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Ask HN: Mandatory National Service, would it make politics less polarizing?

Today's politics in US is overwhelmingly polarized. I'm not very familiar with pros/cons of mandatory national service, but am wondering if that wouldn't help people, as they enter adulthood, realize they're PART of the government and that it's not necessarily an adversary. EDIT: Just to clarify, by "national service" I don't necessarily mean military.

rman666 6y ago
I’ve thought about this, too (and I spent 20+ years in the U.S. Army Reserve). I think such a requirement would have a lot of benefits for the U.S. but I also think it would take a generation for it to be accepted and not seen as a political “stunt.” It would really have to be “sold” to the country as a long-term positive, and considering out current divisions I don’t know that we can agree on anything significant right now. Maybe it can be sold at the state level easier.
mytailorisrich 6y ago
This might have some benefits but it would certainly not make politics less polarizing. See countries that have, or have had, a National Service.
- unexaminedlife 6y ago
  Are there studies that have proven that a citizen's psychological profile / attitude toward government aren't impacted by mandatory national service?
PaulHoule 6y ago
There is always a population of military veterans who pose a threat to order. When I mean always I mean Rome, I mean feudal Japan, or Hitler's first stormtroopers. Closer to home we have had black nationalists, Tim McVeigh, and other troops bring the war home with them. Now there are 'boogaloo boys' who seem to hate both blacks and cops. Most veterans are not like that and return to private life and public service in ways adequate to admirable, but it does show that national service is not universally civilizing.
JSeymourATL 6y ago
The Libertarian Case for National Military Service > https://www.cato-unbound.org/2013/09/09/pascal-emmanuel-gobry/libertarian-case-national-military-service https://www.cato-unbound.org/2013/09/09/pascal-emmanuel-gobr...
ljsocal 6y ago
https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/National-Service_TEXT-3.pdf https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Nationa... Excellent research on the topic
ljsocal 6y ago
And a webinar featuring top figures in the national service movement: https://www.brookings.edu/events/webinar-inspired-to-serve-the-future-of-public-service/ https://www.brookings.edu/events/webinar-inspired-to-serve-t...
ljsocal 6y ago
If you are personally considering national service, Peace Corps is an amazing experience and a shining example of what an excellent government program looks like. www.peacecorps.gov

rman666 6y ago

I’ve thought about this, too (and I spent 20+ years in the U.S. Army Reserve). I think such a requirement would have a lot of benefits for the U.S. but I also think it would take a generation for it to be accepted and not seen as a political “stunt.” It would really have to be “sold” to the country as a long-term positive, and considering out current divisions I don’t know that we can agree on anything significant right now. Maybe it can be sold at the state level easier.

mytailorisrich 6y ago

This might have some benefits but it would certainly not make politics less polarizing. See countries that have, or have had, a National Service.

unexaminedlife 6y ago
Are there studies that have proven that a citizen's psychological profile / attitude toward government aren't impacted by mandatory national service?

PaulHoule 6y ago

There is always a population of military veterans who pose a threat to order. When I mean always I mean Rome, I mean feudal Japan, or Hitler's first stormtroopers. Closer to home we have had black nationalists, Tim McVeigh, and other troops bring the war home with them. Now there are 'boogaloo boys' who seem to hate both blacks and cops. Most veterans are not like that and return to private life and public service in ways adequate to admirable, but it does show that national service is not universally civilizing.

JSeymourATL 6y ago

The Libertarian Case for National Military Service > https://www.cato-unbound.org/2013/09/09/pascal-emmanuel-gobry/libertarian-case-national-military-service https://www.cato-unbound.org/2013/09/09/pascal-emmanuel-gobr...

ljsocal 6y ago

https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/National-Service_TEXT-3.pdf https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Nationa... Excellent research on the topic

ljsocal 6y ago

And a webinar featuring top figures in the national service movement: https://www.brookings.edu/events/webinar-inspired-to-serve-the-future-of-public-service/ https://www.brookings.edu/events/webinar-inspired-to-serve-t...

ljsocal 6y ago

If you are personally considering national service, Peace Corps is an amazing experience and a shining example of what an excellent government program looks like. www.peacecorps.gov