Youth and government

I question some of the conclusions the author makes in the Opinion page article "America's Politically Inert Youth," March 16. It is not so strange that more than 75 percent of the young people surveyed oppose a law requiring them to perform national service, since these are the people most affected.

But to oppose legislation mandating service is not the same as saying that young people do not want to contribute to national goals.

Young people are demanding not more services from the government, but different services - not necessarily big government, perhaps just effective government. Rebecca Latorraca, Washington

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