Posted on 09/28/2004 9:17:06 PM PDT by TommyC1
National Service Plan Highlights
"Service for College" Initiative
As President, John Kerry will call on young people to help strengthen America's security and address unmet community needs. In return, he believes we should offer young Americans and their families the opportunity for a college education. A Kerry Administration will offer Americans the chance to earn the equivalent of their state's four-year public college tuition in exchange for two years of service. If service members decide not to go to college, their award can be used for job training or to help start a business. John Kerry will set a national goal of half a million young people serving their nation every year within ten years. President Bush promised to double AmeriCorps, but he broke that promise and let Congressional Republicans cut the program in half. John Kerry believes we need to think big and do better and get 500,000 young Americans serving the nation.
100,000 Older Americans in Service
As President, John Kerry will defend and strengthen vital programs such as Medicare and Social Security, but he also believes on calling on America's seniors to give their time, experience, and expertise to an America that needs their help. As President, John Kerry would create the Retired Not Tired Program. By mentoring students, helping the infirm, or working in their communities for 10 hours a week, members can earn up to $2,000 a year tax free that they can apply to an education grant for a family member or a member of their community. Alternatively, seniors will be able to use these funds to defray their own health care costs. John Kerry plans to engage 100,000 seniors a year in service in the next decade.
High School Service Requirement
As President, John Kerry will ensure that every high school student in America performs community service as a requirement for graduation. This service will be a rite of passage for our nation’s youth and will help foster a lifetime of service. States would design service programs that meet their community and educational needs. However, John Kerry does not believe in unfunded mandates. No state would be obligated to implement a service requirement if the federal government does not live up to its obligation to fund the program.
Creating a New Community Defense Service
John Kerry believes we must create a new Community Defense Service to be guided by our nation’s first responders. This service would be comprised of hundreds of thousands of Americans in neighborhoods all over the country. Service captains would be there to make sure our communities have the information they need and are ready to respond a crisis, complimenting but not supplanting the work done by police, fire fighters, and other first defenders. Volunteer Service Captains would receive training and education to assist their communities in the event of an attack. They would be trained to help identify local health professionals and experts in the area, provide information on local evacuation or quarantine plans, and stand ready to be of assistance to first defenders. This initiative would be funded out of the Department of Homeland Security and administered by local community leaders, including first responders. This 'surge' capacity would be in addition to the expanded numbers of first responders John Kerry has already proposed hiring.
A Summer of Service for Teenagers
Thirteen to seventeen year olds are too old for child care and too young for many summer jobs. John Kerry believes we should tap their energy and idealism through a summer of service learning. Supervised by AmeriCorps members, these young people could help out in nursing homes, clean up local areas, or teach seniors computer skills. In turn, they would receive a $500 grant to apply to their college or vocational educations down the road. Parents do not want to leave their children alone all summer but most cannot afford other means of care. The Summer of Service program would give parents peace of mind and at the same time build more responsible and dedicated young citizens and stronger, more vibrant communities.
A Rebirth of the Peace Corps
If there was ever a time that everyday people in developing countries around the world needed to see idealistic, hard-working Americans struggling to help them succeed, it is today, in the aftermath of September 11th. Peace Corps members are the greatest ambassadors of goodwill and foot soldiers for democratization this nation has - and we need more of them. John Kerry believes we need a major expansion of the Peace Corps for this new century and in this new era. In the White House, John Kerry will push to expand the Peace Corps to 25,000 members.
Recruiting More Americans to the Military
The highest form of service is military service. America's military is having trouble recruiting and is increasingly relying on the reserves for active duty. John Kerry believes we must change that. The complicated missions we face and technologies we use depend on it. In a Kerry Administration, no university that receives federal aid will be allowed to ban the ROTC from their campus, except for religious reasons. And the ROTC scholarship program will be adequately funded so that students can attend the college of their choice. John Kerry will also make modernizing our GI benefits a top priority, because no program has been more successful increasing educational opportunities for veterans while also providing an incentive for the best and brightest to make a career out of military
Paid for by John Kerry for President, Inc.
my father was a ghetto born high school drop out forced to go into the military. today he is a very hard working patriotic man. the military whips you in shape both mentally and physically and on their terms, which is what a lot of them dropouts need.
sure there will be a percentage of unwilling soldiers, they have their place in the military also.
In the past, large conscript armies were necessary. They could tolerate and take the time to whip someone into shape. With today's sophisitcated force multiplier technology, having unwilling conscripts just doesn't make any sense. I don't say this to be cruel, but it is just the way of the world today that people like your Dad will have to find other ways to straighten out their lives. The Armed Forces today need professionals with education and dedication.
Look at the furor over the draft. Why would anyone think mandatory community service would be received any differently?
I think your dad was an exception to the rule. You might want to tell him "Thank you for serving" for me.
When I was in the Army, the thugs from the ghetto were very problematic. They did not grow to respect authority, and made life miserable everywhere they went. I'm glad I did not have to go into combat with them, as it would have been more dangerous with them behind me than the enemy in front of me.
The guys I know that went to Viet Nam rather than go to jail came out still losers, but some of them got their act together after they hit bottom.
Just my observation.
Watch out for this one!!! You might be thinking, what is wrong with kids performing community service? Well, one of the biggest problems with this is that the people in charge get to decide what qualifies and what doesn't. Case in point: Maryland high schools, which implemented mandatory community service several years ago. Of course, performing service for a religious organization didn't count (but working for political/activist groups did).
Don't be sucked into thinking this is good for this country 'cause it is not!
" members can earn up to $2,000 a year tax free that they can apply to an education grant for a family member or a member of their community. "
Whats so bad with allowing them to ean money that they can spend however they choose on whatever they choose ?
I suppose they will be paid with different dollars then the rest of the country gets for their labor ?
A good DI or Gunny can work off those extra pounds in no time!
The new slavery.
"It is not a draft, but community service."
Depending on what quota needs filling at any give time, you may well not get to choose the service you would like.
So, you wanted to sign upfor the peace-corps today? Sorry - all full. You get prison guard. Thanks for your service!
Sorry for my sarcasm.
Work out the hourly rate. See some of the posts above. This is a form of forced labor.
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.