The following comes from the sub chapter 'The Case for Universal Citizen Service' in chapter 5, pages 60-64 of Rahm Emanuel's book The Plan: Big Ideas for America. There is no editing, skipping, or commentary from me (please excuse any typos).

"Every citizen needs to understand and accept the essence of the American bargain: Each of us has to do his or her part. While the rights of citizenship are explicit in our Constitution, the implicit responsibilities are every bit as crucial. For our radical experiment in freedom to work, we must prize responsibilities as well as rights, and never presume to do for people what they can do for themselves. After 9/11, both parties in Washington spent countless hours debating a law called the Patriot Act, which gave federal authorities new powers to police terrorism. We're all for giving law enforcement the tools to do its job; the two of us helped write legislation to do just that(which the Republican Congress largely rejected) after domestic terrorists blew up the federal building in Oklahoma city in 1995. We have no problem with spying on terrorists, here or elsewhere. Indeed, as we'll explain later, we believe the U.S. should strengthen its domestic counterterrorism capacity in a way that also safeguards our freedoms.

Our problem with the Patriot Act is simple: It doesn't have much to do with patriotism. We want the government to be aggressive in protecting us from terrorists. But we want a government that's just as serious about challenging us as citizens. Americans' role in the war on terror is not simply to be waving flags on the sidelines.

It's time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under this plan, all Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic training, civil defense preparation, and community service.

This is not a draft. We repeat: This is not a draft. It's not military either. We're not asking young people to be soldiers, but to be citizens- ready to respond to the nation's needs here at home. The idea of universal civilian service may not be popular everywhere in our party. Some Republicans will squeal about individual freedom, forgetting their own rhetoric that freedom isn't being free. But universal service is the right thing to do, and our country will be stronger for it.

Here's how it would work. Young people will know that between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, the nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service. They'll be asked to report for basic civil defense training in their state or community, where they will learn what to do in the event of biochemical, nuclear, or conventional attack; how to assist others in an evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we're hit by a natural disaster. These young people will be available to address their communities' most pressing needs. For those willing to make a longer commitment to their community and country, we will dramatically expand access to AmeriCorps, which provides college assistance in return for extended service.

In the 1990's, Bill Clinton and the late Eli Segal launched AmeriCorps, which has given more than 400,000 young people the chance to serve their country. After 9/11, even President Bush briefly proposed a modest increase in AmeriCorps, only to let House conservatives scale it back. At one revealing point, the administration stopped awarding AmeriCorps scholarships because, like the rest of compassionate conservatism, the program ran out of money.

By asking every young American to serve, universal civilian service will strengthen America in three vital ways.

First, it will provide real, lasting security benefits. We shouldn't kid ourselves- the war on terror won't be over anytime soon. The Cold War lasted nearly half a century; what some call this "long war" could go on for decades. If that's the case, citizens are going to have to get tougher, smarter, and stronger. The best antidote to fear is preparation. In World War II, cities and towns turned out the lights and pulled down the shades for blackout drills. We grew up in the Cold War listeneing to weekly air raid sirens. Yet today, most Americans have no clue what to do in the event of a nuyclear, chemical, or biological attack. The Department of Homeland Security hasn't told us. Training young people in civilian defense- and enlisting them to train and inform others - will pay immediate practical dividends. America will feel safer, and be safer.

Second, universal civilian service may be just what we need to save the volunteer army and avoid a draft. In the 2000 campaign, George W. Bush and Dick Cheyney promised the military that "help is on the way." The the Bush administration steadily depleted and abused both the armed forces and the National Guard and the Reserves. Sending young soldiers into battle without sufficient body armor and extending tours without relief took a heavy toll on recruiting back home. Universal service will not compel anyone to serve in the military, but it may increase the pool of young people willing to volunteer for military service, millions of young people will meed others who have served or plan to serve, and will no longer view duty to their country as someone else's job.

Third, and most important, universal service will give young people a chance early in their lives to look past differences of race, class, creed, and religion, and see themselves and one another first and foremost as Americans. We are the most diverse nation on earth. To lead the world in this century, we must make the most of that great strength, not let our differences become a burden. The U.S. Military is an extraordinary example of differences giving way to national purpose. Civilian service can do the same, bringing people of vastly different backgrounds together to serve side by side and find common ground with a common purpose."