A group of national service champions, representing current and former executives in nonprofits and government, have outlined a Call to National Service for the next president and congress. Their plan proposes the creation of a National Service American Dream Account which would invest $5,000 upon the birth of every child in the United States. That investment could be increased by parents and relatives, and would grow for tax-free withdrawal, after the child in question reached age eighteen and served one year of national service.

Today I heard from one of the founders of ServeNext, a 527 political advocacy organization that promotes the expansion of national service. Their angle is to encourage greater federal support for the network of voluntary national service programs: AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America, Senior Corps, and Peace Corps. I agree that these programs should be supported, at the same time there is a program of mandatory national service. With the mandatory program setting the expectations for all Americans, the voluntary programs would be more sought out, and take a new role in a nation energized with public commitment.