8. E Pluribus Unum
During the Great Depression many of the nation’s men were employed through FDR’s New Deal. By the time the Second World War struck America, the country was accustomed to duty and service. The generation that followed “The Greatest Generation” was not so keen to serve. Despite Kennedy’s famous line in his inauguration speech about doing for one’s country, few willingly did. The baby boomers have left a legacy of greed and selfishness.
But their children are a different story. The children maturing today have been raised by helicopter parents. Their lives have been organized from cradle to college. These kids have had full lives and devotion to community service is almost part of their DNA. It seems to be a perfect time in this country to implement number eight on the Obama to-do list: mandatory service. There are many ways in which to serve the country besides military service. If one looks at all the problems facing this country it seem logical that there be a required two year volunteer service for those Americans either completing high school or college. Think how fast the victims of Hurricane Katrina could have their lives restored if two million young people descended on New Orleans. The burden of the nation’s wars would not fall just on a few selfless Americans and the nation’s leaders would be required to show more intelligence in committing these troops or else they would taste the wrath of the country’s majority. The Peace Corps would flourish with independent minded college graduates willing and able to disperse around the globe spreading democracy through noble deeds rather than through the rifle. New aspiring teachers would educate in rural Appalachia or in DC, helping to erase decades of inequity. The ranks of policemen and firemen would always be full. There would be ample boots on the ground along our borders to prevent illegal immigration to our nation. But the most important component of this policy would be a tradition of democratic service. Though mandatory, the options of service would be great and the rewards would be shared by all Americans. This is why a two year compulsory national service comes in at number eight.