But there's something more i
n this call for mandatory national service than just a weird blend of authoritarianism and economic liberalism--there's a genuine thirst to do something to serve our country, a thirst I myself have experienced quite often in the past few years. In fact, I'd argue that if the government gave the members of our generation a chance to voluntarily serve in public service capacities while giving us a decent incentive (as
John Kerry has proposed), the response would be overwhelming. George W. Bush had the opportunity to call the nation to collective community action in the wake of 9/11, and he chose instead to tell us to go shopping. This is strong leadership?
posted by Maureen at 12:52 AM
