How to save America, Part II

  Compulsory military service is a common practice throughout the world, in countries such as Israel, South Korea, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. These nations among others have seen the benefits of using a compulsory military service for national defense, in addition to a professional army. In other words, like the United States in the World Wars and Vietnam, there is both a professional army and one made up of conscripted men (and sometimes women).

   The idea of a draft is abhorrent to many Americans, but isn’t it true that we owe a duty to our country? Don’t we as citizens have a responsibility to protect the Union we love so much? Indeed, compulsory military service is nothing more than a national duty. George Washington said that “happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.” In other words, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. The idea that we can all have freedom while only a few of us defend it is faulty.

   I am not writing this in favor for either of the wars we are currently engaged in, but out of a sense that in America today we have a growing generation which has no sense of national responsibility. According to Gallup, only 16% of people age 18-29 have served in the military, verses an astonishing 68% of people 65 and older. We have all the expectations of the greatest country in the world, and yet have no idea what it takes to keep us there.

   As a staunch critic of American foreign and domestic policy, even I understand the benefits of living in America, and the duty I owe it — or else leave. In all honesty, it’s as simple as that: democracy requires participation. This is as true in the ballot box as in the military. If we love democracy we need to step up to protect and maintain it.

   However, this idea of compulsory military service can and should be part of a much larger apparatus of public service. I believe that directly out of high school or college, men and women ages 18 to 30 should be required to serve in the military, AmeriCorps or Peace Corps. The length of their service could vary, but if we look at other countries like the ones I’ve already mentioned, the term should probably be 1 to 2 years. Public service should be a requirement of living in a democracy; we should have to work for our say in government.

   Critics of this idea will likely say that it goes against the ideals of freedom we hold so dear in America. I would offer that American youth (among others) have a utopian ideal of freedom.

   We want unlimited freedom with no strings attached. Freedom isn’t free. Perhaps if Americans knew the price of freedom, we wouldn’t be in such a hurry to wage wars overseas and pursue a reckless foreign policy. Perhaps we would learn to appreciate and support our veterans. Or maybe the benefit would be more subtle: we would understand the value of democracy.