In this final post I will address my idea for a "Bill of Responsibilities" to match the Bill of Rights, specifically, the addition of a requirement that every able-bodied person between the ages of 18 and 26 give two years to Universal National Service (UNS). The military branches are one option, of course, but so too would be some civilian agencies such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps. New groups, including a Disaster Strike Force (think Katrina), would be a part of the UNS menu. I also add all qualifying non-profit groups, such as Teach for America, which are non-governmental but offer the young solid alternatives for service.
UNS will appeal to the idealists--there are still some, aren't there?--and will offend libertarians. But in A More Perfect Constitution I try to make a strong case for national service. You'll have to be the judge once you read the full chapter in the book.
As I wind up this series, I'd like to thank Markos for the forum, but also the hundreds and hundreds of you who have commented here, emailed me, or gone to our website, www.amoreperfectconstitution.com. You've proven that there are a lot of good ideas to be considered, not just the twenty-three I suggest in the book. That was my purpose, to get a debate started so that others would be encouraged to participate. I've also put together a series of YouTube videos where I outline these proposals; feel free to take a look! (My explanation of UNS is here.)
Over the past few weeks, I've learned that almost everyone takes some time to absorb new ideas, especially a big one like a second Constitutional Convention. The hidebound nature of humanity, and the deep polarization that currently exists in American society, make most people inherently suspicious of any novel proposal. That's understandable, but I hope that as people think and read further about the subject, they'll see that we can take a good system and make it better--not today or tomorrow in a rushed manner, but after a long period of thoughtful discussion and debate that could last a generation. The opposite alternative--to do nothing, to stand pat, to say we don't trust ourselves and our fellow citizens to achieve constructive change--is not only depressing, it's wrong and dangerous. Societies that stop evolving and progressing are doomed. There are ways to evolve and progress outside the Constitution, of course, but the basic document of state must be a part of this forward-looking process.
Now, on to the proposal for Universal National Service...