(11-14-2020, 12:21 PM)Lucky2Last Wrote: No it's not. Service to the state is just a requirement to vote or run for office. No one is required to serve the state. They don't need it to exercise their religion or express their views or teach in schools. They just need it to cast a ballot or hold office. There is absolutely no barrier to entry except one's willingness to pay the entry fee. A fee, btw, that everyone has the capacity to pay. There is nothing like this in communism whatsoever.

It's a specious argument. I understand the reasoning but it's a flawed concept from beginning to end. Not only does it supersede birthright, it introduces bureaucratic morass into an organization (U.S. government) that is famous for its feckless corruption.

What constitutes service to the state? What if a person has severe physical disabilities? How does this affect a person whose career arc is interrupted by the requirement for national service even though they are well educated? The possibilities for corruption and abuse are limitless. I hardly see how a person gains perspective for the privilege to vote and hold office if their service to the state entails sweeping the parking lot of the local post office. It would be a system ripe for malfeasance. How do you 'employ' hundreds of millions of people without interfering with private enterprise? How does this affect immigrants who arrive later in life?

Take for instance the two year compulsory service South Korean men must serve in the military. Yes, I realize service to the state won't be compulsory but this serves as a good example.

If the family has money and/or connections, their son get to serve as a KATUSA (Korean Augmentation To the United State Army). That means they get easy jobs and are billeted with U.S. Army personnel. Some even share barracks rooms with U.S. Army soldiers. They eat at nice base dining halls and work easy 9 to 5 jobs. 

If the family isn't so fortunate? Their son serves in the ROK Army doing the grunt work; living and working high stress and tough infantry duty on the DMZ and other places. This is exactly what will happen with any U.S. plan to require national service for the privilege of voting. We'll have to dust off Credence Clearwater Revival's Fortunate Son.

It's an absolutely ridiculous idea and I'm surprised you, of all people, proposed it.

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