government mandated slavery
 

Disclaimer: I cant take credit for writing this - one of my friends on myspace wrote it. I had heard about the 401K thing - Hubby said something to me yesterday about how he needed to find somewhere to hide his 401K money because we were going to be forced to "spread the wealth" but I hadnt heard about the community service thing.

Change we can believe in. YEEEHAAAA *rolls eyes*


I know, I know. Flame the "bitter republican." I can see that mandatory community service going over REAL well :rolleyes:

"Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by setting a goal that all middle school and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year and by developing a plan so that all college students who conduct 100 hours of community service receive a universal and fully refundable tax credit ensuring that the first $4,000 of their college education is completely free." - from http://change.gov/americaserves/

Maybe it's my interpretation of this, but it sounds as if its more of a reward system than a MUST DO kind of thing. I'm still looking through the rest of the info.

That's what it sounds like to me, too.

$4,000 for 100 hours of community service? $40/hour for a college kid is a hell of a lot better than working at the book center or waiting tables.

Darn, glad I read ahead.

To the OP, I don't think you're a bitter Repub. I think you saw something on your friend's Myspace page that you could relate to. Did you read up on this yourself or take your friend's interpretation for the accurate one?

Links to the John Locke Foundation and that whack-job Alex Jones. Centers of rational, broad-minded thought. Seriously, the levels of hysteria in some quadrants is mind-boggling.

Nah, you'll just get flamed for cutting and pasting from myspace, posting stuff from nut-job extremists and not even attempting to find a credible source to educate yourself with. Repubs and Dems alike get flamed for that sort of thing.

Before you post something so inflammatory, at least make some sort of effort to actually educate yourself on the subject.

The Universal Draft will never pass. Hasn't Rangel tried to pass it through a few times before?

I am really trying hard to understand how come any kind of community service for young people is not a good idea.

I imagine how non-profits suffer due to poor numbers of volunteers on their projects.

I'm looking at the middle/high school kids. What do they get for doing their 50 hours of service? The website is vague on how the program would work. I interpreted it to mean that college students who did 100 hours would get the college money credit. Also, I'm unsure if it wants college students to do 100 per year to get the money, or if they have to graduate before they get the credit, etc etc. There's alot of questions unanswered. At a swift glance though - it sounds to me that only college students really benefit for it. I cant imagine many middle/high schoolers enjoying doing community service "just because." I had to grow up a little bit more before I truly enjoyed giving back to the community.

What about the 2 year draft? Tthere would be those who would find medical reasons on why they should be spared, and other baloney excuses to get out of serving in the military. Plus, the military already has a bunch of "voluntary" dirtbags as it is, why put the soldiers (who want to be there) lives in danger by having them HAVE to depend on some dirtbag kid who is forced to be there? I know the draft was normal way back when, but times have changed. People don't look at military service as a sense of duty and something youre "supposed" to do anymore....

I wasnt trying to start an argument or anything - just found the info to be interesting....and I seriously wonder how it's going to work and be effective. There's going to have to be an incentive for it.....

Yes, he's tried passing that legislation through several times. I guess he was attempting to "spread that wealth around"--like many other countries do already...

I'm thinking of people with bad attitudes who dont want to be there because they feel like they've got better, more important things to do. As someone who might be interested in doing the community service, I would hate to get behind in whatever it was I was doing because I was working with some slacker who was holding me back.

Yes, actually, the first time Rangel proposed it, in 2003, it was a reaction to the war in Iraq. Rangel had made a statement at one point that if more lawmakers had sons or daughters in the military and thus were likely to have children called up to serve, it might have changed their view on the war. So he was trying to make a "point" as it were, with the legislation (which garnered almost no cosponsors and only received 2 votes -- again, Rangel always knew it wouldn't pass).

Then he reintroduced it in 2006, it didn't get any cosponsors and I don't even think it went to committee.

And then he reintroduced it in 2007, I think it garnered 2 whole cosponsors this time and was sent to committee, where it was sent to subcommittee, where it was never taken up, so languished and died.

Your tone has changed and that's okay. So you really just want to discuss this versus wanting to criticize an elected-administration based on your friend's Myspace interpretation of questionable references. :)

Yes, your very tame and non-inflammatory thread title supports this.

So, thinking more objectively, is this a substantive reason to criticize this as a policy for the elected-administration?

Agreed. OP, surely by this point in your academic career you have had some studies involving the history of slavery.

Those roads you like to drive on... Need repairs... A former military, especially construction, can quickly make that happen. But like you said, folks will find a way to get out of serving others.

Theoretically, military personnel are allowed to serve in the Peace Corps. If not called up to active duty. Maybe President Obama is trying bolster President Clinton's Americorps. Who knows what they are trying to do.

As for young middle school age children, the issue is about their poor self-esteem outcome affecting their ability to be personable. That is what SEVERAL educators have told me from all over. Middle school is the age to bolters their self-esteem/confidence and civics and duties. Research has shown that if middle school age children who have positive experience with serving the community in the smallest of ways, turn out to be well-adjusted and productive as they matriculate in high school and beyond.

Aren't you sick of hearing about kids doing a Columbine style killings?

I am not saying that community service is the sole process, because some of the young people need psychiatric care more than helping other people. But, for young people who do not act all kind of crazy but need support could benefit with a well thought out community service plan.

I actually expected this thread to be about capitalism or about government supported sweat shop labor.

BTW, Chaos, that little boy in your siggy link that gets all choked up, I just wanna hug him. :)

I roll my eyes because that's how I feel about the elected administration. The spread the wealth idea really makes my blood boil. Spreading what little bit of wealth I have to lazy turds who wont work? Psh. To be honest, I'm just going to sit back, and watch (really, what choice do I have?) and we'll see if he's REALLY for middle class america, or just certain middle class americans. Yeah. I said it.

But to answer your question - yeah, all I wanted to do was discuss, but it's apparent I've already pissed some folks off, so I dont guess good discussion is going to actually happen now. Rather than discussing or answering a question, you have people who just want to criticise. Of course, that's what GC is all about. Who can we attack on next?

I'll call it like I see it. I think the title is perfectly appropriate. the possibility (whether it passes or not) of the draft, and telling kids they "have" to do community service? Sounds like government mandated slavery to me.

Dont worry, next time I'll title it "Hide your money before Obama takes it and gives it to lazy ass turds." How's that?

Community Service builds character. Middle and High School students should have to do community service because it opens their eyes. It will help them appreciate what they do have. CS also builds a sense of community (that I feel most of our communities lack). I also wouldn't underestimate the young people of today. We're a bit more mature than people think. The problem with many people today (especially young people) is that some feel entitled to something for no reason. Why shouldn't you spend 50 hours a year (50 hours in 52 weeks? It's not much work, but it's extremely necessary. Maybe kids will put the darn remotes down and live literally instead of vicariously) helping your community? Why should you get something for doing what you should be doing already? I understand that incentives motivate people. You should have to serve 50 hours a week as a thank you to the tax payers who pay for your education and safety.

To whom much is given much is expected. <----Words every person should live by. In this case to whom much is given (not, if anything)much is expected.


As far as the 2 year service thing, I think it's good and bad. Horrible in a time of war because no person wants to be forced to serve in a war. I also wouldn't want to have to rely on these people. I do believe there is benefit to having to serve in the military. It means that all people get some form of basic training in self-defense and discipline. I think that this will also foster more loyalty to the country, and a better work force. I think the image of most Americans as spoiled consumers will hold true if nothing is done. I don't think every young person should be shipped off to the army. I think that we might all need to do 2 years in a reserve. I'm a firm believer in the idea that hard work does a person good. There a lot of issues that can be attacked by having a 2 year service minimum.

Have you ever had to put your life in the hands of someone you didnt trust? Why dont you ask a servicemember who has, and see how they feel about it.

Wow, did you really want to discuss anything or just post something inflammatory and show your ignorance? You haven't even made an attempt to educate yourself on the subject before spouting off all of this.

Actually, this seems like two different people posting under this username, two totally different tones. OP has about 17 posts... I diagnose a case of the "my roommate did it"

Welp... Dr.Phil, I'mma make a sammich. Whaddya want? LOL...

You can roll your eyes. Just don't create a thread about it until you have a solid foundation for your eye rolling.

How old are you, seriously? And why are you a Republican?

And I don't know what you're talking about @ yeah, I said it. Was that supposed to be a "zinger?"

Do you understand how ironic this is? That's like cursing out a stranger and wondering why you get cursed back.

...and you don't stop.

...and you don't stop.

Maybe you just aren't intelligent enough to have a discussion. (yeah, I said it :p). I'm all for crass delivery, I do that sometimes, but you don't make sense even when you're not being crass. You might not have it in you so....

THIS THREAD = FAIL.

Clearly if 50 hours of community service sounds like slavery to you then there are a few problems: Slavery should be studied more in schools, hard work should be necessary, and laziness should be banned.


Also, If you only have a little bit of wealth (ie: less than 250,000 dollars of it) then your wealth is safe. It won't be spread to lazy people. Also, where are you getting this idea that wealth will be spread to lazy people? Even if wealth were to be spread it would be spread to hardworking middle class Americans not to lazy people who do nothing. A tax break doesn't help the unemployed "lazy people on welfare"(people without jobs don't pay income tax).

Why is it that some people can't say what they mean?
What you say is "Obama's gonna redistribute my wealth"
what you mean is "I'm scared that the new black president will only help black people especially because we've had white presidents who only helped white people"

Don't worry though, President Obama and the people in the United States Congress will not pass race-specific tax laws.

Do you know how to make a tomato and mozzarella panini? LOL.

With a "full deck" of tomato, please.

Yeesah, massa, commin' raaaght up... I's jus knew yous be faamiseeshed...

L.
O.
L.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D


LOL!

Okay. You win. Have a nice night.

Flounce number one.

What's the over-under?

Are you posing as a slave or as a high school student doing community service to receive $4000 of free tuition?

*nail biting*

Oh and you been dun knows I ain't operatin' with a full deck... :D

I's dat nu kinna slave forced into labor holdin' old folks hands as I sit with them for 20 minutes per day for 2 years or so... :rolleyes:

Those lucky trans-Atlantic slave trade bastards.