Is mandatory civil service a good idea?

Most people don't argue about the value of civic and volunteer service. But should it be mandatory?

Three guests who study philanthropy or work for philanthropic foundations discussed volunteering, mandatory public service, and how all of this affects our democracy, citizenship and the civility of public discourse.

To hear the entire conversation, select the audio link above.

Guests

Bill Galston, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former policy adviser for President Bill Clinton.

Sara Konrath, director of the Interdisciplinary Program for Empathy and Altruism Research.

Bill Basl, director of AmeriCorps State and National at the Corporation for National and Community Service.