The secrets behind the GIVE Act passed by Congress, why it's scary

March 24, 10:06 AMMinneapolis Conservative ExaminerErin Haust

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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