What have YOU done for America?

Have you ever heard an argument between two people about US politics where one throws down the "I served my country, what did you ever do for America" trump card?

It is an interesting thing for me. In part I get tired of that crap. I don't really feel like any one person's ideas are more valuable because they have given up some part of their life in serving the country.

On the other hand, I do feel a bit annoyed by people who enjoy the freedoms our nation provides but have never really given anything back to the nation. Some argue that they have voted or protested or recycled faithfully but to me it's just not the same.

This is why I propose a 2 year service requirement for those who want to vote or enjoy other "premium" citizenship benefits.

No... I'm not suggesting that everybody has to join the Army. I think everybody should be required to "serve" for two years. People can chose to go build homes for the homeless, provide medical care to the poor, teach in public schools, etc...

There would have to be some sort of Americorps organization keeping track of the service. It would have to be controlled by some kind of legislative oversight (to keep the rich kids from "serving" at country clubs).

I think this would do a whole lot of good. Nobody would be able to say that they are more or less worthy of citizenship, we could get a whole lot of stuff done for the disadvantaged population and people would be forced to leave their little social bubbles and meet their countrymen.

I like it...

Of course there are all those pesky constitutional issues about depriving people of liberty but then again, we could apply that part of the constitution only to those who have served...

I'm brilliant.