Veterans for Peace post 5888 are currently running an informational table in front of the Vets Hall in downtown Santa Cruz to bring awareness to twin bills S. 89 & H.R.163 quietly pending legislation to start the draft as early as spring 2005.

$28 million has been added to the 2004 Selective Service System (SSS) budget to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. Selective Service must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation. For more information, see the SSS annual performance plan for fiscal year 2004.

Dodging the draft will be more difficult than during the Vietnam era.

College and Canada will not be options. In December 2001, Canada and the U.S. signed a "smart border declaration," which could be used to keep would-be draft dodgers in. Signed by Canada's minister of foreign affairs, John Manley, and U.S. Homeland Security director, Tom Ridge, the declaration involves a 30-point plan which implements, among other things, a "pre-clearance agreement" of people entering and departing each country. Reforms aimed at making the draft more equitable along gender and class lines also eliminates higher education as a shelter. Underclassmen would only be able to postpone service until the end of their current semester. Seniors would have until the end of the academic year.

Audio: Interview with Veteran working the table in Santa Cruz. ( 1.3 megabytes / 3:28 minutes )
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