Sherry — I think you hit the nail on the head with your 3rd point.

From a marketing standpoint “Free Education” won’t fly with the puritanical nature of our country. Also, as a nation of individuals with almost zero public will, “Free” for you means I lose — whether I actually do or not.

I strongly believe that the rise of individualism is tied to a huge reduction in public service over the past 40–50 years. There is no sense of community, or of giving back-just the misguided notion that the few who are successful did so with (only) the sweat off their brow and the power of their minds. (BS)

National service can be many things: Infrastructure support, local community involvement, education, military, etc, etc. We have so many issues in these areas (except military) that could be addressed by throwing motivated young people behind them.

Lots of options here — You want to be an engineer? 2 years of classwork, 2 more of on-job training (apprenticeship), followed by a combination of field/classwork to complete a degree. Will there be attrition? Of course? Are we as a nation better off anyway? You bet.

If you’re an alt-right conservative, about the only thing to hate about this plan is that your party didn’t come up with it. You give to the country, the country gives back to you, win/win. Nothing “free”, no “handouts”, no “socialism”, no “end of capitalism” or “democracy”.

Just a country willing to invest in it’s citizens, who in turn are willing to invest themselves in their country.