Posted by Jed Lewison on Fri Sep 28, 2007 at 3:56 PM Pacific

A constitutional convention?

I've never been a huge fan (nor detractor) of Larry Sabato, but I think his post on DailyKos about a constitutional convention was pretty compelling stuff.

There are a variety of interesting angles, but perhaps the most interesting was the discussion of a "Bill of Responsibilities" as well as a "Bill of Rights."

The basic idea includes some form of compulsory national service for all citizens -- not necessarily military in nature.

It seems to me there would be several advantages to this, including:

- Helping shape what it means to be an American in a positive way -- especially in a non-militaristic way

- Helping develop national unity across racial/social/economic/ethnic/gender lines (today's military is a great example of racial integration, though not as much ethnic/gender/cultural and possibly religious integration)

- If the program was run well, it would do some good, both at home and around the world

- By making national service a requirement for all new citizens, it would both create a path to assimilation as well as lessen the resentment that some feel towards immigrants

Of course, putting together such a program would not be easy; it would raise serious fundamental issues, including issues of separation of church and state. No doubt the program would have to be more tolerant of organized religious services than public schools (primarily because the participants are older, and therefore should be able to deal with diversity better), yet it probably would not go as far as the military does.

On the other hand, this and other issues are the kinds of things we need to work through, and what better way to work through them than with a program that could have so many benefits?

A constitutional convention?

I've never been a huge fan (nor detractor) of Larry Sabato, but I think his post on DailyKos about a constitutional convention was pretty compelling stuff.

There are a variety of interesting angles, but perhaps the most interesting was the discussion of a "Bill of Responsibilities" as well as a "Bill of Rights."

The basic idea includes some form of compulsory national service for all citizens -- not necessarily military in nature.

It seems to me there would be several advantages to this, including:

- Helping shape what it means to be an American in a positive way -- especially in a non-militaristic way

- Helping develop national unity across racial/social/economic/ethnic/gender lines (today's military is a great example of racial integration, though not as much ethnic/gender/cultural and possibly religious integration)

- If the program was run well, it would do some good, both at home and around the world

- By making national service a requirement for all new citizens, it would both create a path to assimilation as well as lessen the resentment that some feel towards immigrants

Of course, putting together such a program would not be easy; it would raise serious fundamental issues, including issues of separation of church and state. No doubt the program would have to be more tolerant of organized religious services than public schools (primarily because the participants are older, and therefore should be able to deal with diversity better), yet it probably would not go as far as the military does.

On the other hand, this and other issues are the kinds of things we need to work through, and what better way to work through them than with a program that could have so many benefits?

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