A Proposal for Universal National Service

Every young person between the ages of 18 and 21 should provide 2 years of mandatory national service. Accepted service goes beyond military service and includes civilian service like teaching, or construction, or emergency response. Everyone serves. There are no exemptions for wealth or connections, or even handicaps; service would be matched to ability, not waived. This would be good for them, good for their country, and good for the world. There are several main benefits: This duty partially offsets some of the rights citizens enjoy.Useful societal work is gained that may not be as well served in the marketplace.There is a meaningful mixing of people from diverse backgrounds, helping political unity.Kids get a gap year, in the work space, that makes them better students in higher ed.They may get training, but surely get a sense of service and accomplishment. I am an American, so I will make this argument primarily in American terms, but examples of this exist in part in other…