Mandatory national service = citizenship? Your thoughts?

[mckitterick]

Re: this:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=5834001&content_dir=ua_congressorg

and this:
http://snopes.com/politics/military/draft.asp

Y'know, I would have no problem with requiring two years of national service right after high school of anyone who wishes to be an American citizen. Remember Heinlein? Sorta like that. But I disagree with Heinlein and others that it must be military service. In fact, that would counter the notion that this is good for America, because people would be force to do something they might be morally opposed to and cause protests.

However, most people (yes, most) right outta high school (or new to the country and seeking citizenship) ought to spend some time doing good for their country. Two years of paid volunteerism, seeing how the bottom half lives while becoming part of the country and learning who they are: That seems like a good idea.

If this resolution spelled out that the individual could pick their path (community projects, working with the homeless, cleaning up industrial spills, you name it), then I would support it! Honestly, how many kids are ready for college at 17 or 18? But I, for one, would have fought being forced into the military; heck, I would have bitched about having to do other service, but then kids of that age bitch just on principle.

How about you? Would you support mandatory national service where the hopeful citizen would be able to choose their path? A true rite of passage to citizenship. I predict it would increase the percentage of voters, too.

Chris

Comments

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

Heinlein was against conscription, as he stated in the Guest of Honor speech at the XIXth World Science Fiction Convention:

"I also think there are prices too high to pay to save the United States. Conscription is one of them. Conscription is slavery, and I don't think that any people or nation has a right to save itself at the price of slavery for anyone, no matter what name it is called. We have had the draft for twenty years now; I think this is shameful. If a country can't save itself through the volunteer service of its own free people, then I say: Let the damned thing go down the drain!" [Heinlein 1961:245]

--------------------------------------------
In the book itself... Fleet Sergeant Ho states,

"But if you want to serve and I can't talk you out of it, then we have to take you, because that's your constitutional right. It says that everybody, male or female, should have his born right to pay his service and assume full citizenship -- but the facts are that we are getting hard pushed to find things for all the volunteers to do that aren't just glorified KP. You can't all be real military men; we don't need that many and most of the volunteers aren't number-one soldier material anyhow...[W]e've had to think up a whole list of dirty, nasty, dangerous jobs that will...at the very least make them remember for the rest of their lives that their citizenship is valuable to them because they've paid a high price for it...A term of service is...either real military service, rough and dangerous even in peacetime...or a most unreasonable facsimile thereof." [Heinlein 1959:p.29-30]

I read that to say that Heinlein was pushing for two years of national service, if you wanted those Rights.

I would support that mandatory national service, as long as it included some protections for those involved. i.e. Debts suspended while involved, to resume upon departure.
There are a number of things that can't be left alone for two years easily.

Some Heinlein sourcing from http://www.kentaurus.com/troopers.htm
An excellent analysis of STroopers.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Remember, My PlatformTM is not conscription but a path to citizenship. If kids choose not to serve their country, they just don't get the vote (or, as saycestsay suggests, Social Security). This is an out that a lot of Vietnam-era kids would have chosen, I bet, and imagine if Dubya had opted out of full citizenship... no Dubya in the White House... can't be a politician if you can't vote.

So I agree with Heinlein. In fact, I've though about starting a new political party. You know, The Dead Heinleins or something. Platforms being that you must serve to earn full citizenship and that we primarily deal (nationally) with policy that positively affects society for at least three generations into the future. That would preclude stupid crap like drilling in Alaska, allowing rainforests to be destroyed, and on and on while supporting development of alternative fuels, promoting space development, and so on.

I whole-heartedly agree: Give those who serve benies that make it worth staying in the service. As I wrote in another reply, at least as good as the current military gets, plus a lifetime-service path with raises in salary and rank to retain those who really love the work.

Chris