In Support of National Service

[thd3]

 I was watching the news the other day, and there was a story about the pending expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts. There has been considerable consternation inside the beltway as to whether they should be made permanent, allowed to expire for everyone, or allowed to expire for those making over $250,000 per year. This post is not intended to

Comments

[peccavo]

I'm a huge fan of community service, and think it should be a necessary part of a high school diploma; I think I had to do 80 hours, which was nothing. But there are several aspects of American culture that would be a hindrance to National Youth Service like is done in other countries. The first among them being college. Few Europeans go to college. The expectation among many Americans of a smooth transition from high school to college would not allow for many to accept an insertion of this type. Then most people necessarily transition into a job or professional internship.
And in any event, many Europeans pay for their children to engage in a 2 week program rather than a full year of service-- which I'm sure would happen in the States, too.
That mother you mentioned is an idiot. As much as a greater fairness in taxation is needed, preventing transparent equitable taxation is big business. It's one of those downsides to the high level of direct democracy we have in this country.

[thd3]

Oh, I agree. It will never happen. The Americans who have power (the corporations and upper class) would never allow it.