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National Service

young men exercising on an orange background with the words mandatory national service | Illustration: Lex Villena; J.L. Sousa, Register/ZUMA Press/Newscom

National Service

Mandatory National Service Is a Morally Bankrupt Idea

Frederick Douglass compared compelled labor to slavery. That objection still stands.

J.D. Tuccille | 8.12.2022 7:00 AM

My body my choice 2 | Public Domain

Abortion

A Broader Perspective on "My Body, My Choice"

The principle has implications that go far beyond abortion. Some of them deserve far more attention than they have gotten to this point.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 6.30.2022 2:15 PM

chriscoons_1161x653 | Jeff Malet Photography/Newscom

Coronavirus

A Pandemic Is Not a Chance To Flog Your Bad National Service Proposals

The federal government has done a terrible job managing the coronavirus. It doesn't deserve our labor.

Scott Shackford | 5.8.2020 2:15 PM

topicspolitics | Lorie Shaull/Creative Commons

National Service

Mayor Pete's 'National Service' Plan Was a Nationalist Fantasy

Buttigieg doesn't realize that using the blunt force of government to forge national unity will forever disappoint.

Matt Welch | 4.14.2020 6:00 AM

westendrf459138 | Dangubic/Westend61 GmbH/Newscom

National Service

Young Americans Oppose Mandatory National Service, Military or Otherwise

That could be bad news for 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg.

J.D. Tuccille | 12.3.2019 7:00 AM

Seriously, if you told me this was Will Ferrell wearing a bald cap, I'd believe you. | Jeff Topping/Polaris/Newscom

National Service

Presidential Candidate John Delaney Has a Plan for America's Young Adults. It's Called Forced Labor.

The only way mandatory national service would "unify" the teens of America would be to cause them to loathe the government together.

Scott Shackford | 7.29.2019 1:10 PM

Army | Bumbleedee/Dreamstime.com

Memorial day

Army Tweets 'How Has Serving Impacted You?' Gets Thousands of Responses About the Horrors of War

"My cousin committed suicide while on duty at the armory after coming home from a tour abroad."

Zuri Davis | 5.25.2019 12:45 PM

My body my choice 2 | Public Domain

Organ transplants

Broader Implications of 'My Body, My Choice'

I agree with this classic pro-choice slogan. But those who promote it would do well to recognize it has implications that go far beyond abortion. More people should embrace more of them.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 5.10.2019 11:09 PM

maddow-buttigieg4-17-2 | YouTube, MSNBC

Pete Buttigieg

Pete Buttigieg's National Service Plan Is a Really Bad Idea Whose Time Might Have Come

Mayor Pete pitches a vague policy as a cure to help fix "the lack of social cohesion" that he says defines contemporary America.

Nick Gillespie | 4.17.2019 3:35 PM

NationalService | NA

National Service

Why Mandatory National Service is Both Unjust and Unconstitutional

A post based on my presentation at a panel on mandatory national service organized by the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service.

Ilya Somin |The Volokh Conspiracy | 10.19.2018 3:38 PM

Large image on homepages | Dreamstime

Policy

Another Reason Not to Draft Millennials: They Are Wisely Skeptical About War

New Cato Institute study shows the future is in good hands.

Robby Soave | 6.19.2015 6:35 PM

Large image on homepages | Dreamstime

Civil Liberties

To Destroy ISIS, Conscript Millennials, Says Baby Boomer Journalist

I am a millennial, get me out of here!

Robby Soave | 6.17.2015 10:40 AM

Politics

No Pilot, No Problem

The future of military aviation is unmanned. The sooner it comes, the better.

Tim Cavanaugh | 4.12.2012 1:30 PM

Politics

Washington: Crackling With Brainy Sacrifice

Matt Welch | 4.7.2009 9:13 AM

Politics

Generation Sclerosis

Matt Welch | 3.26.2009 2:45 PM

Politics

GIVE a Little Bit of Your Service to Me

Matt Welch | 3.20.2009 2:54 PM

Politics

Obama Youth Corps?

Jacob Sullum | 1.30.2009 3:58 PM

Politics

Serve the Servants

Matt Welch | 11.19.2008 5:52 PM

Politics

Girls Gone Wild Killed

Matt Welch | 10.13.2008 11:02 AM

Politics

A Second Look at National Service

Nick Gillespie | 9.16.2008 2:23 PM

Politics

Serve a Cause Greater Than Yourself on the Taxpayer's Dime

Both McCain and Obama want to beef up "public service." Bad idea.

Nick Gillespie | 9.16.2008 12:00 PM

Politics

Non Serviam

Brian Doherty | 9.11.2008 4:07 PM

Politics

Mandatory Volunteerism

Radley Balko | 7.23.2008 11:24 AM

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