My Prescription.

40 countries currently have mandatory military service.

That means their youth will be drafted for a determinate period of time to defend their country's interests. 

That list includes Brazil, Mexico, Israel, Holland, Switzerland, Egypt, Iran, Thailand and South Korea.  Russia drafts their young until Ukraine kills them.

Most conscript their young people for a period of two years.  Some countries, like Israel, will draft for up to 40 months.  Both men and women.  But since Israel only has some 9 million citizens, that's to be expected.  North Korea is the extreme, drafting men for 8 - 10 years, and women for four.  They could object, but for some reason they don't.  

We used to conscript our youth as well.  For all our 112 wars, including the very first.  And ending with the Viet Nam "police action."  (Apparently calling a war something else makes it more palatable.)

But then we ended the draft and created an all-volunteer military.  All six branches.  And our military volunteers are now older, better educated, smarter, more lethal and more motivated.  But they tend to stay and make it a career.  Lessening the opportunities for a guy, like me, to experience it.  Because it's a life-changing experience.

I was a loudmouth smartass pool player, car racer, poker playing, girl chaser before they got me.  And it turned me into a man.  Fully growed me up, it did.  And in addition to defending our Nation, conscripting young people tends to grow them up as well.  A representative sampling of all our youth should defend us.  And that's what I recommend:

     -  I suggest we revert back the draft.  We continue to force our young to sign up for the draft when they turn 18 right now.  We should use that data and go back in time to 1974.  The last year we drafted.

     -  I suggest we draft our youth for a period of 2 years.  Just like 29 of the 40 countries that utilize the draft.  They can stay longer, of course, but not necessarily.  If they are anti-war zealots, let them paint stripes down the middle of the road.

     -  After they come back, 2 years older and 2 years more adultified, I suggest our Great Country should cover the bulk of their higher education efforts.  College or a trade school, their choice.  But only those colleges and universities that justify their fees.  $90k a year don't get it.  Neither does $30k a year.

     -  I suggest the Gubmint stop covering student loans.  Let the banks do what banks do.  Make loans and demand repayment.  Considering we've got more than $1.6 TRILLION DOLLARS IN SKETCHY STUDENT LOANS OUTSTANDING, I suggest we bail.  And fast.

     -  And even if your son or daughter wishes to graduate from a high zoot college, I suggest they be made to attend their first two years at a community college.  Cheap credits.  They're already there and ready to serve, why not use them?  And give the finger to Haaaavid in the process?  How'd it get $50 Billion Dollars in the bank?  Because we started guaranteeing student loans.

When it's all over your 18 year-old kid who doesn't know what he wants to do in life, like me, will come back home a young man or woman.  Ready to learn and ready to  serve.  Ready to become a patriotic citizen and valued member of their communities.  It's our job to grow up our young.  And make them self-sufficient ASAP.  And not spend the family fortune in securing them a diploma.  And to hopefully not bankrupt either our students' parents or the Country in the process.

My Prescription should work.  What do you think?