Obama: "We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that is just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded."
With an ample supply of smoke and mirrors, the House has passed the G.I.V.E. (Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education) Act last week amid the dog and pony show surrounding the AIG bonus scandal. While Barney Frank was spewing off at the mouth in contrived outrage, GIVE Act sponsors Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and George Miller (D-CA) were secretly pushing their version of Obama's call to mandatory volunteerism to the House floor.
From the Fox News article:
The legislation, slated to cost $6 billion over five years, would create 175,000 "new service opportunities" under AmeriCorps, bringing the number of participants in the national volunteer program to 250,000. It would also create additional "corps" to expand the reach of volunteerism into new sectors, including a Clean Energy Corps, Education Corps, Healthy Futures Corps and Veterans Service Corps, and it expands the National Civilian Community Corps to focus on additional areas like disaster relief and energy conservation.
The focus of the bill is far from encouraging individuals to contribute willingly to causes in which they believe. Quite to the contrary; the words "madatory volunteerism" are scattered throughout the bill.
Other interesting verbiage from HR 1388 which passed with a 321 to 105 vote:
- expand and strengthen service-learning programs through year-round opportunities, including during the summer months, to improve the education of children and youth and to maximize the benefits of national and community service, in order to renew the ethic of civic responsibility and the spirit of community to children and youth throughout the United States
- Civilian Community Corps shall be called the “National Civilian Community Corps”
- the Director determines appropriate “Uniforms”
- From the Misc. section, #6104: (6) Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.
Mandatory service? Uniforms? Isn't that what Hitler did with the youth of Germany?
Americans already give more time and money than any other nation when it comes to volunteerism; and we should! We have the most prosperous country in the world. That said, our government should not legislate the generosity of its citizens.
"We contribute our time and money under no government coercion on a scale the rest of the world doesn't emulate and probably can't imagine," said Luke Sheahan, contributing editor for the Family Security Foundation. "The idea that government should order its people to perform acts of charity is contrary to the idea of charity and it removes the responsibility for charity from the people to the government, destroying private initiative."
Obviously, President Obama is attempting to draw on his nationwide support group that successfully got him elected. His campaign had record numbers of volunteers at community levels that produced more voters than any other election in U.S. history. What he is missing is that those volunteers gave of their time and money because they wanted to be involved. Would he have had the same results had the volunteerism been mandatory? (and isn't that an oxymoron?)
Which groups will reap the benefits of the service corp? What organizations will gain the most volunteers, contributions and service? How will that be determined? Sadly, none of these questions are answered in the bill, but my guess is that ACORN is at the top of the list and any Catholic church seeking donations will be left behind.
The main stream media has all but ignored the passage of this bill and what it will mean to our youth. To find more information on HR 1388, click here.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Comments
Thanks Erin. it does resemble a Hitler youth. Tax payers cannot afford more leaches on the system. We are already the most generous country in the world without government. leave it alone and stop trying to indoctrinate our people with garbage the government deems appropriate.
Where is the McCarthyism from years ago when you need it - now more than ever. Domestic enemies are setting the US up for King BHo & his minion army to form his part in the new world order & his super-currency.
Think this is way out there? - Guess again.
"Mandatory Volunteerism"??????????
That says A LOT to me.
My children and grandchildren WILL NOT participate under any circumstances!
Keep buying semi-auto weapons and ammo folks! We're going to need them if we let this madness continue.
I've been thinking about this "where was everyone when Bush was doing it?" question. That seems to be the common rebuttal whenever an Obamabot doesn't have a good argument FOR the prez; they speak AGAINST Bush. I will have to write an article on the subject because I can't possibly answer in a short comment. What I will say is that I'm growing so very tired of the double standard with the libs. The hurtful, personal attacks and blatant lies against former President Bush, McCain, Palin.... are far more damaging than the fact-based criticisms of BO's policies. But the truth is, it doesn't matter what happened before; the GIVE Act, the budget, AIG bonuses, the Omnibus bill, the Spendulus pkg, not saying "terrorist".... etc. are all Obama's issues now. As I've said before, I don't think Bush was a model president for the last 2 years of his term, but let's not forget the dems have had control of Congress making it very difficult for conservatives to accomplish anything.
Something to ponder: Did you ever think that maybe the answer to your question is that people were talking but you just weren't listening??
I tell you what! I see comments about buying weapons. I see comments about Hitler. The article takes excerpts of the bill. Yes, it mentions "uniforms", yes, there is the famous "mandatory" word (would it be mandatory for receiving collge grants...hmm?) and yes, the now threatening "national" word (a few weeks back Obama was not patriotic because he did not want to wear a flag pin..hmmm...straight up objectivity). In all, this makes me sad. I am absolutely convinced that in the mind of certain critics nothing the President does will ever be right. I have read so much critism of this administration that it is hard for me to believe that it has only been a little over two months since inauguration day. So have at it! Make Hitler comparisons and maybe 4 to 8 years from now we will express outrage at those unpatriotic "libs" calling a republican president - let's say...terrorist, socialist, hitlerlike, big spender or whatever. And by the way, every action NO LONGER triggers a reaction. Such it must be for all "cons" who want to absolve the bush administration of any responsibility for the mess we are in today. So buy those weapons! Im sure there will be a way to spin this into being a "patriotic" move.
On the personal attacks: Mc Cain? what personal attacks were made on him? Well at least not this year. Maybe in 2000 by none other then Karl Rove claiming he had fathered a mixed child out of wedlock (so darn ignorant). Palin? What attacks? She bocthed interviews after interviews. Should the media be held responsible for actually "not" editing out the parts she totally flopped. Or maybe should they not have asked the tough questions. What was her view on the economy? She answered the questions she had prepared during the debate while ignoring the moderator's questions. She killed the bridge to nowhere after it was officially on life support. Then "oh no" she still used the money for "other" projects (did we say pork). Her claim to fame was innate ability to incite violent outbursts by claiming Obama is a terrorist (personal attacks?). The liberal media concept infers that most journalists' DNA structure is compiled in such manner that they will tend to be liberals. - Bush was re-elected so its time to get over the spin that "victim" claim is getting so old.
Joe, the Palin issue is a very heated subject for me. If you got your news from anywhere other than SNL, Colbert, Oprah, MSNBC, the View or the like, you could see clearly how the media tore Palin and her family to shreds. There is evidence coming out now that left-wing campaign groups systematically and purposefully lied, inflated and propogandized the Palin's. To say that she was given a fair shake after having one bad interview with Katie "Queen of the World" Curic is insulting. And to be fair, the media did a number on Hillary in the primaries too. They clearly chose their golden boy and did all possible to get him elected. We can agree to disagree on policy, but Sarah Palin has to be off limits. She is a brilliant woman with an excellent track record. Do an open-minded pursuit of knowledge about Sarah Palin and get your information from credible sources; you will likely change your opinion of her.
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