…when you’re polling worse than Tricky Dick:

Bush reached an unwelcome record. By 64%-31%, Americans disapprove of the job he is doing. For the first time in the history of the Gallup Poll, 50% say they “strongly disapprove” of the president. Richard Nixon had reached the previous high, 48%, just before an impeachment inquiry was launched in 1974.

With the quantity and quality of new volunteers these days not quite what the U.S. military might prefer, the idea of conscription gets bandied about fairly often. While, obviously, the lack of an actual draft means that it isn’t a particularly pressing issue, I’m sure a lot of people, especially younger ones, have given at least a little bit of thought to “dodging”. If so, they’re not alone; a recent report from the IDF says that 25% of potential conscripts there avoid military service. Eleven percent opt out for religious reasons; four percent are exempt due to criminal histories, and another four are outside the country when they turn eighteen. Of the remaining six percent or so, which includes a number of causes, officials say the majority of those excused service for psychological issues “fake” their symptoms. (Obviously, the IDF isn’t a believer in Catch 22…)

I wonder what the statistics would be for American youths conscripted today. It’s a moot point, because it’s impossible to say whether existing restrictions and exemptions would be waived in the event of a draft. If not, the rate of exemptions and deferments is likely to be much higher than 25%, even with today’s GWOT-lowered standards.

(Oh, and remember, kids; you can get anything you want, at Alice’s Restaurant…)