Registering for the Draft

By:  David Deschesne

Editor/Publisher, Fort Fairfield Journal

October 28, 2015

   While forced involuntary servitude was supposedly ended after the so-called “Civil War,” slavery remains in full effect today under the guise of the Selective Service system.  Using fear, intimidation and coercion, the U.S. government has the ability to compel involuntary servitude from its citizenry to fight in its military against their will.

   The U.S. Military does not protect the freedoms of the United States.  There are precious few freedoms left to protect, anyway.  The stated mission of the U.S. military today is to “protect U.S. interests.”  U.S. interests are business interests.  Expanded further, it’s okay to say the U.S. military exists to protect oil companies and their investments in dangerous foreign lands.  The military also has been used to secure prime opium and heroin drug routes in southeast Asia as far back as the Vietnam War.  These drug routes are protected on behalf of the C.I.A. which receives a large portion of its off the books funding from the revenues derived from the illegal drug trade.  More recently, the U.S. Marines carried out protection services for the poppy fields in Afghanistan.  The poppy flower is the source of morphine base which is synthesized into opium and heroin by the C.I.A. then sold illegally in the U.S.

   While the government requires all males over 18 years of age to register their name for Selective Service, and can compel them to appear before a draft board in the event “U.S. interests” need to be protected for the multi-national corporations who control the U.S. government, they cannot compel the signing of an enlistment contract.

   All agreements in the United States, where two parties come together and agree to certain terms and conditions of a bargain, are governed by the Uniform Commercial Code.  The Uniform Commercial Code is essentially the law of contracts and provides the basis for all contracts and the enforcement thereof.

   Upon arriving at a draft board, potential enlistees are asked to raise their right hand and take the oath to enter the military.  An oath is a voluntary act and cannot be compelled.  Likewise, the enlistment contract that they have to sign is a contract just like any other.  They are agreeing to provide a service to the corporate U.S. government in exchange for a military rank and pay check.

   The problem is, the enlistment contract is a contract and contracts cannot be compelled under duress or else they are void. 

   A contract entered into under duress is not legally enforceable.  “Assent to the terms of a contract is not genuine if one of the parties is forced into the agreement.  Recognizing this, the courts  allow that party to rescind the contract.  Forcing a party to enter into a contract because of the fear created by threats is legally defined as duress.  In addition, blackmail or extortion to induce consent to contract constitutes duress.  Duress is both a defense to the enforcement of a contract and a ground for recession, or cancellation, of a contract.  Therefore, the party upon whom the duress is exerted can choose to carry out the contract or avoid the entire transaction.” (see Fundamentals of Business Law, ©1996 West Publishing, pp. 191-192)

  Put simply, if I brandish a firearm and point it at you, then threaten to either shoot you or imprison you in my basement if you don’t sign a contract requiring you to mow my lawn every week through the summer for $10 per week, that contract would be illegal and unenforceable.

   Likewise, the U.S. military’s enlistment contract is equally unenforceable if the recruiting officer issues threats and coercion against a person in order to induce them into signing it.  Threats of fines or jail time are in fact coercive elements that constitute duress and even if the contract is signed, it becomes unenforceable.  But, it’s best not to sign it in the first place if under duress.

   The reason so many people showed up and signed the enlistment contracts in the last draft during the Vietnam War is they were not made aware of their rights and had no formal training in contract law.  Since the same government that seeks to compel involuntary servitude from the citizenry is also the one charged with providing their education, it only stands to reason that school children have never been taught the rules, contract law and how to properly relate to the government when entering—or being forced to enter into—contracts with it.

   Now, it is true that those males who do not sign up for Selective Service will not be able to receive Federally guaranteed student loans or Federal grants.  But, that is the Federal government’s prerogative and yet another contract offer.  The Feds offer those “benefits” in exchange for the 18 year old male signing up for Selective Service.  If he doesn’t want those benefits then he shouldn’t sign the contract.

   With the U.S. government considering requiring all women 18 years of age and older to sign up for Selective Service it is more important than ever for our children to learn even the basics of contract law as codified in the Uniform Commercial Code not only to protect themselves from unconscionable adhesion contracts with the government, but also to provide a frame of reference for entering into any contract with any person or company throughout their adult life.

   Ignorance of the law of contracts has been exploited by the U.S. government, banks and credit card companies for years, making people literal slaves of the system because they do not understand the rules of the game.

   When in doubt, upon placing your signature on any piece of paper, contract or agreement, always write the words, “Without Prejudice” or “All Rights Reserved” along with your signature in order to preserve your rights over and above the terms of the contract.  If somebody is threatening you with jail time if you don’t sign their contract or agreement, you probably shouldn’t sign at all.  If you are jailed, then you at least have the basis for a fraudulent contract and unlawful imprisonment lawsuit.

   Knowledge is power.  Know your rights, know the rules and stop letting the government exploit and take advantage of you and your family.