Reply #16: This is a philosophical discussion [View All]

[HPLeft]

Many Americans have decided that they have unlimited rights but no real responsibilities - either to other Americans, or to the world. But I can easily imagine a better society than the one we have today, where it is expected that people do something in return for various entitlements.

I wasn't aware that Maryland had the community service requirement for high school graduation. I'd be interested to know how Maryland residents feel about the program, and how the kids feel about it. But, assuming the program is considered successful, and there is not a lot adolecent resentment being built up because of it, maybe the idea could work.

As to your point, I'm not sure I'd look at it as mandatory work, but more as an obligation to give back to the society as a whole. In a society with progressive taxation, we ask the wealthy to pay a larger share of their income to support the good of the whole. Why shouldn't be also ask sacrifices of other people, including some kind of modest requirement for high school students - especially if by doing so we can impress upon them some sense of civic duty. Hey, we're talking about an America where only 40% of eligible voters even bothered to vote in 2000. That's scary. The more I think of it, the more I think that Kerry is onto something here. I'm just not sure that he can sell it.