Nothing angers up the blood like politics.

[jjcourtright]

George W. Bush Resume

Past work experience:

Ran for congress and lost.

Produced a Hollywood slasher B movie.

Bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas, company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.

Bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land using tax-payer money. Biggest move: Traded Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox.

With fathers help (and his name) was elected Governor of Texas.

Accomplishments: Changed pollution laws for power and oil companies and made Texas the most polluted state in the Union. Replaced Los Angeles with Houston as the most smog ridden city in America. Cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas government to the tune of billions in borrowed money. Set record for most executions by any Governor in American history.

Became president after losing the popular vote by over 500,000 votes, with the help of my fathers appointments to the Supreme Court.

Accomplishments as president:

Attacked and took over two countries.

Spent the surplus and bankrupted the treasury.

Shattered record for biggest annual deficit in history.

Set economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12 month period.

Set all-time record for biggest drop in the history of the stock market.

First president in decades to execute a federal prisoner.

First president in US history to enter office with a criminal record.

First year in office set the all-time record for most days on vacation by any president in US history.

After taking the entire month of August off for vacation, presided over the worst security failure in US history.

Set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips than any other president in US history.

In my first two years in office over 2 million Americans lost their job.

Cut unemployment benefits for more out of work Americans than any president in US history.

Set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12 month period.

Appointed more convicted criminals to administration positions than any president in US history.

Set the record for the least amount of press conferences than any president since the advent of television.

Signed more laws and executive orders amending the Constitution than any president in US history.

Presided over the biggest energy crises in US history and refused to intervene when corruption was revealed.

Presided over the highest gasoline prices in US history and refused to use the national reserves as past presidents have.

Cut healthcare benefits for war veterans.

Set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously take to the streets to protest me (15 million people), shattering the record for protest against any person in the history of mankind. (http://www.hyperreal.org/~dana/marches/)

Dissolved more international treaties than any president in US history.

My presidency is the most secretive and un-accountable of any in US history.

Members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in US history. (the 'poorest' multi-millionaire, Condoleeza Rice has an Chevron oil tanker named after her).

First president in US history to have all 50 states of the Union simultaneously go bankrupt.

Presided over the biggest corporate stock market fraud of any market in any country in the history of the world.

First president in US history to order a US attack and military occupation of a sovereign nation.

Created the largest government department bureaucracy in the history of the United States.

Set the all-time record for biggest annual budget spending increases, more than any president in US history.

First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the human rights commission.

First president in US history to have the United Nations remove the US from the elections monitoring board.

Removed more checks and balances, and have the least amount of congressional oversight than any presidential administration in US history.

Rendered the entire United Nations irrelevant.

Withdrew from the World Court of Law.

Refused to allow inspectors access to US prisoners of war and by default no longer abide by the Geneva Conventions.

First president in US history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 US elections).

All-time US (and world) record holder for most corporate campaign donations.

My biggest life-time campaign contributor presided over one of the largest corporate bankruptcy frauds in world history (Kenneth Lay, former CEO of Enron Corporation).

Spent more money on polls and focus groups than any president in US history.

First president in US history to unilaterally attack a sovereign nation against the will of the United Nations and the world community.

First president to run and hide when the US came under attack (and then lied saying the enemy had the code to Air Force 1)

First US president to establish a secret shadow government.

Took the biggest world sympathy for the US after 911, and in less than a year made the US the most resented country in the world (possibly the biggest diplomatic failure in US and world history).

With a policy of 'dis-engagement' created the most hostile Israeli-Palestine relations in at least 30 years.

Fist US president in history to have a majority of the people of Europe (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and stability.

First US president in history to have the people of South Korea more threatened by the US than their immediate neighbor, North Korea.

Changed US policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.

Set all-time record for number of administration appointees who violated US law by not selling huge investments in corporations bidding for government contracts.

Failed to fulfill my pledge to get Osama Bin Laden 'dead or alive'.

Failed to capture the anthrax killer who tried to murder the leaders of our country at the United States Capitol building. After 18 months I have no leads and zero suspects.

In the 18 months following the 911 attacks I have successfully prevented any public investigation into the biggest security failure in the history of the United States.

Removed more freedoms and civil liberties for Americans than any other president in US history.

In a little over two years created the most divided country in decades, possibly the most divided the US has ever been since the civil war.

Entered office with the strongest economy in US history and in less than two years turned every single economic category heading straight down.

Records and References:

At least one conviction for drunk driving in Maine (Texas driving record has been erased and is not available).

AWOL from National Guard and Deserted the military during a time of war.

Refuse to take drug test or even answer any questions about drug use.

All records of my tenure as governor of Texas have been spirited away to my fathers library, sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.

All records of any SEC investigations into my insider trading or bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.

All minutes of meetings for any public corporation I served on the board are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public view.

Any records or minutes from meetings I (or my VP) attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and un-available for public review.

For personal references please speak to my daddy or uncle James Baker (They can be reached at their offices of the Carlyle Group for war-profiteering.)

[Razorback]

Reading that is like reading those conspiracy sites. You could probably do the same thing for every President and find a whole chunk of wrong in them.

RB

[DarthMaulRat]

Are you going to cite which website you got that from or are you just a really angry person with an encyclopedic memory?

Still, the list made me laugh a few times, but it didn't get me all angered up. Fighting over politics doesn't intrest me all that much unless it affects me directly. Of course with the wars going and me being 18 year old draft-bait, I should be a little more concerned.

[jjcourtright]

I have been saving those up until I had enough to make a Dubya resume....Actually they came from Buzzflash (http://www.buzzflash.com) It seems to be a crazy left-winger website. I consider myself to be a moderately crazy left-winger, but nothing like these guys.

[DarthMaulRat]

Ah, I know what you mean. I've always done a thing similar to Critical Mess where I'd go to RottenTomatoes.com and cut and paste all of the funny lines from reviews of bad movies and print them out on a page. They're all hanging next to my computer. I can just look at a couple quotes and it always gets me to laugh. It helps brighten up days better than some generic Ziggy poster.

[Ryall]

"Reading that is like reading those conspiracy sites. You could probably do the same thing for every President and find a whole chunk of wrong in them.:

You could probably do the same for everyone who contributes to this site, too.

[Razorback]

Exactly. I would hate to see mine. /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

RB

[JIM]

Uh-huh...
Okely-dokely!
Why not blame him for the lindburgh baby case too?
Everyone of our presidents have mucked-up in one way or another, like Clinton was any better? Look at all of the "under the table" deals he made, he's just as bad. *cough* whitewater*cough*
I'm not exactly crazy about Bush either, but I like some of his policies. I'm happy we have him as our president during these times of war. I guess "Don't mess with Texas" is a tenet to him
To "in between the lines" blame him for 9/11 while he was on vacation, is a bit uninformed. That problem started a looooong time ago.
Just so you know, I'm not a Democrat, Republican, or any other so-called political group member.
I am an American.

[Razorback]

Don't use too much logic here. It is meant to bash Bush, not use common sense.

RB

[DangerSeeker]

I can't really be glad that he's our leader in this time of war, because if he wasn't our leader I doubt we'd be at war. It's like saying you're glad you're in a burning building with an arsonist because they really know a lot about fire.

[jjcourtright]

Or being in a pool with a pearl diver.

Wait, that doesn't work.

[DangerSeeker]

"Or being in a pool with a pearl diver."

For some reason I now have "Sunshine Superman" stuck in my head.

[Outer1]

I agree with Danger here Jim it's hard to say
</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I'm happy we have him as our president during these times of war.

[/ QUOTE ] when I would be just as happy (read much much happier) with a different president not in a tome of war, because they didn't decide to start one.

Also saying that "other presidents have done bad things too" is kind of pointless. What a president gets noticed for is what he does that directly affects the average citizens life. Sure Clinton probably did a lot things under the table, but he got away with them because people had jobs and places to live and the ecomony was booming. I live in a city that used to be among the top 10 for lowest unemployment rates while Clinton was in office, to one of the highest unemployment rates with Bush. The only thing I doubted him for was why in the hell he picked Monica. Surely there were better looking women working at the white house. Hmmm just makes me want my Clinton back. I wonder if George Clinton is busy maybe he can run for office /forums/images/icons/grin.gif .

[Razorback]

We would be at war with any person as President. Gore, Clinton, Posada, Mike Piazza... whatever. If you believe otherwise then you are living in a fantasy world.

RB

[Corleone]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
We would be at war with any person as President. Gore, Clinton, Posada, Mike Piazza... whatever. If you believe otherwise then you are living in a fantasy world.



[/ QUOTE ]
Couldn't disagree more Razorback. Its seems to me the Iraq was a pointless exercise that had been in planning for years with no other motivation other than keeping a foothold in the Arab world and thereby maintaining US political hegemony by control of the worlds energy resources.

What other reasons are there?

Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and could sell them to terrorists.

This problem was being solved. Weapons Inspectors were in Iraq and finally Iraq was beginning to cooperate. According to UN resoution 1441 military intervention was only acceptable in Iraq after every other means of disarmament had been tried and failed. This didn't happen. Why couldn't the US and UK have waited even the requested thirty days before launching there attacks. Knowing this and seeing Bush constantly coming out and saying that diplomacy had failed makes my blood boil. He didn't give it enough of a chance the moth brain. He was itching to go to war and get it over with before the start of his campaign for the next elections. What does that chicken shit draft-dodger know about war.

Saddam Hussein had been safely contained for over a decade. He was no trouble to the US. He may have been a marginal trouble to his Arab neighbours, presumably they could've handled him if they felt it necessary. There is absolutely no evidence that he had any connection with 9/11 and to presume he did is illogical since Saddam and bin Laden hate each other.

What really gets me is the way that Bush has been attacking the French and the other countries that came out against the war. Like America never uses its vetoe. Throughout the history of the UN, America has consistently vetoed any resolution or declaration that did not reflect US priorities or business interests. The US has regulary found itself - often alone, sometimes joined by one or two other countries - standing in opposition to the General Assembly resolutions aimed at furthering human rights, peace, nuclear disarmament, economic justice, the struggle against South African apartheid and Israeli lawlessness and other progressive causes. This despite the fact that the US did not pay its UN dues for decades. When it finally agreed to pay past dues in return for a reduction in its assessments, it refused to fulfil the promise.The US has consistently opposed the important human rights initiatives of the United Nations. It is one of only two countries - the other being Iraq - that has still not ratified the 1989 landmark UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. It also held back ratifications on the treaty to ban landmines and the treaty to establish and International Criminal Court. In 1982 and 1983 the US was alone in voting against a declaration that education, work, healthcare, proper nourishment and national development are human rights. It would appear that even thirteen years later, official American attitudes had not softened. In 1996, at a UN sponsored World Food Summit, the US took issue with an affirmation by the summit of the 'right of everyone to have access to safe and nutritious food'. The United States insisted that it did not recognise a 'right to food'. For the people of developing nations these rights - set out and championed by the global community as global norms - are part of their defence against tyranny, corruption and injustice practised within their nations and by agencies and corporations from foreign nations.

With that in mind the thought that the Iraqi war was fought for humanitarian causes is laughable. Bush even lied to get the war under way. He said that he had evidence that Iraq was going nuclear, but Hans Blicks said that the evidence he received from 'western intelligence agencies' (I don't think he specified which ones) had been faked. Something about a bogus contract to import nuclear weapons from an African country. The particular one escapes me, I haven't the information to hand. Rumsfeld said that he had 'bulletroof evidence' that Iraq had colluded in the 9/11 attacks, this also proved to be false. I don't recall anyone even whispering the word impeachment. I guess those lies aren't as a serious as the earth shattering whopper: 'I did not have sexual relations with that woman'.

I know that I'll probably reap the whirlwind for this post but I had to get it of my chest

P.S.
America rules!!!

[JIM]

To all of you nay-sayers out there...
I am all for pre-emptive strikes against all of our foes(short of nuclear).
Clinton made a couple of cruise missle strikes to destroy some Al-Qeida training camps, nothing more. Bin-laden had already declared his Jihad, stating he wanted to end the lives of Americans here at home and abroad. He was not killed, and his network kept intact.
Remember the U.S.S. Cole? He was able to have his minions take out the WORLD TRADE CENTER, damage the Pentagon(killed some people there too), and kill everyone who crashed in Pennsylvania.
I had a very personal connection with the WTC, I'll be dammed if anyone, or any country will go unpunished for this act. Hussein has been linked in a ton of ways to many, many terrorist networks. He funded them and allowed them to set up training camps in Iraq. Evidence is there, What don't you understand about that?
Yes, we made some very bad deals with the wrong people in the past, that has to change.
Sometimes you have to get at the tumor before it spreads as a cancer throught the body, Bin-laden, Hussein, etc. are malignancies that have to be eradicated.
How many people pissed and moaned that we did'nt do enough to stop the WTC attacks from happening? Yet, these are the same people who don't want any millitary action to prevent anything. Sometimes you can't "talk it out" like some people in this world believe.
There have been so many times in history where we could have done something sooner, 1933 Germany ring a bell? Tibet? the former Yugoslavia? Grumble, grumble...
The League of Nations, Whoops! I meant the U.N. and it's inspections? HAH! A very sad joke...
If you believe the U.N. .... I've got a bridge for sale too. Want to buy it?
Today the U.N. in it's vast wisdom granted CUBA a seat on the human rights commision!? Are you frickin kidding me!? Besides the fact that china is on the security council, and has gotten back "most favored trade status" over here...
Hey, we are not perfect, but we are much better off than many other countries. It's one of the reasons everyone comes here to live, work, and learn. We're working on it, we are after all an experiment in freedom.
I have family and friends who came from some VERY bad parts of the world. Most of us here have no clue as to what it's like to not be able to say what you want to say, and do what you want to do.
I would love to see the Iraqis have a democracy, to be able to live in freedom, to make their own choices in life without some dictator breathing down their necks. It should be that way for all.

By the way, we did'nt "start" anything.
We're just finishing it, that's all...

[Razorback]

You can disagree all you want but both Clinton and Gore wanted to attack Iraq years ago. They would have found an excuse to attack it now (in fact, Clinton was more than supportive of the war in Iraq though he was not supportive of the negative UN issue).

Reality is clearer than some anti-Bush vision of the issues.

RB

[apollolove]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
Bush even lied to get the war under way. He said that he had evidence that Iraq was going nuclear, but Hans Blicks said that the evidence he received from 'western intelligence agencies' (I don't think he specified which ones) had been faked. Something about a bogus contract to import nuclear weapons from an African country. The particular one escapes me, I haven't the information to hand. Rumsfeld said that he had 'bulletroof evidence' that Iraq had colluded in the 9/11 attacks, this also proved to be false.

[/ QUOTE ]

if you believe that Hans Blicks had anywhere near the amount of evidence and information from intelligence agencies as the president and rumsfeld had then you are living in a dream world.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I had a very personal connection with the WTC, I'll be dammed if anyone, or any country will go unpunished for this act. Hussein has been linked in a ton of ways to many, many terrorist networks. He funded them and allowed them to set up training camps in Iraq. Evidence is there, What don't you understand about that?

[/ QUOTE ]

i agree with you comepletely with you comepletely about this. well, except for one thing. Corleone said nothing about who saddam does support. he said that </font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
There is absolutely no evidence that he had any connection with 9/11 and to presume he did is illogical since Saddam and bin Laden hate each other.


[/ QUOTE ]

we all know that saddam supports terrorists, but not necessarily the ones that blew up the WTC. and finally....

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I would love to see the Iraqis have a democracy, to be able to live in freedom, to make their own choices in life without some dictator breathing down their necks. It should be that way for all.


[/ QUOTE ]

i'll believe it when i see it.

of course this post is coming from someone who didn't read the whole first post. i got about halfway through it and then got bored so just read the responses /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

[Razorback]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
of course this post is coming from someone who didn't read the whole first post. i got about halfway through it and then got bored so just read the responses

[/ QUOTE ]

Hehehehe... /forums/images/icons/grin.gif

RB

[DangerSeeker]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
if you believe that Hans Blicks had anywhere near the amount of evidence and information from intelligence agencies as the president and rumsfeld had then you are living in a dream world.


[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not arguing living in a dream world, but the only reason they might have had more information is because either they made it up, they uncovered it through illegal means, or are responsible for it. How could we be so sure, despite evidence to the contrary, that they had WoMD? Becuase they got them from us in some shady deal we can't admit to, which sucks when we know, ooh, we have model numbers and receipts and now I'm getting silly.

The point is, if we had information and evidence but were completely unwilling to share it, there had to be a reason. Whatever that reason, it makes me distrust this administration more than I already did.

[Razorback]

You just have an agenda against the administration. You are a conspiracy theorist against republicans and more specifically, GW Bush.

In fact, they got their WMD's through shady deals with France and Russia... and that was allowed to happen under the watch of Bill Clinton's administration. The obvious truth of all of this is that Clinton's administration failed in many ways and helped produce not only Iraqi's static stance against the UN but also the development of al-Qaeda.

Now I am not some Clinton basher and I think a large part of his administrations failure was brought on by the republican witch hunt (which was more hurtful to the country than Clinton lying about ANYTHING). I am just pointing out the reality of this situation. So if you are going to take some shots aim them at the right people. There were three major terrorist attacks against the US before 9/11 and the US did virtually nothing about it. During that time Iraq tried to have former President Bush assassinated in Kuwait and all we did was drop a few bombs.

During the Clinton administration we showed great weakness and it was the impetus to al-Qaeda's belief that a large attack on the homeland would push us out of Saudi Arabia (and even the middle-east). If you don't believe that go to the PBS Frontline site and do a search on bin-Laden interviews and you will find a few (uncut) where he says just that (it's long but if you want the truth sit through it all).

I know that it is fun to bash republicans and Dubya specifically but at least don't lie to yourself. The real corruption of the government happened during the last administration... if this one is covering up anything it is the wrong-doings of the last.

Where I will agree with you is that Dubya attacked Iraq for reasons other than WMD's and/or freeing the Iraqi people. I have said this before, we went in to give a message of power to that region. That region respects power. They now fear the US again (where they had lost that fear in the 90's). You can disagree with the ideology of instilling fear in that region but it is effective. That is why the anti-war people were way off the mark when they were saying that this would create more enemies. Doing nothing would have done that... in fact, that is what happened in 1993 in Mogadishu. After "Black Hawk Down" al-Qaeda believed that by killing a few Americans they could do to the US what they did to the Russians in Afghanistan. This is all information that you can find for yourself on that PBS Frontline site (or by picking up a book sometimes instead of getting your shitty information from friends, neighbors and NPR etc).

RB

[apollolove]

well, having worked in military intelligence and also presently working in a building with no windows, i like to think i may sorta know what i'm talking about.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
The point is, if we had information and evidence but were completely unwilling to share it, there had to be a reason. Whatever that reason, it makes me distrust this administration more than I already did.


[/ QUOTE ]

the reason is that we have to protect our sources. if the president told exactly what he knew, then the intelligence people who are actually there would be put at risk. the enemy intelligence may be able to determine where we got the information from and then we would no longer have that source.

i'm not saying that i comepletely agree with what the president is doing, but i'm also not saying that i comepletely disagree. i don't know enough about what is going on to form an opinion. i've just been hoping that our forces that are over there come back safely. but what do i know? /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

[DangerSeeker]

I can understand the need for protecting sources, especially not revealing it publicly, but what concerned me was that we weren't showing to anybody, and when pressed couldn't prove some of our claims, and had others blatantly disproven. If nothing else, a bluff was called.

I certainly don't claim that this administration is the root of it all, nor the last, nor yada yada. I think things have been questionable since the get-go. Start with the treatment of this continent's natives, then move up. Every country has success and failure, sure, but many people turna blind eye to the missteps we've made. I was raised to doubt and question in order to learn and grow.

That being said, I know i don't know it all, and often make bold or irrational or crackpot statements. Like Qixote looking at windmills and thinking they might be giants, or a scientist looking at mold and thinking it might be medicine, I try and think or thing not considered. Sometimes I've been way off the mark. Sometimes I've been dead on.

During the election hullabaloo, as it was really just starting, I saw some string of commercials that clicked in a weird way and made a $5 bet with my father that we'd go back to war with Iraq within 2 years. I was a tad off, but I still pretty much won.

I do look for answers, but I find I get the most satisfaction out of questioning myself and others. I can shoot holes in many of my own theories, but until I do I don't see it from all angles. So I'm not just an anti-Bush or anti-republican conspiracy theorist. I cover all bases. I just concentrate on the word theory, so I don't wind up with foil on my head.

[Razorback]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
I do look for answers, but I find I get the most satisfaction out of questioning myself and others. I can shoot holes in many of my own theories, but until I do I don't see it from all angles.

[/ QUOTE ]

But like most people you don't theorize or shoot holes with facts... you do so with equivocation. I would just like to see people argue from authority and not from a position of ad hominem.

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
So I'm not just an anti-Bush or anti-republican conspiracy theorist. I cover all bases. I just concentrate on the word theory, so I don't wind up with foil on my head.

[/ QUOTE ]

Theory is nice... facts are better. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

RB

[DangerSeeker]

Facts may be better for you, but I try and maintain a creative mind. Many of my stories have developed from completely loopy "What ifs?" I like to flex that part of my brain. The theory is what's important.

As for having all facts and figures in every post (or, okay, any) If I was writing an article or paper I'd cite everything, but being a discussion board I think it's more interesting to just toss s**t out there and see what people have to say. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind, just keep 'em working, for or against me.

Interaction, not victory is interesting to me. I wonder if your 1000 post goal is for a victory or for the feeling of belonging, being a part of this board. Either one works, just curious. Oh, and I know it's really reacting to a wise-ass rule from EIC CR. We'll see if he Logan Run's ya, then get verbally economical accordingly.

In other news, my 100th post! Huzzah! 1/10th the way to Oblivion!

[Razorback]

I believe that a majority of democrats also base their political opinions on creative thinking. /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

RB

[apollolove]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
How could we be so sure, despite evidence to the contrary, that they had WoMD?

[/ QUOTE ]

this is going to make me look stupid, but what is WoMD? i have no idea

[Razorback]

"WMD" or Weapons of Mass Destruction. Nukes, bio, chemical, super-explosives... you know.

RB

[apollolove]

ahh...so i do look stupid...nothing out of the ordinairy for me

[DangerSeeker]

You feel stupid? I thought it was Warwick Micheal Davis! My whole argument was, if he wants to be there, let him be there. After those Star Wars movies, maybe he liked the desert. I take it all back. /forums/images/icons/tongue.gif

[Razorback]

Now I am confused.

RB

[DangerSeeker]

I'm being stupid right now. I skipped lunch in favor of more Diet Coke and Cigarettes, and the lack of food combined with the NutraSweet and nicotine has made my synapses very unstable. Unstable like a fox!

[Razorback]

Ahhh... it is all much clearer now. Well, not really but I think I understand.

RB

[apollolove]

i have no idea what you mean. i know who warwick davis is, but who wants to be where? and who wants to be in the dessert? i'll have a banana split please.

[Outer1]

Dangerseeker that was the funniest damn thing I've seen in a long time. I have never seen a heated argument get cooled off quite so quickly before.

I do however have a serious question in regard to:

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
What does that chicken shit draft-dodger know about war.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why does the term draft-dodger have such negative connotations in this country. I hold no ill regard for people that did not believe that this was a suitable thing to do. To make a person serve in any countries military against their will is barbaric. The US has a huge military force, and if it comes to the point that you have to legally demand that citizens sign up it means one of two things. Either enough people in your country don't agree with what you are fighting about, or you've been fighting for too long....and you're losing. I think the mandatory draft is one of the worst things this country has ever dreamed up, and if someone doesn't agree with it, and found a way out of it....then more power to them!

Also why do people regard the US as the only suitable free country. People talk about it as the land of the free, as though it's the only country in the world that is tolerable to live in. People act like the rest of world live in countries where you are stoned to death for expressing an opinion. Yes those kinds of places do exist, but are no longer the majority. But the US is less free than some would have you believe; refer to the above draft rant. I could just as easily live in many other countries.