Posted on 03/25/2009 12:15:13 PM PDT by Hetty_Fauxvert
My parents taught me to read every word of any contract I signed. Obviously Congress doesn't follow that rule.
Already we have Congress' frantic backlash from the AIG bonuses, which were in fact authorized by specific language buried deep in the stimulus bill that gave AIG its handout.
Now we have more dynamite buried in the GIVE Act (H.R. 1388), already passed in a whirlwind by the House and being fast-tracked in the Senate. The GIVE Act reauthorizes the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, and also includes many more new programs encouraging Americans to volunteer and "give back" to their country. Who could object to this?
Yet, there are disturbing clauses which could change the institutions of this country in unprecedented ways. For example, the House version of the bill, in Section 6104, directs a committee to study: "The effect on the Nation, on those who serve, and on the families of those who serve, if all individuals in the United States were expected to perform national service or were required to perform a certain amount of national service. (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."
Shall we and our children then be "required" to perform national service? How can that requirement be "mandatory?"
It is one thing for schools to require community service, as many do now, since students have the option to attend another school or to home school. However, if enacted on a national level, such "mandatory service" is no longer voluntary, but in fact would be either conscription or involuntary servitude.
Service which is not freely given from the heart is no longer service but an imposition by an exterior force -- in this case, our government.
There is also language in the House bill (Section 115) which requires private schools to include their students in these programs and requires private school teachers to take training so that they can "carry out the objectives" of the bill.
In California, homeschoolers are registered as private schools which might mean that even those who opt out of the school system could not opt out of this requirement.
We must cease casually passing bills which no one has read. It has already cost us more money than most of us can conceive of. But it could be worse. It could cost us our freedoms.
I urge you to read H.R. 1388 for yourself, and contact your Congressional representatives.
Hey zer0.... here’s a message for ya............... MAKE ME, I dare you. MAKE MY CHILDREN..... another dare. We will see what the SCOTUS decides and that is where it will be decided.
I’ve already contacted my congressmen (Cornyn and Hutchison) and told them what I thought about this bill.
I had also contacted my HR Rep. (Culbertson). He had voted against it. He is usually spot on conservative. He is a good man.
I haven’t seen too many postings about people contacting their reps. Maybe if Glenn Beck and/or Rush got a hold of this people would burn up the phone lines again.
This particular bill passed the House on Monday, It is the Text of H.R. 1388: Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act. Pay special attention to Sec. 1304. amended sec. 125 Entitled Prohibited Activities and Ineligible Organizations. The Hitler youth program has come to America!!!! This is mandatory for the youth of this country under this bill.
which states:
SEC. 1304. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
Section 125 (42 U.S.C. 12575) is amended to read as follows:
SEC. 125. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Prohibited Activities- A participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not engage in the following activities:
(1) Attempting to influence legislation.
(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes.
(3) Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing.
(4) Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements.
(5) Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office.
(6) Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials.
(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization.
Our Constitution has specifically addressed this:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
or abridging the freedom of speech,
or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
This is over the line!
I emailed my disappointment to my Senator, Kay Bailey Hutchinson. I was not nice. I am telling and emailing everyone I know about this bill...trying to spread the word and do my part.....
Senator Cornyn’s office told me this morning that he opposed this bill.
I think I’ll have to send an e-mail stating my strong disapproval, and my intent in any next election she is intending to be a participant in.
I saw he voted against it, so I’ll send him a thank you for listening e-mail.
Oh I also told her in the email that I would NOT be supporting her for
Governor.
AND Laura Ingraham was talking bout this on BOR tonight. Did anyone else see that?
I think you have the plan backwards.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.