Universal Civil Service: Is It That Bad?

Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, President-Elect Barack Obama's choice for chief of staff in his incoming administration, is co-author of a book, The Plan: Big Ideas for America, that calls for, among other things, compulsory service for all Americans ages 18 to 25.

Emanuel and co-author Bruce Reed insist "this is not a draft," but go on to write of young men and women, "the nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service." They also warn, "[s]ome Republicans will squeal about individual freedom," ruling out any likelihood that they would let people opt out of universal citizen service.

Civil Rights Examiner

Elect an unrealistic ideologue, and get the requirements of dogma: pay obeisance with your time.

However, it's not a terrible idea, in general, to force young people into civil and military service. It will wake many of them up to parts of reality and turn them conservative.