Does he expect us sit by do nothing? I wouldn't sweat the details too
much, but this bunch of thugs needs to be watched closely.
Posted on 06/17/2009 1:10:20 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
At a campaign rally in Colorado Springs last July, that former community organizer, Barack Obama, grandly told an enraptured audience: "We've got to have a civilian national security force that is just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded" as the U.S. military. Now, understand, he wasn't talking about a "security" force in the sense of an armed militia. He was talking about a network of social service workers. When I first heard that, I wrote it off as a politician's extravagant, feel-good campaign rhetoric. After all, the Department of Defense includes about 3 million men and women — active duty, reserves and civilians — and will spend an estimated $675 billion in 2009.
Little did I know he was serious. The first step was the passage of HR 1388, "The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act," originally titled the GIVE (Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education) Act before the Senate renamed it as a tribute to the "Lion of Liberalism." It triples AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000. The second step is HR 1444, not yet passed, which would establish a Congressional Commission on Civic Service. The commission would "address and analyze" the effects on the nation and on those who serve "if all individuals in the United States ... were required to perform a certain amount of national service" and "whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all young people could be developed."
Whoa! It's one thing, out of clear necessity and for purposes of national survival, to have a military draft when our nation is at war (hot or cold). But mandatory community service of up to two years? This is a preposterously intrusive notion and one that is surely unlawful under our Constitution. The Thirteenth Amendment prohibits "involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime." What crime have these young people committed?
The "audacity" — to use President Obama's favorite expression — of such a sweeping mandate is a direct contradiction of our founding principles as reinforced in the Bill of Rights, which emphatically restricts the powers of government over the lives of individuals. The camel's nose under the tent that has led some people to regard national mandatory community service as respectable public policy is no doubt the imposition of a similar requirement on students as a condition of graduation in our public schools.
What message does that send to American students? That government owns their life? I understand that attendance in school is compulsory but that can be satisfied in a private school or a home school. Should government, then, be allowed to reach into your home or to private schools and mandate involuntary community service for students in those venues?
It's one thing for public schools to dictate how their students spend their time while under their supervision. It's quite another to tell these young citizens how they must spend their own time outside of school. This is social engineering, not academic instruction. There's already too much of that kind of thing in public schools and it's invariably oriented toward the liberal agenda. I'd rather the students spend any additional time, if there's to be some, in the classroom on basic academics.
Whatever the virtues of community service, it's far more rewarding when undertaken voluntarily. The theories and wishes of do-gooder educators notwithstanding, most of the kids I've talked to resent the assignment as just another task that robs them of their leisure time. Many look for the easiest way out and just go through the motions. For them, the psychic benefit ranges from little to negative.
How ironic that forced community service is meted out as a punishment for petty criminals. It's an inappropriate sentence for schoolchildren and would be an outrageous government assault on individual liberty as a national mandate.
I really don’t think that that happened. what kept us tied up in Iraq was Washington DC and tying the hands of the military. you presume too little on the abilities of the Mil.
ObamaFascism at it’s finest.
Sad part is America is falling with no resistence from the very ones having their earnings and freedom’s stolen by the state.
I never thought I’d live to see the time when so many would allow this to happen.
I’m ashamed of my fellow countrymen.
It should be clear to all who care to examine the record even fleetingly, that the anointed one doesn’t respect the Constitution, or the history and traditions of the US. His actions demonstrate his arrogant megalomania quite well. His use of ‘czars’ to assume duties formerly performed by Congressionally approved departmental appointees is but one example. They are completely outside the bounds of the Constitution, with no Congressional vetting process of any sort, and no accountability to anyone but BHO.
This man is seeking to cement his hold on the American political process, and implant his own brand of marxism on a country that appears ready to let it happen.
It’s time to take back the country.
Does he expect us sit by do nothing? I wouldn't sweat the details too
much, but this bunch of thugs needs to be watched closely.
They may by some twisted stretch of supra-constitutional edict (not lawfully chartered) but you give them too much credit when these Obama youth collaborators meet up with constitutionally empowered patriots it will be a replay of bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Before the election, obama told us what he planned to do. People like this writer refused to believe him. What did they expect?
“What concerns me most here is giving these young hot heads (think of the Black Panthers outside the Pennsylvania voting precinct) being given the weapons and training on how to use those weapons the military use, but WITHOUT being taught the discipline the military has. I visualize the Odinga mobs with high powered weapons”
Boy, *that’s* just gonna go over real well out here in Hillbilly World.
Note that NH1444 appears to require national service for EVEYONE, not just students. If there’s a bright side here, it will be watching my liberal friends get fitted for their “brown shirts.” :)
Yes. And they still have guns.
The government requires national service from everyone. Military, community or a national level. The government can even assign different rewards and benefits for the type of national service. Those who do not wish to participate remain a free people. They are free to remain in this country and starve or they can exercise their right to emigrate to another country that requires they do nothing.
I particularly fear the, "The government can even assign different rewards and benefits for the type of national service." part. I guess if you volunteer at an abortion clinic you'll get to go to the best universities and enjoy special benefits.
Holy crap, what has happened to this country?
Ammo sales going up for sure now.
Vince
Yeah, I think it is naive to think that Obama is going to give us the advantage by sending out JBT's to round up Americans in front of the press so that we can get all the glory by stacking SWAT up like cord wood and get a pardon at the end. Stop with this stupid fantasy already. Nobody is coming for you or your guns en masse. We are going to see all of our rights taken from us in the guise of legality.
War is coming.
This is what the ACORNization of the Census is working towards.
I encourage all patriots to purchase as many firearms as possible.
Told my wife that just yesterday.
Why should you serve meals to the homeless or elderly who are not relatives and even if they are that doesn't mean you want to be around them.
How can the government demand you spend “your time” doing something that isn't a value to you?
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Forcing someone to spend their time carrying out your dictate is contradictory to independent American.
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.