National Fire and Rescue Service

We should establish a National Fire and Rescue Service, to replace the individual Fire Departments around the country. I know this flies in the face of the current heroic Fire Departments around the world, however, many communities are lacking in adequate fire protection. The establishment of a National Fire and Rescue Service would ease the burden of funding adequate fire protection throughout the country. Plus, creating standardized training and equipment throughout. A Nation Fire and Rescue Academy to train Officers and a number of "Boot Camps" to train the rank and file fire fighter. Also the Establishment of a Fire Guard (the Fire Service equivilent of the National Guard as it augments the Army) basically a reserve arm of the National Fire and Rescue. This would decrease the Budgetary concerns of Local Governments while improving public safety.

Dropouts, Voters, and Voluntary Conscription

One of the largest problems facing America today is the dropout rate, how do we keep our youth in school for the full term? My solution would be Voluntary Conscription. What is this you ask? It would be the option for Our youth to enter into National Service. National Service would not be limited to Military Service, it would include Public Safety (Police, Fire and Rescue), Health Services (to be inclusive of Working in Hospitals, clinics, assisting in child care, senior care and Doctors offices), Conservation Corps (National Parks and Wilderness management areas), and any other field which could be considered in the public interest. This would be a requirement for young people to enter into upon leaving school (High School), and before entering higher fields of education. I use voluntary and requirement loosely, because where it would only be manditory, if the individual wanted to take advantage of certain privileges. Privileges such as Driving a car under the age of 21, Taking out Federally sponsered Loans, Voting in elections, collecting welfare, medicare or public assistance.
This Conscription would be a period of no less than 2 years, unless the individual does not have a GED or High School Diploma (this would incur an additional 1 to 2 year obligation and prohibit them from choosing the field of National Service). If the individual wanted to choose his or her field this would add an additional year (which non High School grads are exempt). Applicants desiring to enter into a fully funded College Program, would have to add an additional year and would be placed into a field that best suits their academic desires (Those wishing to enter one of the Military Academies, would be under a 4 year obligation in the Armed Forces of their choice, provided that they meet the entrance standards of that Academy). Those wishing to enter the Medical field would be under a 3 year obligation, with the exception of those wishing to be placed in a fully funded national program increasing their obligation to 5 years, which would be reduced to as little as 2 years if they participate in a National Need Relocation Program upon completion of their medical training, for a term equaling the reduction in service time. Similar programs would be available to other aspiring scholars who wish to recieve a "Free Ride" from federally sponsered college programs. Candidates would have to qualify for the field in which they want to serve, and failure to successfully complete their term of service would be the equivilent of opting out in the first place.