How voluntary national service could break down barriers

In his new book, Richard Haass makes the case for voluntary national service and how it can break down barriers. Haass and Sen. Chris Coons discuss.


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#NationalService #MSNBC #Politics

[jonburke]

We need this level of commitment and across all communities here in this country. We don't even teach civics classes anymore, and even just that helped to keep citizens smart about how their own government works, team work, cooperation among different social groups, working toward something larger than one's self. We have now an America several generations deep that has no real coherent idea of how their government works or even the rest of the world around us. No concept grounded in facts about how it got this way (let alone how to fix things). Having people work in some form of public government service (beyond military) for at least a couple years will really help us to get back to being a smarter citizenry and a healthier republic. And bring back those dang civics classes! 😀

[yvettesnananone]

He is spot on.I believe it should be mandatory.Too many isolated areas in this country.

[einherjar]

Should be mandatory. Serve your country and fellow citizens or go live somewhere else. Half the country and its GOP leaders have abandoned service for corruption, power, and selfishness...

[theskyehiker]

I’m 71 years old and this kind of thing would have been the best thing ever for me. I applaud this idea.

[enterthecarp]

👍🏼 My 3 years in Germany via the Army was invaluable. Wonderful Humans Everywhere

[kathrynshaw]

I agree that encouraging a tradition of national service in America would be a good thing. Too many people are currently approaching life with an attitude of entitlement, and the belief that others "owe" them a positive outcome. Our forefathers were all brought up with the understanding that positive outcomes only came with hard work and effort. Federal positions used to be very poorly paid. I remember being offered a Manager's position that would be critical in keeping a rural VA Hospital open. 47 years ago gas was cheaper and I was younger with a new specialty college degree so I agreed to make the 150 mile daily round trip for one year only in order for the Hospital to pass it's inspections. I considered that effort a national service. My services would have been worth a great deal more at any commercial Hospital or Medical Center, but the need for responsible medical care in rural areas had been clear to me since the mid-60s. America has lost a huge amount of it's unofficial infrastructure with the collapse of the missionary outreach of the churches, particularly after the last recession and pandemic. People used to provide a great deal of unofficial service wherever it was needed. Other countries, like Israel, have had programs that recognize and acknowledge national service for many years. I'm certain that America can come up with some ideas of our own.

[timkaldahl]

The problem isn't that we don't teach civics.the problem is that we devalued education to the point that passing with a 60% is acceptable to parents and students.

[scottwager]

You know what else exposes you to different people from different backgrounds? College.

[sharondavid-melly]

Thanks for bringing up President Clinton's Americorps program. My mother served in the Peace Corps. Incredible experience.

[SN-szkw]

We’ve long needed such a program. Will they ever get it off the ground?

[cmodzins]

Did four years in the Navy after college. Learned a lot. Met people very unlike me.

[elfari]

It's so nice to hear about positive iniciatives like this. Please devote more air time to such topics.

[themechanic]

this is propaganda, 100% Military Propaganda.

[donpearson]

Recruiting, training, retaining, rehabilitating more expensive than most people realize. As an ex-serviceman I believe:
It essential that a reserve force be trained professionally (not a backyard militia),
A referendum (not a vote by 400 80yr old politicians) be mandatory to deploy (any volunteers only) from such a force.,
Trained reserves to be offered full time positions, only after completion of 2 years reserve service,
Recruiting for full time positions will vanish after the first 2 years,
Trained reserves working as private citizens must re-qualify every 2 years (2 weeks of update weapons, systems and procedures).
Return for service incentives such as college courses, cheap housing loans, cheap medical insurance, recognition of qualifications, trade certificates etc etc.
Your country will become healthy in no time.

[maryjorakowski]

Americorps is such a program and I served with it for 2 years as a 'mature' citizen. It is a great possibility.

[susanavilez]

Also, bring civics back into the classrooms as requirement.

[chrisjohnson]

You can set it up as an internship for a multitude of different fields of study.
That way, we can lower Government expenditures without causing a strain somewhere, and the interns gain valuable hands-on experience which they can use to apply for a job.

[the_chocolate_chip]

Only if the volunteers are not adversely affected after the experience.

[JConlon]

American society needs to recapture a sense of belonging & community

[mattharmon]

This is not UK it's the United States.