| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/5/2005 3:55:01 PM | While I do not see a draft coming anytime soon (see draft thread), I have thought a lot about the idea of a mandatory service requirement. The Peace Corps, the military, Habitat for Humanity, or other ways (TBD). In return for a 2? year committment they get college tuition paid for at a state university (to keep costs down).
I know this would be difficult to do, but I think it would be good for the nation. 1) Manpower for various needful projects (plant trees, etc), 2) a great "life" experience for youth, broadening their perspectives, 3) help instill a sense of national responsibility that will last for life (hopefully), 4) bring folks together (all races, creeds, etc working together), et al. This last one is the most important, given the strife we see today.
We could even set it up that they get some vocational training, like getting their LPN while working in hospitals, electrical or plumbing certificate in maintenance, etc.
Comments???????????
MajMike | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/5/2005 8:53:12 PM | MajMike: I don't like the idea of a mandatory service requirement. It's too easy to turn into a military draft.. BUT, I would like to see a voluntary service program where college tuition or something like could be offered in return for service. It would keep our workforce educated, promote good will abroad and possibly help our nation recover from the terrible damage done to our international relations lately.
I'd be WAY for that! | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/5/2005 10:57:36 PM | .
I actually like the idea. I enlisted. It gives you a sense of pride for your country. Many European countries have that requirement. I think all countries should.
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/5/2005 11:10:18 PM | | Mike College life is stressful enough for any serious student that a program like this would counter productive if it were mandatory. Beyond that what incentive would there be for the young people that chose not to enter college or is this a program that would college students in order to punish them for taking this path after graduation. | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/5/2005 11:42:18 PM | elwood wrote:
BUT, I would like to see a voluntary service program where college tuition or something like could be offered in return for service.
the military offers this already... i remember sitting in my senior classes and trying to be drafted into the military "we'll pay you for your cellege, you get training and education, blah blah blah". you'll have to look up the specific details on it though.
and some high schools have already added this kind of thing to their ciriculum (sp?). some places you must have at least 50 hours of community service to graduate. some colleges actually require (if i remember right) to get into school. others have made it one of those things that definatley helps you get in but won't make it an official requirement....
perhaps offering an icecream cone and a topping of choice would be sufficiant :) | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/5/2005 11:50:15 PM | flipping the switch:
if you required every student to have community service then wouldn't that lead to less jobs? because businesses would find this as an opportunity for a 'free' workforce (depending on the business). if you think about how many students there are in the US, it would be VERY hard to find enough community service.
just a thought.
*edit*
compare the number of high school students to the number of openings for a state college. even if you include community colleges... not enough. add tech school... still not enough. some schools (college level) need the money that the students pay. who would pay for the college tuition? the government? no way they could afford it. | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 8:07:49 AM | Evil Princess
Yes, the idea was about something like this for the US.
spiff
I know about the tuition assistance for the military, I was talking about extending that to other service programs like the Peace Corp, etc.
About the jobs thing, I'm not sure. But, if demand for college classes went up that could be dealt with. As far as the cost goes, I would rather pay taxes to educate someone that to incarcerate them, and (hopefully) these programs would reduce the number of young folks in jail. I think it would because it gives them something to do. But, I could be wrong.
MajMike | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 2:23:47 PM |
But, if demand for college classes went up that could be dealt with.
if you offered free college tution then you would have a HUGE increase in people going to college. state colleges are full as it is. most of these school are very strict of who they let in. there's no way to deal with number of high school graduates and getting them in a state college. it's statistically impossible.
i mean, ya, it would be a hell of a thing to see more people going to college, but there's no way this idea would work out. community service is already a requirement for some ploaces and there are grants out there for things like that.
i totally agree with you that this would be a great idea, but as i said, when you add up the numbers, it's impossible. there's no way people could afford the taxes your asking for. | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 3:09:56 PM | [the military offers this already... i remember sitting in my senior classes and trying to be drafted into the military "we'll pay you for your cellege, you get training and education, blah blah blah". you'll have to look up the specific details on it though.]
Yeah... you can get into the military and get college tuition, but why not other types of national service, like MajMike says... Peace Corps? things like that? | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 3:52:14 PM | | mike, i find your theory to be very naive. for something like that to actually work, you would have to solve many of society's problems first. take teen pregnancy, and the stats on how many are parents before the get out of high school. don't want to hear any of that abstinence bs either, as anyone with half a brain should have seen by now that that doesn't work. can these young parents take two years off from their children to run off to the peace corps? what about the poor families who depend on the income from a recent graduate to stay afloat? the list goes on. you are living in a fantasy world, dude. i would support something like that on a voluntary basis, but that'll never happen. just because you have the money doesn't mean you qualify to get into any schools. | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 3:57:41 PM | .
I can just see it now. Every one is Enlisted int the Peace Corps and the United States gets Attacked and we only have one person in the Military.
El Wood, El Wood, El Wood
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 3:59:21 PM | | Elwood, for some reason the Peace Corps is geared towards wanting college students, or people with college degrees already. The application to enlist in the Corps is heavily college-oriented, you even have to write a paper on why you think they should take you. At least, back in '01 it was like that, I can't imagine it's changed much. | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 4:12:02 PM | Good facts Bulldog...
Still, with all the national and international emergencies, one wonders if there could be an international emergency response team developed.
My thought.... as many Americans before me have thought; is that organizations like this are a much better tool for US political and economic interests than just the US military. In fact, it gives the US military many advantages in intelligence and other facets of international cooperation to take a leading role in such organizations... | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 4:14:07 PM | | I see mr simple is playing out a little fantasy with himself *hehehee* ^ have fun dude... this is the USA... nobody's gonna stop ya... except maybe the Patriot act... | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 5:56:57 PM | sidheanwwyn
Maybe it is naive, the thread is just a 'floater', where one floats an idea out for comment.
If something like this were to be done, there would obviously have to be exceptions for things like you mentioned, people whose health isn't up to it, etc. I realize that young families would pose a difficulty, but protocols could be established to accomodate them.
It's just an idea, one who many have considered over the years. I thought it would be interesting to see what POFers thought about it, but what has been interesting is the antagonism about it. Maybe it is a bad idea, I just thought I would get more constructive comments.
MajMike | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 6:57:33 PM | | Speaking for myself mike I have better things to do with my time than community service work. Now if someone on there own free will wants to volunteer there time, That would be all well and good but it shouldn't be a mandatory obligation. I'm also a little offended by your assumption that a program like this is needed to build character. | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 7:05:35 PM | mauser
My saying that I thought the program would build character wasn't meant to imply it was the only way to do so. I do think such a program would build character, but obviously (to me) it is not the only way, no offense was meant.
MajMike | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 7:12:14 PM | Mike-
I think it's a very good idea, and would like to see something like it implemented. On several occasions I've posed that topic to family and friends for discussion, and most of us agree that such a program would be of great benefit, and well worth the tax dollars it would require. I'm glad to see someone else feels the same way. | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 7:28:07 PM | | So mike just for argument how many hours would be mandatory and what would be the reproductions for failing to participate in such a program. | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 7:50:04 PM | mauser
I don't know, those would be details that would have to be worked out, I fully agree. As to repercussions, that too would need to be worked out.
On one hand we could do it as a full-time situation like the Peace Corps, where you live and breathe the job. In this same extreme vein, participation (except for delineated exemptions) would be mandatory.
Or, it could be a 20-40 hour work week like many jobs now, and exemptions could be plentiful. Say, 20 hours of work and college classes in the other hours, many (if not most) students do something similar now.
I admit it is a very complicated idea, and maybe it's just too cumbersome to do. I just like the concept, but as with many concepts some just are not practical.
MajMike | |
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| Mandatory National Service Program?????
Posted: 3/6/2005 7:54:40 PM | Mike,
It's a good idea in principle, but I'm not sure how many of the organizations would enjoy having to deal with huge numbers of people signing up, not because they wanted to be there but because they had to (and especially had to and wanted to avoid military service).
I'm also unsure as to what the policies would be for calling up. I mean, many reservists who signed up without ever thinking they would be called to active duty...are. They signed up for experience, a light sense of duty, and wouldn't have if they thought there was a chance they'd be fighting a war in Iraq.
There would need to be a clause saying "This does include the right of the government to call you up to active service at any time" if that's part of the plan, that would then need to be either 'okay'd' or refused.
By the way, Mike, I'm sorry to see the hard time you get around here occasionally. I for one think your one of the good guys...and its especially hard to be a 'mike' here, for reasons we're both aware of but need not get into.
Keep at it bud. | |
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