Thanks for posting that articles Jerry..
Weisberg seems to echo many of the sentiments I have about the issue of universal service.
I look at the issue on two fronts, providing a ready pool of trained reservists in the event of national emergency (enhancing security), as well as resolving problems of social inequity for young adults.
I'm certainly not being socialistic about the entire program because I believe that once someone has performed their service, they are free to pursue their own private goals and interests.
It would also provide all capable adults in the US, a common thread of experience upon which to base their future social interactions with one another (where did you serve? What did you do?.. etc).
And where Weisberg sees some problem with how to keep that many young conscripts occupied, I can guarantee you there's more than enough work that needs to be done in the nation.
For one, our transportation infrastructure is in a shambles. There are hundreds of bridges that need to be rebuilt or modernized, and there are hundreds of environmental remediation projects that could be performed around the nation.
But most of all, I believe that the most pressing problem we face is that an all-volunteer military is already a huge public employment system where we're paying large amounts of money to do something that should be an obligation to the protection of society. There was a grievous dilution of pay scales for the professional NCO and Officer careerists, when money had to be siphoned off to pay some snot-nosed private E-1 $1,000/month while receiving training.
dfas.mil
I would rather pay him a couple of 200-300 bucks a month worth of stipend (if that), with the remainder going to increasing the pay of professional leadership cadre, in particular the career NCO corps, or for bonuses to be paid to certain critical technical skills such as fighter pilots.
Let these young folks do a good tour and if they want to go careerist at Sergeant E-5 or Corporal E-4, THEN we'll be able to pay them enough to attract the management and leadership the military needs (and the NCO ranks ARE the most critical portion of any military).
As it stands right now, I believe some 2/3 of the DOD budget goes to paying payroll. Using conscription to fill the lower ranks means more money is available to creating a cadre force that can be rapidly expanded should a major war erupt.
Non-military service could include construction teams being deployed to work for private construction firms performing government infrastructure projects, or detailed directly to agencies like BLM or the Forest Service. Again.. cheap labor working on infrastucture projects that are considered a "social good" (parks, highways, bridges.. etc).
As for professionals fulfilling their mandatory national service, I'm all for medical students completing their education (with government $$$ assistance) and then serving their time either domestically in low-income areas, or internationally through the peace-corps, displaying American good will around the world.
The bottom line is that diverse people would be forced to work together and gain greater understanding of one another as they share.
And since all children are required to attend public schools, I don't see much difference between high shool education and developing job skills.
All of it is an investment in our own young people so they can hopefully avoid crime and be armed with the skills necessary to make an honest living.
And it would remove any number of excuses that certain special interest groups make about the inequality in this country. Everyone starts off at the same point at age 18, and make their own way in life from there.
Hawk |
