For many people around the world, the United States and its ideals are viewed as being on a pedestal. Whether it is because of its prosperity, freedom, or government, the U.S. has remained an example to the world. Some think that creating a law demanding two years of public service from each citizen will enhance the view of the U.S. and help its citizens. Unfortunately, doing so will only hurt it. Requiring two years of public service not only disregards individual freedom, it also doubts the civic virtues of citizens.
The Founding Fathers formed the U.S. Constitution based off of the works of John Locke, particularly his Second Treatise of Government. Locke maintains that the Government’s sole responsibility is to protect the “basic rights and liberties” of its citizens (Tamanaha 32). The first problem the Government faces is that they fail to do their job the minute they decide to make two years of public service a requirement. Doing such violates individual’s rights to exercise their freedom to choose. This mandate would also infringe on the principle of
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Enacting this law would presume that the people under their jurisdiction are unable to build a strong moral character in society. What the Government forgets is that civic virtues can still exist and citizens can thrive without their interference. Early colonial communities survived and thrived not by commands from the government but from holding to their beliefs of virtue and practicing civil liberty. In 1645, John Winthrop, the elected governor of Massachusetts, gave his famous Little Speech on Liberty. He stated that authority “... cannot subsist without [liberty] … which is good, just, and honest ...” (Parker 199). The fact that the U.S. Government even exists is evidence that citizens exhibit civic virtues and do not need to be compelled to uphold those