***Obama Wants YOU to Serve, HR 1388 The Give Act reform National Service Laws-VOTE on

The Whipping Post Republican Whip House.gov ^ | March 16, 2009, 9:43pm | Rep. Eric Cantor

[joygrace]

Tonight, Republican Minority Whip Eric Cantor announced an update to the House Schedule for this week. H.R. 1388, The Give Act, is scheduled for Wednesday. Note: The title is “Anticipated Floor Schedule.”

The Whipping Post states, “On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 1388 - Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act (Subject to a Rule)

(Sponsored by Rep. McCarthy (NY) / Education and Labor Committee)

[anglian]

Service Rule Stirs Debate in Maryland http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CEEDA113CF93AA15754C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

[anglian]

This was posted a while back when he added these details on his website. I'm not sure if this is in his new service plan, as I have not read it.

"The most worrisome of Barack Obama’s proposals is his goal of bringing most charities under the federal umbrella in part by inducing all middle and high school children to do 50 hours of community service every year."

The details are on his campaign website and in his speeches calling Americans to service.

By requiring almost all public middle schoolers, starting at the age of 10 or 11, to join his new cadres of community service workers and become part of his “civilian national security force,” Barack Obama shows himself to be out of touch with American traditions of individual volunteerism.

There is nothing wrong with a family allowing a child to volunteer at a young age: in the summer when I was 11, I spent several nights a week working for free at a concession stand in a little league baseball park. My parents were comfortable with this community service because at all times I was under the supervision of my mother’s best friend. Parents then and parents today would like to choose whether their 11-year old child takes on even a part time job, and they would like to choose the job and judge for themselves whether the working conditions are suitable.

With his myriad proposals for new "Corps" and his proposal for universal service for all school children, Obama is trying to bring the charitable activities of 50 to 100 million people –- about half of them children –- under state control. That our government is even capable of running a service program on a scale never before attempted is a matter of faith, not evidence.

In both of his main speeches on national service – on July 2, 2008 and on December 5, 2007 – Barack Obama set his goal of 50 hours of service a year, promised that “We'll reach this goal,” and explained how he would do so for middle and high school children:

"So when I'm President, I will set a goal for all American middle and high school students to perform 50 hours of service a year, and for all college students to perform 100 hours of service a year. This means that by the time you graduate college, you'll have done 17 weeks of service."

"We'll reach this goal in several ways. At the middle and high school level, we'll make federal assistance conditional on school districts developing service programs, and give schools resources to offer new service opportunities."

Lest there be any remaining doubt that Barack Obama’s “voluntary” universal service plan contemplates mandatory service for children, his Service Plan praises mandatory service in the sentence that immediately precedes his call for 50 hours of service:

“Schools that require service as part of the educational experience create improved learning environments and serve as resources for their communities.” Moreover, in his Plan, he promises to “develop national guidelines for service-learning and community service programs,” thus not leaving the content of service programs to the states.

[21twelve]

Good counter-points. For our family I was at first a bit put-off by my son having to do “community service projects” for school. But, it can be for church, helping a neighbor out with chores, helping at a school function, etc. Whatever he wants to do - and stuff that he does anyway.

But - your points are very good, and I can see where this might be difficult for many families.

[anglian]

I forgot to leave the link to where this was argued.- The Volokh Conspiracy’s Jim Lindgren: “it would be the public schools that would impose federal standards of coerced service on each child as part of their requirements for graduation. For students, service would be involuntary. Even for the public schools, their participation would be only nominally voluntary – for how many public schools can survive without federal assistance?”
http://mattjohnston.blogspot.com/2008/08/jim-lindgren-on-obamas-community.html

[backhoe]

[joygrace]

"Is there a place where we can get the specific parts that are the most offensive/ unconstitutional, etc. I want to call my congressman tomorrow and would like to steer them by paragraph numbers to the worst parts (the “mandatory volunteerism” part, forcing children & elderly to work, etc.) I just don’t have time to read through the entire thing again, although I’ve skimmed parts of it. Thanks for any help."

Ok. Nathanbedford posted an exceptional Summary close to what I think you are looking for. Also, Jack Black analyzed HR1388 very closely and provided several posts on the original HR 1388 Thread.

If I have time before work, I will go to the original HR1388 thread and send you Jack Black's Summary Analysis of the Bill. They were great.

Ok. This may be over kill and sophomoric to share with you but if it is please just pass it right by. I called my Senators (S.277, Kennedy/Hatch Serve America Act, this is what the Senators are working on) and Congressman about HR1388 and it almost sucked the life right out of me. I live in Massachusetts, need I say more.

I typed up a transcript of the tact I used when I spoke to their staffers in case it may be helpful to you. Big surprise my Reps. are SUPPORTING the Bill. Shocker right.

I am going to provide you with two Talking Points “memo”. The first is roughly the one I used for Reps who are in SUPPORT of HR1388. The second Talking Points Memo is, of course, for the Reps who are AGAINST HR 1388.

HR 1388 Talking Points to Representatives who SUPPORT the Bill
(Reps. who are NOT on our side) <

“I am calling about HR 1388, The Give Act. Are you handling constituents’ calls for HR 1388 because I have some concerns and some questions for Representative XXX? “

1. “What is Representative’s position on HR 1388? How will he/she vote tomorrow (Wednesday)? I am disappointed to hear Rep. XXX support HR1388.”

2. “Will the Rep. speak on the Floor supporting the Bill? I would like Rep. XXX hear my concerns with HR1388.

a. It is not the role of Government to create and fund, with taxpayer’s money, its own voluntary society, let alone micromanage them. That is what HR1388 will do if passed.

b. HR1388 allows, Rep XXX and other politicians who support this Bill, a unique means of manipulating public policy for their own agenda or ideology. It is undemocratic.

c. For example, I am particularly offended that our government believes that it is their position to encourage VOLUNTEER service to Baby Boomers, the elderly and our children and recklessly use taxpayer’s money to fund it. I am offended. What does the future hold with another layer of government, more taxes on all of us right?(Pick anything in the Bill that is the most important to you. Speak from the heart in your words.)

d. HR1388 commits billions of dollars in wasteful spending and only serves to undermine our Constitutional rights (13TH Amendment for starters). Rep. XXX needs to be more prudent spending my hard earned money.

I don’t pay taxes so my Government can implement another layer of Government bureaucracy. HR1388 is not what America needs. It is unacceptable.

3. American citizens need to get a chance to hear about this Bill and I would at least like to ask Rep. XXX to encourage Speaker Pelosi to ALLOW a debate on the Floor . This is a Democracy where all opinions need to be heard. American citizens want to give input and be HEARD through their Representatives. Don’t you want our input even when we disagree strongly with you?”

4. “Will Speaker Pelosi allow debate to occur with HR1388? (DISREGARD, if you were successful on question 2.) I want to know how long she will allow debate because I would like these issues discussed thoroughly.”

If the staffer doesn’t know the answer to ANY question you ask then ask to speak to someone who does because it is that important to you. You just want to be heard. Often times please and thank you, said often enough, opens the door to the next person.

Other Talking points to grab if needed and time permits:

“I want to be reassured that Congress fully airs out the Bill HR 1388 and lets the public hear the full debate of this Bill before the actual vote occurs. We deserve to have this process as responsible and transparent as possible. Don’t we?”

If you feel like the staff member who answers the phone is not polite, respectful or will not allow you to voice your concerns then with respect and calmness, please ask to speak to the Deputy Chief of Staff or the Chief of Staff who is handling constituents concerns around HR1388.
Just say. “I would like to be heard on this issue and I still have questions and concerns. Thank you.”

If you do get to speak to another staffer then just start from the beginning and ask the same questions and voice the same concerns.

You will find them hopefully all professional since they deal with the Public often enough but they will try to rush you off the phone. (That has been my experience.)

Please don’t be intimidated. Remember, you are the customer and they have no power over you.

HR 1388 Talking Points to Representatives who are AGAINST the Bill
(Reps. who are on our side) <

“I am calling about HR 1388, The Give Act. Are you handling constituents’ calls for HR 1388 because I have some concerns and some questions for Representative XXX? “

1. “What is Representative’s position on HR 1388? How will he/she vote tomorrow (Wednesday)? Thank you. That is great to hear.”

2. “Will the Rep. speak on the Floor against the Bill? What time will the debate start? (Assuming there is one) I’d like to watch the Representative on CSPAN because defeating this Bill is important to me and my family. “

3. ‘Will the Rep speak to the Media to create MORE awareness? American citizens need to get a chance to hear about this Bill and they would like to hear the Debates on the Floor of the House. American citizens want to give input and be HEARD.”

4. “Will Speaker Pelosi allow debate to occur with HR1388? (DISREGARD, if you were successful on question 2.) I want to know how long she will allow debate because I would like these issues discussed thoroughly.”

If the staffer doesn’t know the answer to ANY question you ask then ask to speak to someone who does because it is that important to you. You just want to be heard. Often times, please and thank you, said often enough, opens the door to the next person.

Other Talking points to grab if needed and time permits:

“I want to be reassured that Congress fully airs out the Bill HR 1388 and lets the public hear the full debate of this Bill before the actual vote occurs. We deserve to have this process as responsible and transparent as possible. Don’t we?”

If you feel like the staff member who answers the phone is not polite, respectful or will not allow you to voice your concerns then with respect and calmness, please ask to speak to the Deputy Chief of Staff or the Chief of Staff who is handling constituents concerns around HR1388.
Just say. “I would like to be heard on this issue and I still have questions and concerns. Thank you.”

If you do get to speak to another staffer then just start from the beginning and ask the same questions and voice the same concerns.

You will find them hopefully all professional since they deal with the Public often enough but they will try to rush you off the phone. (That has been my experience.)

Please don’t be intimidated. Remember, you are the customer and they have no power over you.

[joygrace]

"I am going to email it to everyone I know and call my congresscritters too. I hope Rush and Hannity hammer on this, but it's up to us to get word out to family and friends."

Here is a copy of an email I sent out to try to SHINE the light on H.R.1388 to Rush Limbaugh. Maybe you can find something useful in it for your emails.

Feel free to cut and paste and let it "rip." Thank you for helping to create some noise.

Dear Rush,

Received notice on Friday from Cantor's office listing HR 1388 on the schedule for Tuesday. An updated schedule from Cantor's office last night removed HR1388 from Tuesday's schedule. Perhaps it will be voted on Wednesday. The language it contains is alarming to put it mildly.

There is one thread on Free Republic that has over 16,000 views and 1000 posts since it was posted Saturday evening. There are some good nuggets as FReepers have devoured the Bill and really read it unlike Congress.

The brilliant Paul Weyrich (founder of Heritage Foundation) wrote a concise article in TownHall on the “Government Usurpation of Volunteerism” last year before “The Give Act” was defeated. It applies today.

“...Americans have actively and spontaneously engaged in civic and political life by forming voluntary associations. The emphasis is on the voluntary aspect of these organizations and their intention to affect change in government.

While all levels of government might have encouraged civic participation, the Federal Government did not create and fund its own voluntary societies, let alone micromanage them.

To do so would have had the reverse effect of the original intention of voluntary associations - it would have allowed politicians a unique means of manipulating public policy for their own agenda, ideological or otherwise.”

Thank you for your continued strength and courage to always tell the TRUTH. Rush let Freedom Ring extra-loud today.

Sincerely,

xxxxxx
Massachusetts
A Conservative

[autumnraine]

And on another continent.

I’ve said before I think I know how regular German folks felt. Totally out of control and terrified at the stupid part of their hysterical country in love with a monster.

[autumnraine]

The 13th Amendment.

Something about “involuntary servitude”.

[Diogenesis]

[houeto]

I’ve said before I think I know how regular German folks felt.

Not quite the same thanks to the United States Constitution.

[driftdiver]

“So what part of the Constitution does this violate?”

FORCED volunteerism? Federal control down to the deepest depths of our lives?

And you ask what part of the Constitution this violates?

[HollyB]

Thanks for your efforts Joygrace, keep us updated.

Today is the big day that the bill heads to the House. You are right, it will be another bill that is not fully read. Label it with a name like ‘The Give Act’ and it sounds so good. I pray this bill doesn’t pass, but something inside of me says it will because things are just way too weird these days.

[autumnraine]

What United States Consitution? It doesn’t seem to be worth much nowadays.

[ScottinVA]

“H.Res. 240 - To support the goals and ideals of Professional Social Work Month and World
Social Work Day”

Community organizers of the world unite!!

[ScottinVA]

“By requiring almost all public middle schoolers, starting at the age of 10 or 11, to join his new cadres of community service workers and become part of his “civilian national security force,”

The Hope and Change Novembrists.

[goldi]

Please add me to the ping list. Thanks.

[xd40]

ping

[anglian]

“By requiring almost all public middle schoolers, starting at the age of 10 or 11, to join his new cadres of community service workers and become part of his “civilian national security force,”

Anyone know about this act? Americans should ask the serious and legitimate question of what precisely Obama’s “positive behavior” legislation systematically “embeds” in their children. Obama’s Revolutionary Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act of 2007
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/5402

[2harddrive]

Say it loud, say it PROUD:

O ne

B ig

A ss

M istake

A merica!