Does the United States Need Compulsory National Service?

I am a supporter of the idea of compulsury service on the grounds that we as Americans have been "babied" and "pampered" for way too long, we take everything we have as a right and not as the extreme privilege that it is. It brings a new light to things if you have to fight to have it and keep it. I am not so blinded that I can't see the cons of this idea; loss of freedom of choice being the chief of these, but at the same time, it will boost our economy by ensuring all high school students a job upon graduation, there will be a need for people to build the extra housing and food service facilities needed to support the influx of military personell as well as increased staff at the factories where the uniforms and other equipment is made. There is also the help with college education after service provided by the government that they will receive.

Yes I did volutarily join the US Army upon graduating high school and I am proud to have served my country even though it was only for a short time (I was discharged for a mental disorder that kept me from serving effectively),but I do believe there should be a sense of duty to serve your country. Simply put, if you want to live in a country where you are free to be whatever you want to be, including religion and even gender, without the government telling you you can't be that or do that, then you need to stand up and serve this country.

The complsory service should not be limited to born citizens either, if you wish to live in the US you should have to serve in the military as a condition of your citizenship (of course the checks to make sure you are not a terrorist trying to make it into the country could get expensive).

In conclusion.... America, love it or leave it.

Andrew of CO 10:49PM October 16, 2011