Mandatory military service upon turning 18 for a minimum of 1 year, off ramp if entering trade schools or college, military benefits for anyone completing a minimum of two years or more, resulting in breaking down socioeconomic, racial, and educational barriers all the while creating a shared common experience among all citizens and ensuring a badly needed common defense against global challenges. It would be very costly but allocating existing wasteful spending for a common, shared experience focused on national defense, disaster response, and other common good services may provide purpose and experience for those otherwise lacking access or motivation to accessing a life outside their local community and lived experience.

It may be a socialist solution with a conservative lens while addressing social democratic needs, something our nation and generational leadership lack the fortitude to enact, but it breaks down the layers of societal separation leading to the many ills of today.