Mandatory Civilian Service

[David S]

Do you favor requiring all US citizens to perform mandatory civilian service? Bear in mind that this would be mandatory. Failure to do the service or failure to do it satisfactorily would result in penalties.

[CPT MikeyMike]

If you have the opition between Civilian (Peace Coprs, etc) or the Military (the person's choise of which service), I would have no problem with that.

Service to your nation is a good thing. I would encourage it but let's not force it. If you use it as an opition to say payoff debts (ie: college), that's a good idea.

[David S]

If you have the opition between Civilian (Peace Coprs, etc) or the Military (the person's choise of which service), I would have no problem with that.

Service to your nation is a good thing. I would encourage it but let's not force it. If you use it as an opition to say payoff debts (ie: college), that's a good idea.

I have no issue with voluntary service. But when it becomes mandatory that's a very different matter.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Oppose strongly

[NewFederalist]

Oppose just as strongly as military conscription.

[adam]

I oppose mandatory service in anything.

[Colin]

Oppose just as strongly as military conscription.

[angus]

Do you favor requiring all US citizens to perform mandatory civilian service?

David, I'm not what the difference between NO and EMPHATICALLY NO is, but I voted no.  I'm suprised you, of all people, would even ask.  Some folks want to serve their government.  Some just want to produce, provide, and make money, and may or may not even be aware that any government exists. 

On a more serious note, would you do Roz Doyle from Frasier?  I would.

[freedomburns]

Yep, I'm in favor of it.  2 years

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Do you favor requiring all US citizens to perform mandatory civilian service?

Of course not. This is just so fundamentally right-wing and wrong, and contrary to the people's needs, that it's surprising anyone at all supports it.

[Joe Republic]

I personally don't mind being forced to serve as a civilian.  I've already been doing it for nearly 23 years with no complaint.

[John Dibble]

No, of course not.

Do you favor requiring all US citizens to perform mandatory civilian service?

Of course not. This is just so fundamentally right-wing and wrong, and contrary to the people's needs, that it's surprising anyone at all supports it.

Fundamentally right-wing? Apparently 'right-wing' encompasses anything that you disagree with. Most people I have seen supporting this notion have been on the left, though of course not all lefties agree with it.

[Bono]

No, I oppose slavery.

[MaC]

This is just so fundamentally right-wing and wrong

Yep, I'm in favor of it.  2 years

oh, bandit just called you right-wing fb!

[Bandit3 the Worker]

oh, bandit just called you right-wing fb!

How then is the idea left-wing? It isn't.

Modern America is run by a right-wing leader, so if it is imposed there it is by very definition right-wing.

[John Dibble]

oh, bandit just called you right-wing fb!

How then is the idea left-wing? It isn't.

Why not? Because you arbitrarily decided that anything you dislike is right-wing?

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So if it was imposed by a left-wing leader it would be by definition left-wing? It's either fundamentally one of the two wings or it isn't - make up your mind.

[David S]

oh, bandit just called you right-wing fb!

How then is the idea left-wing? It isn't.

Modern America is run by a right-wing leader, so if it is imposed there it is by very definition right-wing.

Bandit this idea is in fact from the left. John Kerry made the following statement during his 04 campaign;
"We need a new era of service—not an effort for one time, one purpose, or one group—but a permanent and national endeavor. For America now, service is not just an option, but an obligation of citizenship."
[ Kerry, John. "A New Era of National Service." Manchester, New Hampshire. May 19, 2003.  (Emphasis mine.)

Also Charles Rangel has written a bill called the Universal Service Act which would make it the law.  Both of them are definitely from the left.

(Lest anyone get the wrong idea I don't support mandatory service. I just asked the question. In fact my answer would be  hell no.)

[Bandit3 the Worker]

So if it was imposed by a left-wing leader it would be by definition left-wing?

When was it ever imposed by a left-wing leader?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

John Kerry is not left-wing.

[Bandit3 the Worker]

Bandit this idea is in fact from the left. John Kerry made the following statement during his 04 campaign;
"We need a new era of service—not an effort for one time, one purpose, or one group—but a permanent and national endeavor. For America now, service is not just an option, but an obligation of citizenship."
[ Kerry, John. "A New Era of National Service." Manchester, New Hampshire. May 19, 2003.  (Emphasis mine.)

In the quote above, Kerry didn't put forth a specific government mandate (even if he did elsewhere). Even so, Kerry really was not the ultraliberal everyone claims, so this still doesn't prove your argument.

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Oh really? Rangel spends more time criticizing Hugo Chavez than he does Bush.

Also, I thought the point of Rangel's bill was more to discourage the war than anything else. (Of course I agree with him that the war is bad.)

[John Dibble]

So if it was imposed by a left-wing leader it would be by definition left-wing?

When was it ever imposed by a left-wing leader?

I never said it was - I asked you a question based on what YOU SAID.

Modern America is run by a right-wing leader, so if it is imposed there it is by very definition right-wing.

So, again, I ask you, if modern America was run by a left-wing leader and it was imposed under his rule would that make the notion of mandatory civil service left-wing by definition? A simple yes or no answer is all that's required.

What I'm saying is that you need to make up your mind - it's either fundamentally whatever wing you arbitrarily decide it to be based on your liking or disliking of it or it's wingedness depends on who implements it(or  at the very least desires implementation of it). So which is it?

[Gabu]

I think everyone's missing the most important question of all:

...what difference could it possibly make whether an idea is "left-wing" or "right-wing"?

[Bandit3 the Worker]

So, again, I ask you, if modern America was run by a left-wing leader and it was imposed under his rule would that make the notion of mandatory civil service left-wing by definition?

Of course not.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

I think everyone's missing the most important question of all:

...what difference could it possibly make whether an idea is "left-wing" or "right-wing"?

Because we are all partizan hacks here, obviously.

And back on topic, regardless on who's in charge I would oppose this - though it's nowhere near as bad as conscription or forced military service. (Just to add my banal thoughts to the issue.)

[John Dibble]

So, again, I ask you, if modern America was run by a left-wing leader and it was imposed under his rule would that make the notion of mandatory civil service left-wing by definition?

Of course not.

So this was a lie?

Modern America is run by a right-wing leader, so if it is imposed there it is by very definition right-wing.