Should everyone be required to do community service?

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Should everyone have to contribute some time to community service. That is join the armed forces, serve in a government health facility join the peace corps things like that. Make it mandatory with no exceptions.

[Byzantine Prince]

You mean with pay, right? Because I ain't doing nothing without getting some fat cash in return. Well maybe read to blind kids, but that's where I draw the line.

And no it shouldn't be mendatory! Where did this spring from?!?!

[Samurai Waki]

not on your life.

[scooter_the_shooter]

I think we should be like finland...start the conscription!!

[Sasaki Kojiro]

No. Scientists would contribute more to society through research than community service.

Einstein in the army?

[Roark]

I think it would be a good thing for many (give the bludgers some perspective!), but I couldn't justify enforcing it...

[Azi Tohak]

not on your life.

Any particular reason? It seems to me having to put up with people you don't like (or agree with) would be a great way to promote tolerance.

Look at the military for example. You don't like someone? Big deal! They are still in your unit, live with it.

And yes, BP, I think it would have to be with pay.

Sasaki Kojiro, who says Einstein would have to be there for a long time, or active duty (yes, Einstein in a tank is a funny mental picture)? Make it 2 years in the National Guard (for us anyway). He can still do his work and also help his country too.

Azi

[Kanamori]

Einstein in the army?

Think Communist Military -- it makes perfect sense

[bmolsson]

I think we should be like finland...start the conscription!!

I think that would be a good idea for US. Instead of having 2 % of the male population in jail, they could be learning marching instead......

[Samurai Waki]

Any particular reason? It seems to me having to put up with people you don't like (or agree with) would be a great way to promote tolerance.

Look at the military for example. You don't like someone? Big deal! They are still in your unit, live with it.

And yes, BP, I think it would have to be with pay.

Sasaki Kojiro, who says Einstein would have to be there for a long time, or active duty (yes, Einstein in a tank is a funny mental picture)? Make it 2 years in the National Guard (for us anyway). He can still do his work and also help his country too.

Azi

I've got enough expirience, skills, and dedication to make my own decisions in life. Believe me I have tried to get in the military but to no avail (I will not go into specifics on the matter), I would rather join on my own accord then have someone tell me I have to join. Conscription is a bad idea for most democratic countries excluding Finland and Israel at this point in time.

[Productivity]

No - it's taxation by stealth.

[Proletariat]

Exactly, dgb. Why not just cut to the chase and tax the Christ out of us?

Work hours and wages are directly linked. Taking either one or the other for 'the greater good' other than when completely necessary, smacks of utter Communism.

[Xiahou]

Should everyone have to contribute some time to community service. That is join the armed forces, serve in a government health facility join the peace corps things like that. Make it mandatory with no exceptions.

Nah. To me, the idea of forced servitude, no matter how noble the cause, runs counter to our country's ideals. You should be free to do good deeds, but not forced to.

[Red Harvest]

I have to agree with the objections. I don't like the idea of "free" nations forcing conscription except in times of extreme crisis. Most of the military conscription by free nations was done out of necessity.

It is better to have willing volunteers (paid or unpaid), than forced conscription in community service as well.

It would be very expensive, and serve as a large tax since it would take time out of person's most productive work years.

[Productivity]

However, I have nothing against forcing those who receive welfare to do community work, like is run with the work for the dole system in Australia.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Sasaki Kojiro, who says Einstein would have to be there for a long time, or active duty (yes, Einstein in a tank is a funny mental picture)? Make it 2 years in the National Guard (for us anyway). He can still do his work and also help his country too.

Azi

Most scientists do their groundbreaking work before 30. Those two years are essential.

You don't have to do community service or join the army to do something for your country.

[Taohn]

It doesn't have to be forced. Simply make 1000+ hours of community service a requirement for high school graduation. Or see about getting the universities to agree to make it (or military service) an admission requirement. Give students some incentive: consistently strong academic performance lessens the number of hours required. On the other hand, for those who decide to go the community service route, and do much more than required, let their first year of higher education be paid for (or monies of equal value be given to them to spend at their discretion). Of course, this wouldn't be mandatory. Students may drop out after grade 8 if they so desire.

[Es Arkajae]

Every citizen already contributes to society through taxation, in times of war all male citizens are also liable to be conscripted.

Community service should remain voluntarily, especially as much of the community service wrok involves compassion or dedication, something you'd preferably not want unwilling participants engaged in.

When people aren't working (contributing to the economy), looking after their families (most important duty in society) or having at least a minimum period of rest which every human needs, many already take up volunteer work anyway.

As for the viability of peace time military conscription I'd approve males of certain age having to undergo reservist training (for you Yanks think National Guard) and belong to such units for several years (and be liable to be called up for several years afterwards). These units of course wouldn't be used in war unless dire neccessity called but for such a huge country as Australia with such a small population having large numbers of potential frontline soldiers who would require far less training before being thrown into battle would be a great boon if the shit ever hit the fan.

Think of it as an insurance policy.

[Xiahou]

However, I have nothing against forcing those who receive welfare to do community work

Yup, I think that's reasonable too.

[Ja'chyra]

Nope, shouldn't be compulsory, that's a damn stupid idea sorry G.

However, for people who can't, or more importantly won't, get themselves a job then community service is a great idea, but they would have to be paid.

[Del Arroyo]

We already (practically) force people to graduate high school and pressure the hell out of them to go to college-- for me, adding some strong incentives toward some sort of organized community service or a *short* stint in the military would not be too far out. And probably couldn't do any more harm than our our current educational system.

DA

[Al Khalifah]

Should be compulsory if you want to be able to vote.

I'd extend it to include teaching, working for the NHS, fire-service, police etc though.

[Ja'chyra]

Should be compulsory if you want to be able to vote.

I'd extend it to include teaching, working for the NHS, fire-service, police etc though.

So, should I quit my job to do it or is this after I come home from work?

[Navaros]

community service is a form of prison time handed-out to criminals

certainly there is no rational reason why non-criminals should suffer that fate as well

[Duke Malcolm]

I think that upon leaving full-time education, people should have a choice between 2 years National Service in the Armed Forces, or 3 years Community Service in a hospital, fire brigade, local constabulary, farms, schools.

[Ronin]

Should be compulsory if you want to be able to vote.

I'd extend it to include teaching, working for the NHS, fire-service, police etc though.

your rights are just that...rights..they can´t be dependant of your actions, you are entitled to them just by being a citizen, so no.

i allready pay taxes, so no dice, pretty dumb idea.

[King Henry V]

Too many people are taking too much out of the community than they are putting in, therefore community service wether it is in the army or anywhere would not do any harm.

[Al Khalifah]

your rights are just that...rights..they can´t be dependant of your actions, you are entitled to them just by being a citizen, so no.

Sorry, but I'm not a subscriber to the school of thought that says purely by virtue of being born you are somehow entitled to power. As Dave says in his sig:

"Depends. I personally believe that wealth should be in the hands of those who have worked to earn it. Socialists believe that just by virtue of having been shot out of a vagina and then mastering the difficult skill of breathing, that they have a right to as equal a share of wealth as everybody else, whether they have done anything to earn it or not (and in most cases, "not")." Goofball!!!

A citizen isn't born, he's made. I'd rather my country was run by those that care about it and work for it, rather than those whose concern for it only stretches as far as what they can get out of it.

[rasoforos]

Should everyone have to contribute some time to community service. That is join the armed forces, serve in a government health facility join the peace corps things like that. Make it mandatory with no exceptions.

This idea leans dangerously towards socialism my friend :)

My oppinion is that, since it has been tried, tested and it has worked the it will be usefull to a certain extend. However it requires a well structured and fair society and a society where the citizen has more power over the state than the state over the citizen. Very few countries fullfill this criteria at the moment and thus social service tends to be misused.

An example is the compulsory military service for men in Greece. You only need to know someone up high to get stationed in an airconditioned office in the capital...if you are unlucky you end up in a border fighting against cold and mosquitoes. Relatives of Politicians, with almost no exceptions, join the airforce and just sit patiently doing nothing until their service ends.

It can work, it can fail. It has worked and it has failed, it depends on a lot of things.

I believe that it would work better on a small scale basis than on a national basis. On a service for your city than a service for your country basis that is.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

community service is a form of prison time handed-out to criminals

Ah so legal aid lawyers are criminals as are the members of our armed forces. Many countries today already have this law.

I think that upon leaving full-time education, people should have a choice between 2 years National Service in the Armed Forces, or 3 years Community Service in a hospital, fire brigade, local constabulary, farms, schools.

Tha was my idea not sending everyone into the military. You would learn a lot and for most it would be possible to get experience and on the job training. Yes you should get paid and the government should also feed and house you. Is it a wonder that employers love to hire ex military personel? Why do you think this is so? Because their trained and more reliable than most.