HR 5741, the Universal National Service Act, is currently being debated in the House. The act would require all citizens 18 - 42 to perform 2 years of public service, either in the military or some other non-profit service, such as working in a public hospital, daycare or school.
The bill, sponsored by Congressman Charlie Rangel, has sparked fear and controversy. Crazed conspiracy theorists see it as a plot by Obama to create a secret army dedicated to creating an imagined fascist state. While melodramatic libertarians throw labels like "slavery" around in order to frighten those susceptible to such childish antics.
In reality, many of the world's democracies require high-school graduates to serve a year or two of either military or nonprofit service. The practice is common in Western Europe, and makes a great deal of sense.
History shows Universal National Service is actually one of the best ways to prevent a military from becoming its own insular and dangerous subculture, to prevent the lower ranks of the military from being overwhelmed by people trying to escape poverty, and to keep military actions of the government accountable to the people.
The text of the proposed bill is as follows:
H.R.5741 - Universal National Service Act
To require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, and for other purposes.
The bill, or something like it, is an interesting proposal, and should not be dismissed out of hand. There is a great deal to be said for the proposal. Such a measure would help build character and citizenship in a whole new generation of Americans. To be an American is a privilege, and Universal National Service may be a way to bring that point home.
Comments
Surely, Michael, your opinion would have been exactly the same had this been proposed by, say, Tom DeLay.....four years ago.
Right?
Because, as you say, it's just a GOOD IDEA, and being an American is a PRIVILEGE.....
Where does the Constitution empower Congress to enact such legislation? Additionally, it is not melodramatic to refer to being forced to work for free as slavery.
Correct me If I'm wrong, but didn't the United States fight a war 200+ years ago because we did not want Europe telling us what to do? Join if you want to, but leave me out of it.
Mr. Stone says: "To be an American is a privilege". I guess he thinks that if he utters these words with enough assertion, then reality will somehow transform itself to conform to his wishes.
The exact opposite is true. If Mr. Stone were to read the Declaration of Independence, he would see that this country was founded upon the "self-evident" recognition that each citizen possesses "unalienable Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". He would also discover that governments do not precede the rights of the individual, but instead: "to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed". Governments serve the very specific need of every citizen to protect their rights; citizens DO NOT serve the needs of their governments.
My life is my own to do with as I see fit. I am not a slave to be committed to involuntary servitude by some master like Mr. Stone or his hired federal thugs. WAKE U
The comparison of Universal National Service to slavery is simply absurd. Such a comparison is an insult to all those human beings who have known slavery.
Where do these conspiracy theory libertarian wingnuts come from?
Congressman Rangle introduced a similar bill in 2003 as a means to wake the American selfish, apathetic and willfully-ignorant public up. Never-ending wars for profiteers are now being fought by those who benefit the least in our culture. If everyyoung American was forced to risk their lives and welfare for unnecessary wars, these wars would soon end.
OK O.J. If I don't want to participate, what then? Will I be fined? If I refuse to pay the fine, will I be threaten with being thrown into a metal cage? What happens if I resist being thrown into that cage?
There's no conspiracy here. That is how your government works. Do it our way, or, taking events to their logical conclusion, we'll shoot you. It has a monopoly on using violence and coercion in order to achieve a goal. A core principle to the libertarian philosophy is the rejection of using violence and coercion as a means to an end.
So, which do you choose? A society based on voluntary interaction, or one based on threats of violence?
Would never work, the country is way to corrupt, there is a way around everything
I will not submit to slavery. Not now, not ever.
Rangle will soon be history with the rest of his progressive cronies.
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
How can anyone help but to think about the Hitler Youth when these idiotic ideas come along?
Sieg Heil! Obama!
You can build character without being FORCED to do public service. Forcing someone to do something never works and does not change a person's underlying being.
David Evans, I will tell you what I have told many others. The political culture is very different today. Bush would not have signed such a bill if it had passed. Currently we have a progressive far-left president who likes to engage in social engineering and community organizing. He firmly believes in national service and would love such a bill, and this Congress is just liberal enough it might pass now. Through history there have been any number of bills that did not pass until the political climate was just right. That might be the case now.
Can you imagine how much it would cost to accept almost everyone into the military and babysit them for 2 years while they honored their obligation? Anyone forced into doing anything is not going to bother doing a good job at it.
I suppose there might be a certain segment who would love to do volunteer hemp farming or growing medical marijauna. Mikey would know who those people are.
F@#k Rangel's bill, Mr. Stone. If it ever becomes law, you will see nullification big time - not only by the states, but by the people.
Obamanation can go the hell.
OK OJ, Just how many slaves do you know today?
ser·vi·tude (s?r?v? to??o?d?, -tyo??o?d?)
noun
1.the condition of a slave, serf, or the like; subjection to a master; slavery or bondage
2.work imposed as punishment for crime
Many people in the USA today are enslaved by these government run welfare programs....they are too lazy to work at a real job.....they won't work at a part time job because it cuts their welfare check...Welfare was intended for people unable to provide for themselves...not ones willing to have another baby to get a raise.
Attorney at law says:
"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
Liberal progressives have never read those word before and have no clue from where they come.
Mike,
Most of the time I can agree with you, but not this time. I do agree that we should do something to bring back that pride or honor to be an American, but, this isn't it. Here are some alternate ideas:
Bring back the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools.
Give the courts the option of choice for non-violent offenses to send the offender to do 3 years service in the military.
And the idea of "babysitting" them in the military, it's obvious that you've never served. In the military , you either get with the program, or your life becomes a living hell for the duration, it's solely up to you and the choice you make.
As an American Veteran, It is an HONOR to be American, and I believe that one should enlist to show that honor, of their own free will. In WWII there were men that after trying to enlist and were refused, went home and committed suicide, due to their strong wanting to fight for their country and could not. This is the fire of honor we need today.
"To be an American is a privilege, and Universal National Service may be a way to bring that point home."
To be an American is an accident of birth, and does not obligate me now matter how often that lie is repeated. I owe you nothing, Bubba. You can call it hysteria - you can call it Shirley for all I care, but how is involuntary servitude NOT slavery?
Mike,
Most of the time I can agree with you, but not this time. I do agree that we should do something to bring back that pride or honor to be an American, but, this isn't it. Here are some alternate ideas:
Bring back the Pledge of Allegiance in our schools.
Give the courts the option of choice for non-violent offenses to send the offender to do 3 years service in the military.
And the idea of "babysitting" them in the military, it's obvious that you've never served. In the military , you either get with the program, or your life becomes a living hell for the duration, it's solely up to you and the choice you make.
As an American Veteran, It is an HONOR to be American, and I believe that one should enlist to show that honor, of their own free will. In WWII there were men that after trying to enlist and were refused, went home and committed suicide, due to their strong wanting to fight for their country and could not. This is the fire of honor we need today.
I wonder if illegal immigrants would be exempt?
This is conscription, any way you slice it. It is wrong and it would be a detrimental to the military. Requiring any other kind of federal service would be no different that something a guy named Adolf did many years ago. As the saying goes, those who don't learn from history . . .
Oh, by the way isn't Rangle the dirtbag being investigated for ethics violations. What a surprise. I agree with thedawg, and I too am a Veteran of 20 years of voluntary active duty service.
Many of the worlds democracies require service...Once again, this isn't a democracy, it's a republic...big difference.
Easy for you to say that it's a good idea. I'm a 19 y.o. - I'm the first on the chopping block in this bullshit war if this actually gets used.
This would only apply to the law abiding citizens. The drug dealers, gang members, illegals, etc would not pay any attention or would sign up for something and not participate. Same with registering guns. Punish the law abiding and let the law breakers strut around. Stupid!!
This would only apply to the law abiding citizens. The drug dealers, gang members, illegals, etc would not pay any attention or would sign up for something and not participate. Same with registering guns. Punish the law abiding and let the law breakers strut around. Stupid!!
Everyone should have to do something to keep this Great Nation of our running course. If more people participated then more people would have a clue when it comes to the thing our government tries to pull over everyone eyes. The problem is, not everyone understand politics. A prime example is our current electors. everyone needs to be proactive and stay involved in all of America.
Another alternative if you want federal assistance for anything, you and your Family must do some community service of some sort in order to EARN it!!!!
All this does is confirm the Tea Party narrative, and help Republicans gain acceptance from young people. What in the hell are our leaders thinking? Years are spent developing a progressive movement only to have it thrown away by short sighted fools.
Everyone should have to do something to keep this Great Nation of our running course. If more people participated then more people would have a clue when it comes to the thing our government tries to pull over everyone eyes. The problem is, not everyone understand politics. A prime example is our current electors. everyone needs to be proactive and stay involved in all of America.
Another alternative if you want federal assistance for anything, you and your Family must do some community service of some sort in order to EARN it!!!!
How about working and paying taxes does that not serve the community
I am all for serving the country and the community. But these services should be voluntary.
As if the government and its political practices have not put Americans in enough hardships. This lazy eyed Rangel wants to find new ways of making Americans who just lost their job or were evicted from their foreclosed home to give the government more freebees while the bankers on wall street give themselves bonuses from taxpayers dollars?
I sure hope this HR 5741 is a joke because if it passes I am moving to a 3rd world country
I guess if I believe O-hole's own words, i.e. that wants to create a domestic security force as large as DoD, I'm a crazed conspiracy theorist. You'd have to be a complete idiot (too many overcast days out there?) to not see a potential correlation with a volunteer national service program.
And as for Mr. Stone, if you think it's such a good idea, why don't you volunteer a couple years of your own time, to set an example for the rest of us. Or is it yet another neoliberal "OK for thee but not for me" arrangement, where you are exempt because you are too important and special?
Sieg Hiel Obama!
Why waste time on a bill everyone knows will not pass?
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