Marine on the bus

No problem.

I would like to see a mandatory service to the country by all; women, men, handicapped, whatever. Military, Peace Corp, Civilian Conservation Corp, Works Projects, etc.
A year or two after high school and before further education or employment would do no harm if it was handled correctly. While I realize it would still be open to favoritism and influence by those seeking to escape any association with the common man and common work and duty, it would still be an opportunity for all classes, races, genders, and individuals to mix while giving of themselves to others.
Conservatives would surely applaud the building of morals, the experience of selfless work, and so on. No exceptions, everyone serves as they can.

And I'm babbling ..... it will never happen.

 

I share your concern but consider the WPA; it had no military or governmental control aspects to it. It offered employment by constructing public buildings such as libraries, schools and parks. It built roads and bridges, and it supported musicians, artists, writers, actors, directors and literacy projects.
Likewise for the CCC. They planted 3 billion trees, constructed 800 parks, built roads and bridges, controlled wildlife, improved fire and flood protection services, etc. No government contol over individuals resulted.

Today the Peace Core offers 2 years of out of country service in social and economic areas. It works with governments, schools, non profit entities, and private concerns.
AmeriCorpsVista is similar to the PeaceCorp, but domestic. Volunteers sign on for 1 year of work by supporting educational endeavors at a local level and securing private sector support. Senior Corp is similar.
The NCCC partners with secular and faith based community projects, Indian tribes, schools, and others, and FEMA to provide local services.

All of these were, or are, government sponsored organizations that are non military, provide the enlistee with a basic income and provide a public service that benefits the government, the public and the enlistee with positive experiences that are not militarily orientated.

Mandating participation by all citizens, for a short while, in one of a variety of programs such as these as another option to military training or possibly college enrollment would seem to me to be a fair means of making a contribution to the general public by all citizens from all economic and social levels.

I'm sorry, but I watched this live and I'm sure it greatly influenced the hippies that were to come.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLdA1ikkoEc"]John F Kennedy 'Ask not' - YouTube

 

Yeah, irony can be a bitch.