Mandatory conscription

The United States benefits from conscription because national spirit
increases, national unity improves, neighborhoods become safer and
society grows healthier. With conscription, troubled teens who normally
head to street corners enter the military and receive the training,
discipline and experience that propel them to a stable and secure life.
They unite with people of all sexes, races and religions to work toward a
common good. This allows neighborhoods to become safer and society to
become stronger.

The workforce gets better workers, families get better mothers and fathers, and the country gets a more unified citizenship.

Conscripts benefit from the military service because they learn practical life skills such as first aid, wilderness survival, computer proficiency and self-defense. They become physically fit, mentally strong and knowledgeable in multiple areas. Conscripts learn how to work hard, discipline themselves, follow orders, think on their feet and lead their peers. Most importantly, they come away from the military with skills that benefit society, the workplace and the family. With a college degree, the men and women who served their two years with honor will be sought after by the public and private sectors.

Mandatory military service might seem too drastic, too un-American or too impractical to implement in the 21st century, but it is a legitimate idea that deserves a fair discussion and open debate. A review of current democracies using conscription, an analysis of the U.S. military and an evaluation of our country’s civilian state lead me to believe that conscription is the answer to many of our country’s — and children’s — woes.

Armstrong Williams is on Sirius/XM Power 169, 7-8 p.m. and 4-5 a.m., Monday through Friday. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arightside, and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/arightside.