NYT: Kamala Should Draft Young Men Into Military Service to Give Them 'Purpose'

To reignite the hope of the emerging generation, Ms. Harris should make a sweeping national call to both military and civilian service — name it the Generation Z Compact to Rebuild and Renew America. Such a plan would offer a sense of identity, community and patriotism, while providing economic stability and skill building — things many young men feel they are missing.

Young Americans have consistently voiced support for national service programs, yet political action has yet to catch up. A 2021 survey revealed that 71 percent of adults under 25 were open to participating in a service program. Even more striking, a poll conducted last year found that about 75 percent of young people backed mandatory national service. These numbers tell a clear story: Our youth's appetite for civic engagement is strong and growing.

From President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 to President John F. Kennedy's Peace Corps in 1961 to President Bill Clinton's AmeriCorps in 1993, national service has been a cornerstone of American resilience, transformation and progress. More than three decades after the last significant civic engagement initiative, Kamala Harris can frame national service as a pathway to rebuilding America's strength from within, addressing growing concerns about military recruitment and bridging political divides with a renewed sense of shared responsibility.

Donald Trump has gained ground with Gen Z by systematically exploiting the fears and insecurities of young men, making them feel that their masculinity and future are under siege. Kamala Harris can counter that narrative by listening and recognizing their fears but also by offering something more profound: a vision of hope, strength and shared purpose.