"Now the idea behind patriotism is that there exists some exclusive group to which one belongs and is "good" to favour at the expense of others."

or to defend against unjust attack.

Australia day is for all who reside here to appreciate the toils of those before us not just ride on their efforts without a second thought !

individual,
>A National Service would create a mindset of care instead of the carelessness we experience now !
On the contrary, it would create a mindset of resentment and hatred.
Young people value their freedom, even though you don't.

To often nationalism and patriotism are seen as interchangeable. There is a limited commonality between the two concepts. Nationalism brings out the extreme, the bigot, the hater, the racists, the warmonger, a whole range of nasty human qualities. Patriotism is an affection for ones country, and a willingness to defend it. Nationalism is far more extreme, a belief that ones country/government is superior to all others, this often leads to open hostility towards "outsiders" who are perceived as lesser, or a danger to the ideal which is yours. The Nationalist will wrap himself in a flag and call himself a patriot.

"By 'nationalism' I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labelled 'good' or 'bad'. But secondly--and this is much more important--I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognising no other duty than that of advancing its interests. Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. By 'patriotism' I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseparable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality."

George Orwell.

On the contrary, it would create a mindset of resentment and hatred.
Aidan,
NO ! This kind of indoctrination is only pushed by Leftists with their insidious agenda of rebelling against normalcy, decency & general responsibility !
I know many young unemployed people who tell me they'd "love to go out & do things" instead of lulling aimlessly around with no hope of incompetent bureaucrats ever creating an economic environment for them to get ahead.
Perhaps our young aren't as indoctrinated as the ones in the cities ! Young people need hope not brainless & useless bureaucrats & Academics telling the what they can't do but not what they can do & are capable of !

A very interesting discussion, but it seems that we all have different definitions of "nationalism" and "patriotism", so I'll try to avoid these terms and speak of content instead.

Being good towards someone(s) does not imply an identification with any particular group. One can love others and work with them even without considering where they live, what their ethnic background is, or what their views and identifications are. Also without expecting anything in return. If anything is expected, then this is trade, not love.

Defending against an unjust attack can simply be an expression of siding with justice and goodness, rather than with a particular group of people.

Appreciating the toils and efforts of others who lived before us only because we are their beneficiaries, is mediocre. Why not appreciate good works for just what they are?

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Dear Paul,

Although I am not confident in your use of terms, I very much appreciate your analysis.

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Dear Individual,

I highly respect your choice of what your tax dollars should go into.
Yet do you respect mine?

I prefer my tax-money to go towards welfare, including to support those who do not wish to hold a paid job. I am happy for some of it to also go towards CERTAIN FORMS of infrastructure, but definitely not any infrastructure (e.g. NBN), nor towards job-creation.

You mentioned "drug abusers and criminals", but these are minorities. I was studying in university when dragged into the army. Besides being a horror, it was the first and only time in my life where I was exposed to, and forced to live with, drug abusers and criminals.

Such imprisonment, torture and slavery of innocent children, tearing them away from their families and good works/company, is so atrocious that whoever does so doesn't deserve to live and whichever country does it, ought to be destroyed. It's better even to let drug-addicts be.

IF, OTOH, all you mean by "national service" is to provide paying public jobs for interested young people, then this is neither national nor service, but just an employment-deal with the state as employer.