Mandatory Civil Service? A Good Idea?

Here me out before passing judgment. In Israel (among other nations), every guy/girl has to be in the army for a certain number of years. Forget forced armed service, and focus instead on two or three years mandatory civil service. The possibilities are limitless. First I will look at how it would work, theoretically, and then look at its benefits.

Every person would have to give service time, rich or poor, to local, state, or national governments. Exams could be administered to better place the person in terms of their aptitudes, skills, and likes/dislikes. A minimum pay scale (a good one) would be established that would actually benefit those who are poor by probably giving them more economic power and freedom; for those making more money than the minimum, they would receive the equivalent pay with a maximum ceiling meant to prevent tax payers being unfairly burdened. Because everyone had to participate, employers would either voluntarily or by law be forced to suspend the persons job and give it back to them at the end of the service, unless the person wanted to change their career and become a full-time public servant. Civil service, of course, can be a wide ranging set of things: local/state/national politics; armed service; engineering; construction of public goods; etc. There would be an age minimum/maximum that would force people to delay it while pursuing an education and a family, but would not allow them to delay it for too long.

Among other things, I think it would be beneficial for a number of reasons. First, by giving one's time and seeing what it is like to participate in local, state-level, or national politics, the individual will get a better feel for how the system works. Second, by getting a better feel s/he will appreciate what s/he has, be more inclined to protect it, and be more sympathetic to others trying to protect it. Third, the complexities of politics would be laid bare to those participating in it, and the tendency to polarize and practice politics of absolutism would more likely give way to politics of responsibility. Fourth, knowing that the person you are dealing with in other settings has given their time and energy, or will be sacrificing this soon will hopefully increase the tendency towards civil discourse. It is a way of creating a bond, forced no doubt, but positive. Furthermore, while 2-3 years sounds like a lot, it would be the best way to give back to a society which provides jobs, wealth, subsistence, entertainment, affection, and the satisfaction of a wide range of other needs. It would be hoped that the rhetoric between the left and the right, between liberal and conservative, and between majority and minorities would give way to a healthier, more fulfilling discussion focused on improvements. Knowing everyone is contributing in similar ways, albeit temporarily, would likely make other social services appear more deserved regardless of one's class position. The rich could not say "why should I give anything to these people, let them earn themselves." Well, they are earning and so are the rich people by giving up a little of their time/energy.

Something has to change before we give in to anger, fear, and the dark side. We can continue to celebrate the Glenn Beck's, Limbaugh's, and Pelosi's, or we can look for true and efficacious ways to reach across the various divides in American civil life. If not, we will only hasten our own destruction which seems inevitable given the nonsense of American media, politics, and the tainted civil sphere...