Does any one know more about these two bills?

[Amich]

Two bills declare that it is the obligation of U.S. citizens to perform a two-year period of national service. Agree? Disagree? The Universal National Service Act of 2003 (S. 89, H.R. 163) argues that it is the obligation of every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a two-year period of national service, unless exempted, either as a member of an active or reserve component of the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense. What are your thoughts? Your voice matters. Share your view on this critical debate. Send a letter to your representatives now directly through our online system! To read past letters to leaders concerning issues in the military, go here. To read more action alerts, go here.

[bedtimeforbonzo]

1. Is that Rangel's bill from '03?

that one is dead.

[Amich]

2. thanks.

One of the bills was from Rangel the other from hollings.

[damnraddem]

3. In the current context, such ideas need squashing.

They're stalking horses for a draft to support PNAC aspirations.

As a general idea, they might have some merit. But would national service really benefit from being forced rather than voluntary?

[pezcore64]

4. hum

no, it wouldnt.
people pay taxes to live in this country, not some 'national service'.

if anything like that ever gets passed, expect one of the biggest exodus from american in a while ;)

[GiovanniC]

6. No, It Wouldn't

I'm a volunteer tutor, a mentor, and an advisory council member. I also used to volunteer at the local library, but I've got a lot on my plate at the moment.

I've seen kids who are "forced" to do public service as a requirement for school. There are some kids who are really motivated and excellent. Then there are some who are... not so much.

I believe that the kids who are really motivated, good volunteers would have volunteered whether it was "required" or not. But here's the rub: often, at the end of the semester, they're gone. If it hadn't been a requirement, they'd have volunteered anyway, and probably stuck with it. But when it's required, they often do it just as long as they have to and then no more.

There's a fable about an old man who was sick and tired of neighborhood boys banging on his trash cans. Every day after school, they'd make a lousy racket. So one day, he went outside and told them how great the noise was, and how much he loved it. He asked if they would come every day after school and bang on his trash cans -- and if they would, he'd pay them a dollar each. The boys were glad to do it, and he paid them as promised.

After a week or so, the man came outside and instead of paying them a dollar, told them, "I can only afford to pay you each 50 cents from now on." The boys grumbled a bit, but continued to bang on the trash cans.

A few more weeks passed, and this time the man came out and said, "Times are tight. I can only pay each of you a dime to bang on my trash cans from now on."

The leader of the boys said, "Forget this... it isn't worth it." And they never banged on the old man's trash cans again, which of course is what the old man wanted.

We're doing the same thing with mandatory volunteerism. We're taking these kids, some of whom would be great volunteers. Kids who would volunteer simply for the joy of it. We then use the "carrot" approach by giving them high school credit or a graduation endorsement, or alternatively, we use the "stick" approach and tell them that volunteerism is "mandatory" (or what?).

Once that commitment is over, and the reward or punishment is no longer the motivating factor, there is no more "incentive" to volunteer. And volunteerism drops off.

I think that's tragic.

[ButterflyBlood]

5. I disagree with the bills, but really it doesn't matter

they were just proposed to make a point, and will never even make it out of committee. there's so much fuss about some bills that have no chance of passing at all. only 2% of bills proposed are even voted on, these will sit in committee and die a silent death at the end of the session.