[KantianBurke]

"I think a mandatory two year service time for all 18 year old males would do the U.S. some good."

Our all volunteer military would be harmed by the introduction of your "character building" recruits. So please disabuse yourself of such totalitarian notions.

[ScubieNuc]

"Our all volunteer military would be harmed by the introduction of your "character building" recruits. So please disabuse yourself of such totalitarian notions."

Not necessarily. The military could maintain it's high standards of recruits, while the other service area's could take in the "less desirables."

As far as thinking that such a plan could be implimented now in our society, I realize that we are too weak to attempt that now. Heck, G.W. didn't even impliment the draft after we were attacked on 9-11. If that wasn't enough momentum to do it, I would hate to see what would be able to do it.

By the way, Switzerland and Canada, had similar "totalitarian" type programs. Whether those programs are still around, I don't know.

Sincerely