With protests rounding the globe in solidarity against the war in Iran, people are trying all sorts of methods to express their message. On top of that, Karoline Leavitt has stated that President Trump hasn’t taken the draft off the table. Rightly so, people went to social media to share their resistance to the idea. One Illinois content creator and musician even went as far as to suggest that you should just be a draft-dodger.
Ben (TikTok/that_ben_guy) starts off his TikTok video by sharing the penalties for dodging a draft: “Five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.” Rather than be bothered by that consequence, Ben says, “If they try to do a draft, don’t go” and instead suggests you should “make them come get you.” And best case scenario, you get a pardon from a future president.
But even putting that aside, Ben argues there’s no way anyone would “comply” with a draft anyway. He notes that “tens of thousands” would have to be prosecuted, which sounds like a massive undertaking that would waste money. Americans just don’t have a favorable view of war!
Ben continues, stating no one should give sacrifice themselves if no one from the Trump family will. “These people are fucking useless. The Trump family adds nothing to this country.” Ben even includes politicians that allow this war to continue. “Let them go fight their own wars for a change. Stay home. Couple years in prison. Pay a fine,” he says. Dealing with the court system is far better than being forced to kill someone.
How People Were Reacting to Ben’s Protest Strategy
One woman in the comments joked that although she didn’t “have a son,” but even if she did, he’d have “bone spurs and a heart condition.” After all, President Trump claimed bone spurs were why he was able to dodge the Vietnam War draft. Another commenter wrote, flat-out resisting the idea that any of her kids, who are all of “draft age,” of going to war. “They are not going. Period.”
One TikTok user wrote of their “growing debt” which has led to living “paycheck to paycheck.” To the U.S. government getting any of their money before then, they said, “Good luck getting that $250k.” Another commenter shared a similar sentiment, saying, “Just add it to my college tuition tab lol.” So, we might as well be in debt the rest of our lives, right?
Many commenters shared serious answers, noting that their mental illness alone would exempt them, anyway. Some even went as far as to say they’d ‘frag’ someone if they were drafted. In other words, few people were in favor of a draft. Go figure!
