Imagine the best professionals trying to put through moving windmills or over shipwrecked pirate ships the and the like. Would they be good at it, or would the differences be enough to drive them nuts?
I had this idea in the shower, figured I’d run it by this sub. A theoretical nation could implement a theoretical conscription program, applicable to all able-bodied and able-minded citizens, starting at say 20, lasting 1-2 years per person. This would NOT be to the military, as many real nations do. Instead, each citizen could apply to different industries or fields that overall benefit society, things like:
-The builders corps (aka constructing roads, affordable housing,) etc -First Responders IE EMTs -Ranching/Food production -Social Workers /LE besides police -Humanitarian Aid workers -Military -Forest Service /EPA -Other lower-skilled jobs/ government projects. These are more genres than specific jobs, but they would have to be confined to relatively low-skill/quick education jobs in say six months or less.
Ideally you’d be paid, fed, and housed in decent conditions while working here.
Ideally this would be seen by citizens as a patriotic duty in this theoretical nation, and something people could be proud of as they’ve personally worked to better their nation. This would obviously be hard to drum up support for, but bear with me.
It would also ideally increase civic engagement afterward, as people would likely care more to help keep their society safe/prosperous, as they’ve each personally helped to make it better.
One would have to register and apply like the US does selective service, except they’d apply to the specific job they want within the available options. This would let people be able to choose a job they’re passionate about rather than being stuck in say a military job they don’t care about which I’m sure happens in countries with mandatory service. (I don’t live somewhere with this, if you couldn’t tell.)
I’m sure there are problems with this that I’m overlooking, as well as the moral questionability of conscription. Please anyone let me know their thoughts.
