Dear President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Reid, Senator McConnell, and Representative Boehner:
It has come to my attention that there is a plan by this current administration to institute a mandatory civil service plan for young people between the ages of 18 and 25. This plan would require said young people to work between 50 and 100 service hours a year to aide in the civilian defense and community outreach. While I understand and sympathize with certain opposition to this requirement, may I contribute another option for consideration? While requiring high school students to work in community clean up projects in addition to schoolwork to be able to graduate might instill some level of maturity and experience, there is more that can be done. Offering a choice of a two year commitment out of high school in addition to this might alleviate some of the woes this country is facing. I am postulating the idea that high school graduates have the option of choosing either a two year civil service job before attending upper level universities, or a two year contract in military service. This would have the benefit of creating a workforce of young people working for their communities, and add to the strength of our national defense without drafting.
There are many other countries that have mandatory military service for its young people, but that is not what I am suggesting, knowing from first hand military experience that not everyone is cut out for that type of service. Giving this option of civilian or military service has several benefits. On the military side of this equation, the money for recruiting could then be set aside for training, and would ease up some of the controversy this nation faces with some of the unscrupulous recruiting tactics that have made headlines over the years. The money then used for training purposes instead greatly enhances the capabilities of our recruits by giving them more resources, better teaching them and preparing them for the road ahead.
As for the civilian side, a young workforce of volunteers helping in that sector gives back to the individual communities. As far as I can remember, nobody has ever complained about community involvement and beautification. This would allow the higher-level civil servants to better organize and manage their resources, since they would now have a larger pool of workers for much needed jobs.
Because of the widening divide between the rich and poor in this country, it has been those from a higher tax bracket that are able to afford sending their children off to college right out of high school. This new option would give some parents much needed relief. As of military service, there is tuition reimbursement for serving members and other educational benefits for veterans. For the civilian side, offering a similar plan for those that choose that option would give equal benefits for service to this country. This way, a child may not need to wait to go to college, but can attend part time at many junior colleges while serving the two year contract in either civilian service or military. Once finished, they would gain access to other benefits to attend larger universities.
The other added benefit would be giving these young people life experience that is far greater than anything they could learn at even the most prestigious Ivy League school. Wisdom and maturity cannot be taught, but only learned through life itself. I have served in this nation’s military proudly, and it has taught me far more than I ever could have hoped to learn at the university level. I am now attending school at Arizona State, armed with maturity and wisdom far beyond what I had when I was 18 and graduating high school. I look around, see the waning maturity level of current students under the age of 20, and sigh. As some have said, “they don’t how good they have it”, and they throw it all away with a lackadaisical approach to schoolwork and priorities. Giving young people a way to better afford education while giving them work experience and growing in maturity can only serve to help them. Instead of dropping out after a year and a half of bad grades in college, they would spend that time working for the betterment of this country, while earning a modest paycheck as a bonus. After their two-year commitment is up, they could continue on that path, or leave for college, now able to afford it and able to focus on the more important priorities of school over beer pong.
The biggest selling point of this option that I can’t stress enough, is giving the individual the freedom to choose. That is the very principle this country was founded on. While requiring high school students to do community service to graduate is fine, anything more as a requirement has many people screaming “Hitler Youth”. This choice gives just that, a choice. It allows parents to rest easy knowing their son or daughter will have the capability of affording school. It will give this country the much needed boost to its security without implementing the notorious draft (that this former military member is wholeheartedly against). It allows young people to have the opportunity to give back to their communities and nation while earning a paycheck and gaining much needed experience. Forcing this upon the nation is not what this country is about, but giving them the choice makes all the difference.
Thank you for your time, and I hope that your own life experience has given you the wisdom to make the right choices as our leaders. Think of this as an alternative to the current plan that is being drawn up. Good day to you all.
Sincerely,
Tim Norris
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-Overall your argument was very clear and it helped that you were very specific with your possible solution.
ReplyDelete-Visually it might help your argument if you break it up into more paragraphs. It wouldn’t change anything with the argument itself, but it would be a little easier to read.
-Good job bringing up the comparison to “typical” college students. I don’t know how your intended audience would react to it, but it definitely makes your writing stand out a lot more. It might help to make some sort of qualification to maybe say most students are like that instead of just grouping all “young people” into one group.
Good job mixing in your personal experiences in with your facts and proposal. I think it really helps your argument towards your intended audience to really emphasize that you were in the military.
-The main problem that I see is you should explain how your sources are relevant to your argument and put that in the actual letter instead of just putting in links and assuming the reader (especially for your intended audience) will take the time to open them.
Your argument is a very interesting one. I have never heard in much detail such a plan. It seems like it would be very beneficial on many levels. I will have to study it a little more… Your paper is well written. A few things were a little unclear. Like this sentence in your first paragraph, “While requiring high school students to work in community clean up projects in addition to schoolwork to be able to graduate might instill some level of maturity and experience, there is more that can be done.” Your second paragraph is also a little unclear. If you could clear up some areas your paper will send a powerful message. Well done… Also, thank you for military service.
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