Citizenship, should it be free?

Enough war debates, it just goes back and forth on assumptions. How about a debate where everyone is nice? Sound good?

Should citizenship in America be an automatic or should it be earned?

Things given for free are rarely ever truly appreciated.

At a certain age, lets say around 16, one must apply for citezenship.



Now here's my reasoning

I think it should be earned. Now everyone that lives here should get basic rights, but make certain right be earned, ie voting or being a politician.

A way to earn this would be serving the country in some way... military service or other forms if people are unable to do it. This is basically what Israel does.

Think about starship troopers, the movoie. They were required to somehow serve their world, military in the movie, and then they got to vote, have kids, be a politician, etc.


Discuss.

Would this be fair?

Would America benefit from such a process?

Edited by Linus

Starship troopers. Think about it.. StarShip...SS, that movie was about Nazism. I think citizenship should be more streamlined, but i dont see an easy solution.

That wasn't random. If I don't feel like having children, going into the military, or voting, I shouldn't have to.

You shouldnt be forced to serve you country to be a citizen. Thats basicaly a draft. Comunity service would be good. But not military service. We would have very few citizen and it would probably lead to a militaristic government.

Okay, here goes-

Military=bad idea. There are many people who can't serve in the military, and many who don't choose to. Citizenship shouldn't be based on the willingness to die for your country,HOWEVER-

I agree with you that too many Americans my age tend to take this nation for granted. They're born into freedom, and they feel its their right to be free. But it's not. If that were true, everyone would be free. It's a privilage to live in a free nation. I feel that a simple test would be fine, with perhaps some oaths or whatnot. Then, if you commit a serious crime (aka murder, rape, child molestation) you could have your citizenship revoked, and be forced to live with a restricted lifestyle or leave this nation (i.e. no bank accounts, no car loans, no credit cards, no government assistance). That would deter crime.

So if you dont join the military your rights are takin away?No free speach, no life liberty or pursuit of happiness? Bahhumbug!

I would just move to Switzerland. Skiing is fun.

But seriously, forcing somebody to earn citizenship wouldn't be a good idea, IMO. The ones who do earn it would be more grateful of what they have, and the ones who didn't get it would riot and protest. Now, I believe if you are born in the United States to parents who are citizens, you should automatically be a citizen(like it is now). I don't really have a policy on immigrants yet, so I'll have to think on it.

EDIT: Oh, yeah, I believe that felonies and other disservices to the country should have their citizenships revoked. Not sure about the current law on that, so please correct me if there is already a law.

Edited by Roll Tide

I threw out military as an idea... there are other things people can do if they are so much a dove they refuse to defend their country.

And I'm saying you get the basic rights, ie, freedom of speech and religion, you just can't vote or be a politicon until you are a citizen.

Please read the whole thing next time.

Edited by Linus

If you are going to base your political view on Starship Troopers, at least go and read the book.  Much better than the movie anyway.

Heinlein makes a tempting case for this proposal.  As always, however, the devil is in the details.

No i dont believe that should be instituted. The current situation is good, i just dont like the people in charge or the decisions theyre making.

Youre making citizenship out to be some huge deal, when it really isnt in my opinion. You can vote, you can get into political office, you can park in residents parking lots, what else? Actually, i dont care what else. If i wasnt a citizen but i still lived here, id have all my rights that i need or want. If i come across something i cant do because im not a citizen, id probably leave the county. This place isnt so good to begin with.

To answer your question, no i will not serve my country at this time (i do not believe in the current administration), no i will not be forced into serving my country "in some other way" if i choose not to, and no i will not become a citizen if this policy is instated.