Obama's chief of staff choice favors compulsory universal service

[Dinars4Jesus]

Obama's chief of staff choice favors compulsory universal service

It's time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under this plan, All Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic training, civil defense preparation and community service. ...
Here's how it would work. Young people will know that between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, the nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service. They'll be asked to report for three months of basic civil defense training in their state or community, where they will learn what to do in the event of biochemical, nuclear or conventional attack; how to assist others in an evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we're hit by a natural disaster. These young people will be available to address their communities' most pressing needs.
Emanuel and co-author Bruce Reed insist "this is not a draft," but go on to write of young men and women, "the nation will enlist them for three months of civilian service." They also warn, "[s]ome Republicans will squeal about individual freedom," ruling out any likelihood that they would let people opt out of universal citizen service.

As chief of staff, Emanuel will not be in a position to directly introduce public policy, but his enthusiasm for compulsory service, combined with Barack Obama's own plan to require high school students to perform 50 hours of government-approved service (http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner~y2008m9d17-The-plausibly-deniable-draft--Obamas-very-modern-take-on-national-service), suggest an unfortunate direction for the new administration.

http://www.examiner.com/x-536-Civil-Liberties-Examiner~y2008m11d6-Obamas-chief-of-staff-choice-favors-compulsory-universal-service

[ptolemy]

The only real "Patriot Act" is a REAL STATE MILITIA empowered by the Constitution.

[Dinars4Jesus]

The only real "Patriot Act" is a REAL STATE MILITIA empowered by the Constitution.

Are you a member of your states militia? And do you recruit? If not, why not?

[ptolemy]

Are you a member of your states militia? And do you recruit? If not, why not?

Not yet... Looking carefully not to get involved with hate groups.

[williambedloe]

Not yet... Looking carefully not to get involved with hate groups.


Yeah...an unfortunate land mine there...

[Dinars4Jesus]

Use the Obama Community Organizer method of starting your own neighborhood DEFENSE FORCE. Take a few buds (not beer) on hunting and gun range practices. Please include your teenage children.

[ptolemy]

Use the Obama Community Organizer method of starting your own neighborhood DEFENSE FORCE. Take a few buds (not beer) on hunting and gun range practices. Please include your teenage children.


May have to come down to that!!!

[jefrog]

Having lived abroad, I am all for young adults serving the armed forces for 2 years after high school. While many argue this, I have seen it work around the world. Young adults are no worse off and a big portion of them learned a little about self respect, respect of others, and found to have a little patriotism to their county. Who knows, it could be a good first step to getting "couch potato' kids out and running, walking, etc.
I am all for an armed service requirement.

[Dinars4Jesus]

Problem with compulsary service is the educational system, the pacifists and leftists that do not like the military. Israel does quite well with that system. I for one think it okay but your classrooms are full of socialistic ideas.

[LongShot]

Thought we abolished slavery?

Hitler had a similar vision as well......what was it called? Oh ya the "Hitler Youth"
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a6/Hitler_jugend.jpg/150px-Hitler_jugend.jpg

[BILLYG]

Thought we abolished slavery? Hitler had a similar vision as well......what was it called? Oh ya the "Hitler Youth"
Beat me to it LongShot. And out of this was born the SS or "brownshirts"... The most feared and hated group of Hitlers reign.

[LongShot]

My kid owes the gov nothing my taxes make sure of that, if my child willingly wants to do such community service so be it......and they do.

[EJAMM]

Having lived abroad, I am all for young adults serving the armed forces for 2 years after high school. While many argue this, I have seen it work around the world. Young adults are no worse off and a big portion of them learned a little about self respect, respect of others, and found to have a little patriotism to their county. Who knows, it could be a good first step to getting "couch potato' kids out and running, walking, etc.
I am all for an armed service requirement.

I agree froggy! This program has merit. It has worked in countries around the globe and I have had the opportunity to work with some of these conscripts and they all think it makes them better citizens. Some choose to stay in the military after 2 years while the majority take the experience to find better civilian jobs. To implement such a conscript plan applying to civil service positions makes it a plan with substance.

My thoughts

[Stuck@Cedar]

Having lived abroad, I am all for young adults serving the armed forces for 2 years after high school. While many argue this, I have seen it work around the world. Young adults are no worse off and a big portion of them learned a little about self respect, respect of others, and found to have a little patriotism to their county. Who knows, it could be a good first step to getting "couch potato' kids out and running, walking, etc.
I am all for an armed service requirement.

Maybe I missed it, but I saw nothing in the article that listed it as ARMED service.

[jefrog]

My kid owes the gov nothing my taxes make sure of that, if my child willingly wants to do such community service so be it......and they do.
you may be right that they don't owe the govt anything. However, the country is bigger than the govt. Regardless, it is not about owing anything or anybody. I think it is a bit about giving of oneself for a greater cause, bigger than me or you. I speak from personal experience and I was not brainwashed.
I can only imagine my dare to respond to your statement can be argued and debated until the cows come home. In the end, it all results the same....as an example, if any of you have seen the education commercial with all the country flags on the flag pole and those countries children's outperform the US academically. It is all intertwined.

[jefrog]

Maybe I missed it, but I saw nothing in the article that listed it as ARMED service.
I am not saying I buy into a civilian service or community service plan. I was only commenting that majority of the world has a 2 yr service commitment after high school. Because of my background and experiences, I have no problem endorsing this program in the US. I think it would do a lot of good...especially...well, nuff said. I sense I have already ruffled enough feathers...

[LongShot]

No ruffled feathers here But I will say myself and my kids do community service willingly and I don't need mandates to be a good person....never did and never will. I don't need to be told what to do about anything....IMHO the idea in itself flies in the face of FREEDOM.

you may be right that they don't owe the govt anything. However, the country is bigger than the govt. Regardless, it is not about owing anything or anybody. I think it is a bit about giving of oneself for a greater cause, bigger than me or you. I speak from personal experience and I was not brainwashed.
I can only imagine my dare to respond to your statement can be argued and debated until the cows come home. In the end, it all results the same....as an example, if any of you have seen the education commercial with all the country flags on the flag pole and those countries children's outperform the US academically. It is all intertwined.

[jefrog]

thanks for sharing your thoughts lognshot. The nice thing about American is everyone can do what they want, when they want, how they want. It is great to know your family commits to doing community service. Keep it up!

my .02cents regarding freedom...
most of America needs a paradigm shift.
the reality is simply this: freedom isn't free.

[LongShot]

Then we should stop calling it freedom and start calling it what it is.

:wink:

[Semper Fidelis]

Sounds like a great idea... Been telling people I believe in this for years... It would do wonders for America's young and dumb. Especially since parenting has become a joke since the women's lib movement... The military makes basically trained adults out of most kids.... and it takes less than 3 months. Can't say that about today's parents that have 18 years... If schools weren't increasingly enforcing dress codes... the ability to dress properly would be fading fast.... thanks to the stellar parenting that's happening out there.

Oh and Freedom isn't free... Somebody pays for it... I guess you don't believe it should be called freedom when YOU have to earn it. :wink:

[LongShot]

So just how is it that a all volunteer military has worked to this point without mandatory service?

Save the freedom isn't free crap for the lemmings. I did my time and spilt my blood.

Sounds like a great idea... Been telling people I believe in this for years... It would do wonders for America's young and dumb. Especially since parenting has become a joke since the women's lib movement... The military makes basically trained adults out of most kids.... and it takes less than 3 months. Can't say that about today's parents that have 18 years... If schools weren't increasingly enforcing dress codes... the ability to dress properly would be fading fast.... thanks to the stellar parenting that's happening out there.

Oh and Freedom isn't free... Somebody pays for it... I guess you don't believe it should be called freedom when YOU have to earn it. :wink:

[markmc]

Don't want any of my kids serving in the Nobama Hilter youth. Think they use to call it the draft at one time. I can just imagine what they would indoc them with.

The resistance lives to battle the darkside.

[cheerfuldave]

Yes, but who could possibly imagine what type of psychology will be used during this "training."

[tmorr37]

you may be right that they don't owe the govt anything. However, the country is bigger than the govt. Regardless, it is not about owing anything or anybody. I think it is a bit about giving of oneself for a greater cause, bigger than me or you. I speak from personal experience and I was not brainwashed.
I can only imagine my dare to respond to your statement can be argued and debated until the cows come home. In the end, it all results the same....as an example, if any of you have seen the education commercial with all the country flags on the flag pole and those countries children's outperform the US academically. It is all intertwined.

For one this would not turn out to how you might imagine, once a bunch of liberals got a hold of it
These kids wouldn't work in way would would think. It would become some strange Education Camp
I think it is a bit about giving of oneself for a greater cause, bigger than me or you.
That's sounds Communist. Giving? You think this is Free. There will be a large Cost with this and guess who pays? Come on, think about it

In a place like Israel, Kids are trained like Soldiers with discipline.
It wouldn't be long for it to be used in some political means that were never intended. Soon, even becoming Illegal to Opt out

[Semper Fidelis]

So just how is it that a all volunteer military has worked to this point without mandatory service?

Save the freedom isn't free crap for the lemmings. I did my time and spilt my blood.


I'm not really talking about the military... I'm saying a program like this would be a great idea for most of the country that refuses to raise their children to be adults. Some exposure to reality would be a good thing also... Something that can't be taught at home...

It hasn't always been "all volunteer." It COULD be, even in situations when the current "military" turns out to be undermanned... imagine an entire adult population proficient and confident enough to return to service, voluntarily, if need be... do you think that a draft would ever need to be reinstated? JMO

[LongShot]

My fear is that "community service" would be helping ACHORN...canvassing etc. And like I said mandated community service flies in the face of the word freedom. Plus where does this money come from schools today can't afford sports never mind adding a program like this. Also what about the kids that actually need to work?

If we need a draft we impliment it worked last time.