But seriously, I think having some form of National Service is an interesting idea. First, let's get past the "mandatory" or "conscription" part. I'm thinking more along the lines of "strong incentives". Perhaps it would make college cheaper, lower the drinking age to 20, provide valuable job training or apprenticeships, count as time served for nonviolent offenders... I'm sure we could come up with others.
Now obviously military enlistment will continue to be a term of indenture which you can't just quit on a whim. The reasons for this are obvious to me and my fellow veterans. But that doesn't mean the entire program has to work that way. You can go with for a more flexible option, but the incentives might not be as good. You can opt out completely, but you'll be missing out on what the program has to offer.
Lots of people aren't really mature enough at 18 to take college seriously or to make other life changing decisions. Right now a lot of kids spend those early years right after high school racking up student debt when they don't really understand the value of a dollar. Who benefits from this system? Certainly not society at large or most students. We can and should provide better alternatives.
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