Actually not concerned about anyone being forced into national service. A proposal like that would never get through Congress and Obama knows that.
However, I am concerned about the cost of Serve America Act and program.
They recently passed a $787 billion stimulus bill without reading it. I think you give this Congress too much credit.
I hope you are right though.
There will be a “Volunteer Generation Fund”. Tax bucks to be doled out by the "Office of Social Innovation".
BTW Orin Hatch's name was attached to the original. Wonder what happened? Brain surgery?
yitbos
Friday, Jan 30th, 2009
The Defense Department has established a “civilian expeditionary workforce” that will see American civilians trained and equipped to deploy overseas in support of worldwide military missions.
The move is seen by some as an initial step towards fulfilling president Obama’s promise to form a civilian national security force as powerful as the U.S. military.
The intent of the program “is to maximize the use of the civilian workforce to allow military personnel to be fully utilized for operational requirements,” according to a Defense Department report.
The program was officially implemented one week ago, on the 23rd January, when Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England signed Defense Department Directive 1404.10 (PDF), which provides a summation of the duties the workforce will undertake.
The directive, which is effective immediately, states that civilian employees of the DoD will be asked to sign agreements stating that they will deploy in support of military missions for up to two years if needed.
Workforce members, who are divided into different designations under the directive, will serve overseas in support of humanitarian, reconstruction and, if necessary, combat-support missions.