In his Tuesday column, [A Human Capital Agenda for Times subscribers] David Brooks argues that the Republican candidates for president should lay out a bold plan for the nation (similar to President Bush's 1999 call for compassionate conservatism). Though I cannot say I agree with much of Brooks's politics, I do agree with his inclusion of national service as one of the elements of his proposed human capital agenda. He notes:

It [the human capital agenda] means increasing child tax credits to reduce economic stress on young families. It means encouraging marriage, the best educational institution we have. It means a national service program, so young people can experience the world.

Think of how young people's experience of the world will help them succeed in college and in jobs, understand the challenges of the globalized marketplace, and participate in the success of a civil society. Those reasons are why national service belongs on the platform of the Democratic and Republican parties (and of any upstart parties making a run for 2008).