Melvin Laird Calls for Universal Civil Service
In a Memorial Day op-ed piece, former Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird has called for a system of universal civil service. In "Turning Apathy Into Good Deeds" Laird notes the following:
As I listen to calls for reinstating the draft to meet our military's needs, I fear that we're not looking at the bigger picture. Young Americans do need to serve their country. But they are not all needed in the military, nor do all belong there. What our nation needs is a system of compulsory universal civil service for young people.
Using his experience with the military draft, he discounts it as a source for soldiers. He notes:
Understandably, some youths do not feel that military service is the best way to express their desire to give something back. The military does not need all of them, nor should the Defense Department be saddled with another unwanted draft. But every department of government could benefit from universal service, as would many other institutions. Our schools are crying out for teacher assistants; our immigrant programs need additional staff; Head Start, the Peace Corps and special education programs need helpers, as do hospitals and nursing facilities. Young people could serve one or two years in a much-needed civilian universal service program run by the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the State Department. Such service would foster a culture of responsibility for our democracy and, as such, would surely have the side benefit of increasing military enlistments. And those volunteering for the military would be exempt from the required civilian universal service.
It's been a positive week for the national service cause. John Edwards calls for mandatory service on 21 May 2007, then Melvin Laird, cabinet officer for President Nixon, calls for it on 28 May. That's a clear demonstration that this is an issue that crosses political boundaries.
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Recent blog posts
- U.S. Community Service Advocates Outline Ambitious Plan for Universal Voluntary Service
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- Chris Dodd to 'Preview' His National Service Plan on Web, Wed 20 June 2007 at 5:00 pm EDT
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Recent comments
- Who will decide how you serve your fellow man?
7 weeks 5 days ago - out of context
13 weeks 6 days ago - Service is Not It's Own End
24 weeks 2 days ago - Of Slackers and Hubris
24 weeks 2 days ago - Thank You for the Careful Presentation
26 weeks 3 days ago - Mandatory Civil Service
26 weeks 3 days ago - They Can Be a Part of the Whole
27 weeks 4 days ago - What about existing volunteer programs?
27 weeks 4 days ago - ok national service..lets see how about this:
29 weeks 6 days ago - By any other name...
31 weeks 4 hours ago
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Comments
The Antoniak Citizen Service System
www.Antoniak.com/CitizenService.htm
By Pete Antoniak
8105 Shelter Creek
San Bruno, CA 94066
650 952 2375
PeterA@EdUGames.com
Preface: There is talk of reinstitution of the draft in the United States. This paper does not address the merits of that possibility. It does address what I think is a fairer draft policy.
Citizen Service (Antoniak) System
1. Everyone, both men and women, will be subject to the Citizen Service System.
2. There will be no deferments or age limits, but each candidate must still qualify for the position served.
3. There will be a wide diversity of positions, many of which would not be military, such as the Peace Corps.
4. An allotment of positions will be distributed to the States based on population. States may distribute them to counties and cities if they want. As an example, a county may decide that four years on a Grand Jury, or as an unpaid County Supervisor could constitute Citizen Service.
5. Citizens will be able to decide when, where and in what position to serve, they may even wait until retirement.
6. In order to prevent life deferments, there will be a surcharge[10 – 25%] on income tax and possibly a similar reduction in SSI.
7. There may be other laws in connection with Citizenship Service as appropriate such as a requiring Citizen Service before running for public office.
The Antoniak system does away with draft boards and the inequities of deferments. If you are in school, for instance, you probably are not paying much, if any, taxes. So school deferments are therefore not necessary. If you have a disability, but are still able to earn an income, there probably will be a job for you in Citizen Service. If you are not able to make a living, then you are probably not paying taxes anyway. So a surcharge will not apply. The Military can still reject you if you are not qualified or have a bad attitude. Conscientious Objectors will not have to do their service in the military because there will be many other options.
The tax surcharge could be revenue neutral and could be phased in over multiple years. Some people may choose to never serve, but they will therefore pay more taxes over their lifetime, both wealthy and poor alike. The emphasis will be on getting citizens to invest themselves in their country and in so doing, learn to value it more. If someone is a highly paid professional like a doctor, all the more reason to serve and reduce their tax burden. Those who have already served will be grandfathered in.
As a possible adjunct to the system, a person may be reimbursed a portion of the tax surcharge paid, if he or she waits until retirement to serve.
That's a System to Explore
Pete: I agree entirely with your first three points. Service for all, military and nonmilitary.
I'd rather a system that brought most people in after high school. I think there would be many additional benefits to the nation if people had some responsible service before they went to college. Not only would they use the educational opportunity better, they might also have a better sense of where they wanted to use their skills professionally.
Your system does offer an out to those with money. Yes, many would not be happy with a tax surcharge, but there would be people who would be able to pay that cost without suffering. I'd prefer a period of service seen as an "adulthood tax" we all pay before we enter society as a full citizen. That would make service truly a responsibility of all, even those with big bank accounts.
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