Civic Duty: What Does It Truly Mean?

From time to time, we here at DKos get to talking about our "Civic Duty".  But, just what IS that "duty"?  I mean, yes.  We pay taxes.  That is clearly a "civic duty".  A great many of us here also consider voting to be a Civic Duty; but, just how many Americans truly feel that duty?  And in reality, how many of them actually ACT on that sense of duty?

With our country in so many quandries, I truly feel that we're collectively sitting at the cusp of major change, both at home and abroad.  And now, I feel, is the time to truly put "Civic Duty" into real, honest, action...and I have a proposal.

I also feel that, if proposed correctly, legislating Civic Duty would benefit Democracy as well as "The American Way".

Please, let me explain:

To at least half of our population, voting is clearly a "Civic Duty".  Unfortunately, however, a great many have given up on this duty.  Perhaps it's because they've been disenfranchised far too many times; perhaps it's because they don't think there's much of a difference from one politician to another; or perhaps they just don't give a damn.  Whatever the reason, I think it's time for our lawmakers to take serious consideration regarding a demand for the American Citizenry to partake of their country's necessities!  Here's what I propose:

United States' Citizens, aged 14 to 18 years, will be required / expected to volunteer a certain number of hours per week, on a volunteer basis, contributing back to society.  The specifics can be worked out, of course, meaning the 14-year-olds could be expected to commit a 2 hour segment during the "school week" and then a 4 hour segment each weekend, for example; and the 17 or 18 year olds could be expected to commit more hours...and during the "summer vacation" from school, they could be expected to log 20 hours each week.

The point being is that these "kids" are our future American Citizens.  These are our voting public!  And too many are not at all "plugged in" to our society as they should be.  Too many are WAY too sheltered.  

If you look at other countries, it is demanded that all citizens, once they reach a certain age, join the military to serve a necessary number of years.  I can't tell you how many of my Jewish friends here in America went back to Isreal to serve 2 years in the military in order to maintain their duel citizenship.

Anyway, I digress:

Although it is not necessary to require military commitment, per se, it WILL be necessary to allow a variety of ways for American citizens to meet their Civic Duty:  By volunteering at a hospital, by working at a soup kitchen, by helping out a foster family, by working at a VA hospital, by helping to clean a local highway, by helping out Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Peace Corps, etc.  for a designated number of hours per year for 2-4 years.

The point being is that if the Government establishes a "registration form" that is comparable to registering for classes in college, meaning it will have prerequisites of sorts (age requirements or experience working with certain demographics), it could quite easily be done:  those in the 14-15 year range will be required to devote X amount of hours each week/month/year (however they decide) and only qualify for the less risky jobs:  soup kitchen, salvation army cashier clerk, highway cleanup, evengelical home companionship/volunteerism, etc. and those in the 17-18+ year range qualify for the Peace Corps and other overseas opportunities, neighborhood watch enorcement-type jobs, and even drug intervention and therapy.

Anyway, my thought is that too many American kids are WAY too sheltered from the Real World.  They live in their own version of a "bubble", so when it comes to realizing what it means to have a Civic Duty, they simply blow it off.  I would even venture to say that some of the more "priveldged" grow up thinking that the government owes THEM!  However, if it becomes an American Duty, legislated by the US Government, for each and every American citizen, regardless of their socio-economic status, to commit their time and energy volunteering BACK into society (on a local level), then it can only help to truly educate our future voters on how reality really looks and feels and smells and exists.  If it becomes required for us all to put in a minimal amount of our time during our life toward others within our realm of existence, it can only help to bring out empathy, concern for our fellow neighbor, respect for the elderly and the ailing, and a sense of True. Patriotic. Duty.

In essence, a true Civic Duty, as it should be.

I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of only 50% of our citizens participating in voting.  And, I firmly believe that if we start at 14, we can have a REAL affect on the kids when it comes time for them to vote.  I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see that, by giving 5-20 hours each week for 4 years of life, it increases the turnout come voting time...

I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of so many people growing up with a warped sense of reality...of only caring about what happens to them...of caring only about how they can pad their own pockets regardless of what the expense is to many members of society that are less fortunate.

I sincerely believe that if there is a way to mandate that each and every American devote a certain number of hours to public service (applicable to their age) then they will grow up with the experience of having a SENSE of Civic Duty.  And then, and only then, will they really understand the implications of voting, and paying taxes, and the Bill of Rights, and our Constitution...

In all honesty, I'm not the one to bring out specifics.  Those would have to be worked out by Legislative Professionals.  But the basic gist is to have X amount of hours required for 14 year olds; X+ hours for 15 year olds; and so on.  There would not be any requirement for military duty at this time....but I canNOT see how this type of experience would have a detremental affect on our volunteer military.  If anything, I would expect even MORE people finding it necessary to protect and defend their country after such a personal investment!

I see only benefits...namely that a great number of our children will grow up having had experiences dealing with members of their very same society that they never knew existed.  This is a great way to tangibly broaden the awareness and knowledge base of our future voters, and it is a fantastic way to reinstate what it really, honestly, and truly means to have a Civic Duty.

What do you think?