is there a reason we don't have universal service in this country?

[onethatcares]

a labor corp or conservation corp or a 2 yr stint doing something for America. Doesn't have to be military but could be work in many areas for those between 18 to 32 or so. I'm just asking and not wanting to start any kind of flame war.

[Trillo]

1. We have "universal service", it's other name is

"Compulsory Education".

[Kagemusha]

2. Yeah, because America is the home of the free.

I shouldn't have to say another word.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Well, there's the preamble to the Constitution.

That whole bit about securing the blessings of liberty bit.

[Balbus]

4. I haven't heard anywhere that universal service is prevented...

If an 18 or 32 year old want's to do something like what you mentioned I'm not sure what's preventing them. Or are you talking about "forced" universal service...

[LiberalEsto]

5. Because then the filthy rich kids

would have to serve & mingle with the Great unwashed....

[warren pease]

6. We have "other priorities" n/t

[B Calm]

7. The way the economy is going I look for CCC camps to start up!

[jobendorfer]

8. Uh ... some practical considerations ...

Setting aside the political and ethical issues revolving around universal service for a moment ...

Let's assume that Congress makes everyone serve for a 2 year interval at some point between age 18 and 25.
Demographics: there are ~31 MILLION men and women in that age bracket. That implies that at any given
time, about 1/3rd of that 6 year wide age bracket will be in service ... or 10.5 million men and women.

That's a population SEVEN times the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, etc COMBINED.
Where does the money come from to pay for the feeding, clothing, housing, and payroll for 10.5 million people?
To say nothing of training them to do whatever it is that they're going to do, or the overhead of managing
a program with ongoing massive turnover ...

Feh.

John,
wondering why the hell everyone wants to hypermanage young adults