Posted on 03/16/2009 7:49:32 AM PDT by TheNewPundit
I have been reading that Obama wants to force people to volunteer, not sure how that works. I scanned the bill because RightBias posted a link saying that it appeared to force people to serve. I could not find anything that says this is mandatory, but it does look like he wants to nationalize all charity work.
Can someone please point out where the bill states that anything is required as far as serving?
So much for separating church and state.
It didn't get very far, because the democrat base would have to work, too. They weren't too happy with that idea. They want their free hand outs to remain free. He hasn't said much more about it since the welfare crowds outcry.
Thank you, someone pointed it out in that thread.
I read it in the thread that was linked above. It appears that the commission would see if mandatory service would be something they could put together, but this bill does not actually do this.
But I do have to ask why they would even consider something like this.
TITLE VI--CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON CIVIC SERVICE
SEC. 6101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the `Congressional Commission on Civic Service Act'.
SEC. 6102. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The social fabric of the United States is stronger if individuals in the United States are committed to protecting and serving our Nation by utilizing national service and volunteerism to overcome our civic challenges.
(2) A more engaged civic society will strengthen the Nation by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds and experiences to work on solutions to some of our Nation's major challenges.
(3) Despite declines in civic health in the past 30 years, national service and volunteerism among the Nation's youth are increasing, and existing national service and volunteer programs greatly enhance opportunities for youth to engage in civic activity.
(4) In addition to the benefits received by nonprofit organizations and society as a whole, volunteering and national service provide a variety of personal benefits and satisfaction and can lead to new paths of civic engagement, responsibility, and upward mobility.
SEC. 6103. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established in the legislative branch a commission to be known as the `Congressional Commission on Civic Service' (in this title referred to as the `Commission').
SEC. 6104. DUTIES.
(a) General Purpose- The purpose of the Commission is to gather and analyze information in order to make recommendations to Congress to--
(1) improve the ability of individuals in the United States to serve others and, by doing so, to enhance our Nation and the global community;
(2) train leaders in public service organizations to better utilize individuals committed to national service and volunteerism as they manage human and fiscal resources;
(3) identify and offer solutions to the barriers that make it difficult for some individuals in the United States to volunteer or perform national service; and
(4) build on the foundation of service and volunteer opportunities that are currently available.
(b) Specific Topics- In carrying out its general purpose under subsection (a), the Commission shall address and analyze the following specific topics:
(1) The level of understanding about the current Federal, State, and local volunteer programs and opportunities for service among individuals in the United States.
(2) The issues that deter volunteerism and national service, particularly among young people, and how the identified issues can be overcome.
(3) Whether there is an appropriate role for Federal, State, and local governments in overcoming the issues that deter volunteerism and national service and, if appropriate, how to expand the relationships and partnerships between different levels of government in promoting volunteerism and national service.
(4) Whether existing databases are effective in matching community needs to would-be volunteers and service providers.
(5) 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.
(7) The need for a public service academy, a 4-year institution that offers a federally funded undergraduate education with a focus on training future public sector leaders.
(8) The means to develop awareness of national service and volunteer opportunities at a young age by creating, expanding, and promoting service options for elementary and secondary school students, through service learning or other means, and by raising awareness of existing incentives.
(9) The effectiveness of establishing a training program on college campuses to recruit and educate college students for national service.
(10) The effect on United States diplomacy and foreign policy interests of expanding service opportunities abroad, such as the Peace Corps, and the degree of need and capacity abroad for an expansion.
(11) The constraints that service providers, nonprofit organizations, and State and local agencies face in utilizing federally funded volunteer programs, and how these constraints can be overcome.
(12) Whether current Federal volunteer programs are suited to address the special skills and needs of senior volunteers, and if not, how these programs can be improved such that the Federal Government can effectively promote service among the `baby boomer' generation.
(c) Methodology-
(1) PUBLIC HEARINGS- The Commission shall conduct public hearings in various locations around the United States.
(2) REGULAR AND FREQUENT CONSULTATION- The Commission shall regularly and frequently consult with an advisory panel of Members of Congress appointed for such purpose by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the majority leader of the Senate.
I would love to see him try to get my teenagers to work for 100 hours. Jeez, some days it is all I can do to get them to take out the trash!
And my kids have jobs, do well in school, and are athletes.
Good luck.
Force people to volunteer? Huh?
If the government comes a knockin at my door I’ll just tell em I already gave at the office then slam the door in their face.
Just like the “voluntary labor brigades” in Cuba..
(7) The need for a public service academy, a 4-year institution that offers a federally funded undergraduate education with a focus on training future public sector leaders.
This would also give federally funded professorships to community organizers and probably provide a huge slush fund to promote ACORN, et al.
As for involving seniors, I think that might become a hook for getting medical treatment in a time of rationing.
Right now, they are funding the planning. Given the sloth of bureaucracy, this would be a 2nd term item. I have already seen the ads for the voluntary aspect. It remains to be seen how many young people sign up. I remember VISTA. It was full of people who partied on their stipend while working at co-ops and with non-profit NGOs and then used their drug taking experience to become drug and addiction counselors (AODA).
Is it just me, or is the term “public sector leaders” a bit scary?
I tried to look up the VISTA program you mentioned, but couldn’t get beyond the “windows vista” links.
One of my sons is homeschooled, working on his black belt in karate, and volunteers 2-5 hours a week at our public library. He volunteers out of the goodness of his heart, because our town has not has underfunded the library for years and they need help. He loves to read and uses the library often.
If someone tried to force him to volunteer, he would not do it, and I don’t blame him.
Public school students here have to “volunteer” for 10 hours while they are in high school, or they cannot graduate. There are exceptions — a student cannot volunteer for a church if s/he wants their work to count.
Another son, in public school, volunteered to paint the bathrooms at the parochial school he went to last year. I suggested that he get the form filled out so it would “count”, even though it might not since the school is owned by a church.
He refused because the form made it look like he was volunteering out of self-interest and force, instead of just because he wanted to help out.
Meanwhile, neither place is overflowing with volunteers, and both need help.
There are plenty of people on welfare and in prisons who are able to “volunteer” for community service. The problem is that many of these folks are not fit for service, and I don’t think rehabilitation will work all that well.
The ones I’ve met have the I.Q., morals, skills, and education of gnats, basically. They are not interested in what they can give or do — they are interested in what they can get, and in blaming everyone else for their position, even though it is quite obvious that their actions put them there. They are very angry, and it is directed outwardly.
Evidently, it’s been folded into Ameri-Corps
AmeriCorps.gov > AmeriCorps VISTA
AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and ...
www.americorps.org/about/programs/vista.asp - 50k - Cached - Similar pages
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=VISTA&btnG=Google+Search
Thanks. I didn’t see that link and it was close to the top.
I’m wondering if they’ll use Ameri-Corps as a springboard?
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