On the right track

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is on the right track with his proposal to require national service by young people.

Rangel wants to replace the Selective Service law with a system to subject all American men and women and legal permanent residents, ages 18-26, to compulsory military service or alternative civilian service.

Under Rangel's proposal, the President would determine the needed numbers and the means of selection. The only deferments would be for those completing high school, up to the age of 20. There would be no exemptions for college or graduate school.

While Rangel's proposal stems from his opposition to war against Iraq, which was approved overwhelmingly by the 107th Congress, -- where only four members have children in the military -- his idea can stand on its own merits.

Just as every citizen enjoys our country's liberties, we each should bear the burden of defending them. Our current system of an all-volunteer military means that 35% of those in the service are members of minority groups. Many of the others are rural residents and poor whites -- hardly a representative sample of our population.

Rangel's proposal deserves passage.