Not sure why this is such an unpopular opinion. There's no shortage of public work that needs to be done, there's no shortage of people[1] who want to do work, why not a national service that actually improves lives?
[1] Well, okay, at this precise moment, unemployment is at historic lows, but that hasn't always been the case, and won't always be the case.
[1] Well, okay, at this precise moment, unemployment is at historic lows, but that hasn't always been the case, and won't always be the case.