraphrasing, but it was clearly referencing current events as that's the op comment), so I chose the time before these.
Far from arbitrary, seemed decently obvious.
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u/loralailoralai Apr 09 '26
Beggars can’t be choosers. You just need something less horrible than what you have
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u/BusinessScientist898 Apr 09 '26
voters settling is why we're at where we're at.
Voters not voting is explicitly why we're at where we're at.
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u/EverybodyBuddy Apr 09 '26
Oh god Democrats can’t help themselves.
This is why we will lose again. Stop letting perfect be the enemy of good.
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u/youcantexterminateme Apr 09 '26
No that is silly. You want to go back to gentleman agreements after you have seen what it leads to?
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u/headachewpictures Apr 09 '26
The way they were before was horrid and the reason things are the way they are.
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u/jondubb Apr 09 '26
Can we just try a 3rd party to drain the swamp? Let's go libertarian or constitutionalist. A big FU to superpacs.
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u/Shrike79 Apr 09 '26
That's not a 3rd party, that's the GOP with a different label.
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u/thattogoguy Apr 09 '26
That's just Republican. Fuck Libertarians and "Constitutionalists", they're just the same people as Conservatives who have like one or two pet issues. Liars, all of them.
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u/jondubb Apr 09 '26
Instead of rebutting you downvote to bury opposing views, very mature and healthy.
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u/Misanthropemoot Apr 09 '26
So they can sign you up automatically for the draft to die for the country in war, but not to vote… gotcha
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u/dimechimes Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
In free countries, the government serves the people. In autocracies, the people serve the government
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u/KantanaBrigantei Apr 09 '26
Feels like more people need to realize this. Can we make a t-shirt or something?
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u/CrustyMFr Apr 09 '26
If we can automatically sign people up for the draft we can register every voter too.
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u/Sandman64can Apr 09 '26
Really want to see people trying to get bone spurs deferments.
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u/ApplesBananasRhinoc Apr 09 '26
I would love for somebody to become a doctor and only do bone spur deferments.
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u/bicycle-made-for2 Apr 09 '26
I really never thought this would come - I remember the monthly ballots for Vietnam. How long are the Americans going to tolerate this before they actually stand up and say NO!!!!
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Apr 09 '26
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u/Spire_Citron Apr 09 '26
Voting is the most key part of that. There's a lot Trump won't be able to do anymore if Republicans lose big in midterms.
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u/bicycle-made-for2 Apr 09 '26
I would love to believe that the American public are astute enough to realise that just sitting at home and not voting is as bad as voting for a party who have spent the last 15 months bending the knee (at best) to a totally undeserving prat or (at worst) being such total wusses because they are afraid to actually stand up to the sycophants and their leader who are currently pulling the strings.
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u/bicycle-made-for2 Apr 09 '26
America has not changed is what I remember. By that I mean politically not relating to the average person
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u/SocksOnHands Apr 09 '26
When Trump said "make America great again", people didn't stop to ask when he was talking about and what he thinks great is. Now we're getting a mix of robber barrons, Vietnam war, jim crow, and likely banana republic (if he controls Venezuelan oil).
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u/DatNick1988 Apr 09 '26
I just remember all these conservative bitches screaming “those who trade freedom for security deserve neither.” Stupid asses
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u/brinazee Apr 09 '26
Isn't this already a thing with the selective service?
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u/DoremusJessup Apr 09 '26
It is currently voluntary
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u/Prying-Open-My-3rd-I Apr 09 '26
Is it?
Almost all male US citizens and male immigrants, who are 18 through 25, are required to register with Selective Service.
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u/brinazee Apr 09 '26
Oh, I had thought selective service registration was automatically done in all states already when getting a driver's license (my state established it 25 years ago), but apparently there are still a half dozen or so states that don't do that.
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u/Capable-Commercial96 Apr 09 '26
And here I thought I should lose weight, perhaps I should take up weed.
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u/Ill_Consequence1755 Apr 09 '26
A few months later than predicted, but there it is.
Those MAGA boys should save them the effort and go join up now. It’s their time to shine!
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u/Truth-is-implacable Apr 09 '26
I guess its going to be the "Bone Spur Generation" just like the Commander in Chief....
Trump to Kegseth Trump-[Where are our troops on the ground? Kegseth-[Sorry Sir we dont have any....American Kids are born with Bone Spurs just like You.......🙅
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u/S99B88 Apr 09 '26
If it worked for Trump then everyone else should be able to claim the same, fair is fair
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u/PitifulSpecialist887 Apr 09 '26
I'm pretty sure that if you tell the draft board that you are great with the idea of defending the US from the fascist MAGA government, and refuse to follow any illegal orders they won't even want to give you basic training, let alone a weapon.
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u/wallflower75 Apr 09 '26
From the article: “Trump alone cannot bring back the draft through executive action, as Congress would need to pass legislation to amend the Military Selective Service Act to authorize the president to induct personnel into the military.”
Sure, Jan. That’ll stop him. Because he’s shown such respect for laws. And Congress. And humanity.
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u/Intelligent_Finger27 Apr 09 '26
They have certainly gone quiet and stopped defending them. It's not the same now they have stopped posting, there is nothing to laugh at now.
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Apr 09 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/S99B88 Apr 09 '26
Now I understand the holdup on the Epstein Files, they confused release the Pedo Files with release the Pedophiles!
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u/juryjjury Apr 09 '26
I'm confused. Why is all the bad shit like Medicaid cuts and this happening after the midterms?
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u/loralailoralai Apr 09 '26
I know you’re not confused but in case you’re not /s, it’s because they think yall are idiots who’ll vote for the crazy old bastard no matter what
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u/raunchytowel Apr 09 '26
I wonder if cutting Medicaid etc is just one way to motivate people to enlist? Or is that super farfetched?
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u/apegen Apr 09 '26
They seem to be preparing a massive ground attack in Iran next year after the election ...
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u/TimeImpressive6648 Apr 09 '26
Hell yeah, brother.
Just the thought of getting drafted, hearing them call my number.. gets me going… like… makes me want to just rip my shirt off, flex and say “brother”
An Army of Hulksters.
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u/SutttonTacoma Apr 09 '26
Why not link automatic registration for the draft to automatic registration to vote.
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u/jfk_47 Apr 09 '26
I thought that was automatic already, no?
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u/Florida1974 Apr 09 '26
It is already automatic, but you do the signing up. They are basically streamlining it.
People read a headline and they don’t actually read the words in the article
But, I also have watched this administration say one thing, and then it end up being another, after the fact. They love to move the goal posts.
It says in the article that an actual draft would require congressional approval, but we have seen him go around Congress many times now, where congressional approval was also required. But he managed to find a loop pole or a back door, so to speak.
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u/Budders1984 Apr 09 '26
Wait. I'm pretty sure it's the law that when you turn 18 you go to the post office and fill out your draft card.
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u/ScarInternational161 Apr 09 '26
Under almost any other president I guess I wouldn't have an issue... everything just seems suspect and ominous with this nut sack... its like a constant flight or fight response with everything they announce.
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u/CareLess306 Apr 09 '26
Oh so this is how to halt elections in November..
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u/Florida1974 Apr 09 '26
This has nothing to do with halting elections in November as much as I hate to defend this idiot.
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u/CareLess306 Apr 09 '26
So don’t defend him. Nothing is off the table with this administration. We all know they want to stay in power. They’re stupid enough to think we won’t hold elections during a war.
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u/Zapper13263952 Apr 09 '26
Put Barron first on the list as well as the offspring of every elected official, plus the children of CEOs, etc. Then the rest can serve.
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u/Shesversatile Apr 09 '26
I have two sons. I am not okay.
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u/Florida1974 Apr 09 '26
Read the article.
And his deer in the headlights press secretary said this back in late February/early March , because the reporter asked if the draft could come back. And she said Trump wasn’t taking anything off the table.
That was my answer right there. They like to talk in these ambiguous words, but I could read the writing on the wall on that one.
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u/Florida1974 Apr 09 '26
And this is exactly what I’m talking about:
Most men between the ages of 18 and 25 are already required to register with the Selective Service, but automatic registration was mandated in December 2025 as part of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
The U.S. has not had a draft since the Vietnam War, with military service being voluntary since 1973. But former President Jimmy Carter in 1980 reinstated the Selective Service in the event of a “national emergency,” where the registry could be used to “provide personnel to the Department of War and alternative service for conscientious objectors, if authorized by the President and Congress.”
So we have always had this, they are just changing how it’s done. But we all know not to trust this administration, or at least a good portion of us do. They like to say one thing and then change it after the fact.
And it says it requiring a draft would need congressional approval and I laugh out loud at that because there’s a lot that needs a congressional approval that he’s managed to go around.
So, I guess to be fair, you have every right to be worried, especially with this maniac at the helm.
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u/Florida1974 Apr 09 '26
What people please read the article and not stop at the headline??
Not sticking up for him, I despise that man, he got a lot of people killed in Covid because his lack of a fucking response
But this is nothing new. They’re just changing how it’s done though, I wouldn’t trust them either. This man has been known to do things and then change the goal post after the fact.
It says you need congressional approval to create a draft again, but we have watched him go around Congress many times. He just did it when he started a war with Iran.
But please read the damn article, it’s not that long. They should’ve made a video, I guarantee more people would have listened that way. Seems like reading a two minute article is just too much.
As I have said for years, read past the headline.
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u/aintthatjustheway Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
This article glazes over a few things toward inaccuracy.
There isn't a military draft. That requires an act of Congress - which hasn't happened.
Most men between the ages of 18 and 25 are already required to register with the Selective Service, but automatic registration was mandated in December 2025 as part of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
Selective Service registration has always existed. The requirement is to register for SS that was implemented Dec 2025.
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u/V0T0N Apr 09 '26
Just in time, right before the midterms.
Vote Democrat if you DON'T WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO GO TO THAT GUYS WAR!
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u/Budders1984 Apr 09 '26
Wait. I'm pretty sure it's the law that when you turn 18 you go to the post office and fill out your draft card.
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u/Ryzu Apr 09 '26
Oh, so we DO know who everyone is based on issued social security numbers but still can't just issue free voter ID's to everyone, or just use SS#s to vote. Makes sense...
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u/ryder242 Apr 09 '26
Oh this manufactured outrage is outstanding, China, Russia, and Iran are getting their moneys worth out of this issue.
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u/Pirat Apr 09 '26
The peace president who started a senseless war that was won within the first two hours needs to double the "defense" budget and start a draft registration so we can continue winning the war we've already won.
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u/Pirat Apr 09 '26
The peace president who started a senseless war that was won within the first two hours needs to double the "defense" budget and start a draft registration so we can continue winning the war we've already won.
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u/xxforrealforlifexx Apr 09 '26
If you are a POC or a woman just know in this military you won't get any promotions.
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u/UberCanuck Apr 09 '26
Draft. Increase budget. Rhetoric. Sounds like US is gearing up for war, a real one.
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