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Compulsory Youth Service

posted 8 years ago by BiffGG (662)
10 replies | jump to latest

Would the US be better as a nation and produce better citizens if people between ages 16 and 21 for example had to serve a certain number of hours similar to what is done in Israel? I would not limit it to military service but would make some type of peace corp an option or tutoring or volunteering at a nursing home or local clean up the environment initiative, etc.. A local board in every community could be set up to best determine how human resources are to be used and recommend hours needed to satisfy the requirement. Not so much to set a maximum but what might work well in one community might be an over-do someplace else. I would think in a lot of instances 10 hours per week for 104 weeks (2 years) would be sufficient and give a 5 year window to complete. Obviously, those with severe physical or mental limitations would be exempted.

[–] napsdufroid (2077) 8 years ago

It's an interesting idea, and God knows some younger folks could use it, but it also comes with some problems. What happens if someone refuses to show up for work, example?

[–] BiffGG (662) 8 years ago

The best you could hope for given our type of government and the nature of our youth to protest the system would be implement it with incentives to comply. Tax credits and financial incentive for education or first time home owner. It takes some of the purity out of the purpose but still would get quite a few kids out of their comfy cocoon to see how others live and how they impact the world around them.

[–] croft_alice (12180) 8 years ago

Well,it',s not a bad idea for the youngest to serve in the army.It will teach them respect and discipline.

[–] BiffGG (662) 8 years ago

I think limiting to the military in the US would lead to a manpower overload not to mention raise more security issues. To even qualify in my mind a person would need at a minimum three letters of recommendation to be eligible. There are plenty of worthy alternatives here in the US. Further, while it would a dream come true to make it compulsory that simply will not happen given the present state of politics and society. You could never hope to jail or penalize somebody for failure to comply. The best that can be done is to create incentives and peer pressure to do it. Such as somebody who successfully completes the program would have an advantage with college admissions or employment opportunities.

[–] croft_alice (12180) 8 years ago

Not only the US,here in Romania could work too.Give the youngest a choice:to time in prison or serve in the army.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 8 years ago

No, I couldn't support such a huge imposition on personal liberty and I think any such law would almost certainly be unconstitutional.

[–] napsdufroid (2077) 8 years ago

If you think about it, one could say the same thing about being drafted into the military

[–] TexasJack (12516) 8 years ago

Yes, like pretty much every law, it's certainly an imposition on liberty. But it has been ruled to be constitutional.

[–] BiffGG (662) 8 years ago

Good thing that compulsory public education came along well before the present or there would be people opposed to going or sending their kid to school for any kind of education. I would support home schooling as long as the results can be verified but how many kids and parents would fall down flat on that commitment?

People want the benefits of what was done generations ago with the peace corp and so forth but they do not want to make any commitment to see it happen. Today most people will not look beyond themselves and wonder why the world is so cold and harsh.

[–] thalia (313) 8 years ago

I would not be even able to stand.
(Thats all I really wanted to say about it).