Obama and REQUIRED community service

[CQ]

I think the idea is cool but I think you'd have a lot of people doing it and I doubt the funds would be available. I don't know how many kids go to college a year but even if 200k students got $4k you are talking almost one billion dollars.  I bet the top four universities in the country total 200k, so I'm sure there are a lot more. 

Community service is a great idea but there are drawbacks to the plan itself.

Yes, and when you think a billion dollars to help out 200,000 American students and get things done at home through the charity work.

The USA has spent that on the Iraq war only since Obama was elected. By time he gets in will be enough spent in Iraq to fund such a program for over 20 years at those numbers.

That is one thing I never understand, why people are so thrilled to pay high taxes and have much of it pour offshore instead of spent at home.

[Eric2]

Everybody get ready for obama.

[drkaje]

Everybody get ready for obama.

The sky is falling!!

[Bindare_Dundat]

In some ways this could work and in some ways it's a bunch of bullshit. It all depends on what version they are considering implementing, the website isn't very clear.

[Hedgehog]

In some ways this could work and in some ways it's a bunch of bullshit. It all depends on what version they are considering implementing, the website isn't very clear.

I think you're right.
It's a brave idea, but does he really think he can somehow make Superpatriots out of all Americans?
This can really get wild LOL.
If he were white, I'm sure the Klan and the Aryan Nation would masturbate seeing this proposal.
But I am really curious. 

[Bindare_Dundat]

I think you're right.
It's a brave idea, but does he really think he can somehow make Superpatriots out of all Americans?
This can really get wild LOL.
If he were white, I'm sure the Klan and the Aryan Nation would masturbate seeing this proposal.
But I am really curious. 

From his blue book I believe.

In November, Barack Obama laid out a comprehensive plan to provide all Americans with a world-class education and give our schools a substantial infusion of funds to support teachers and principals and improve student learning. That plan conditions that assistance on school districts developing programs to engage students in service opportunities.

I don't like the way this sounds.

[youandme]

I actually agree with this. Gen-Y is LAZY. And if you are getting some type of government assistance, then you need to contribute something back to society.

From his blue book I believe.

In November, Barack Obama laid out a comprehensive plan to provide all Americans with a world-class education and give our schools a substantial infusion of funds to support teachers and principals and improve student learning. That plan conditions that assistance on school districts developing programs to engage students in service opportunities.

I don't like the way this sounds.

I'm sure as more information comes out it will only highlight how much money the government was giving to these "do nothing" schools that have below average graduation rates, and let students slip by.....well that has to happen, but in the very least they might as well contribute some time and effort into actually doing worthwhile activities.

[Hedgehog]

From his blue book I believe.

In November, Barack Obama laid out a comprehensive plan to provide all Americans with a world-class education and give our schools a substantial infusion of funds to support teachers and principals and improve student learning. That plan conditions that assistance on school districts developing programs to engage students in service opportunities.

I don't like the way this sounds.

I've actually spent a week with a family in rural USA, and for people like them, reforms like these are much needed.
They are probably 15-20 years behind the rest of the USA as far as education level and they're just cut off from ways to get anywhere in life.
Everything is really bad there, not just schools, but roads, phone lines not to mention the sewer systems.
It's a like a development country inside the USA.
And obviously, lots of tremendous waste of potential.
A few may laugh at Joe the Coach and his c&p'ing, but he's a political genius and expert in comparison to these people.
These people believe Europe is a country, don't know the difference between Washington and DC, often believes NY to be the capitol and thinks Lincoln was the first president.
A lot of them writes poorly at best.
So a reform would be perhaps start dealing with this very real problem.
     

[drkaje]

McCain could have advanced the same idea, called it a tax cut and everyone would have loved it.

[Bindare_Dundat]

I actually agree with this. Gen-Y is LAZY. And if you are getting some type of government assistance, then you need to contribute something back to society.

I'm sure as more information comes out it will only highlight how much money the government was giving to these "do nothing" schools that have below average graduation rates, and let students slip by.....well that has to happen, but in the very least they might as well contribute some time and effort into actually doing worthwhile activities.

Involuntary servitude is a United States legal and constitutional term for a person laboring against that person's will to benefit another, under some form of coercion.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution makes involuntary servitude illegal under any US jurisdiction whether at the hands of the US government or in the private sphere, except as punishment for a crime: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

[Bindare_Dundat]

promoting youth programs such as Youth Build and Head Start.

Politicains always hide behind the flag, the bible and children.  No Child left Behind...No Child left Behind, oh really? Well, it wasn't  long ago you were talking about giving children a Head Start. Head Start, Left Behind. Someone's losing fucking ground here. - paraphrasing George Carlin

[240 is Back]

most colleges make you do that much already, don't they?

It's good IMO - many people here beat their chests about how military service should be mandatory.  Why not make a little community service mandatory?  You all live here.  If you should fight in military, you should fight for better domestic.

[Bindare_Dundat]

most colleges make you do that much already, don't they?

It's good IMO - many people here beat their chests about how military service should be mandatory.  Why not make a little community service mandatory?  You all live here.  If you should fight in military, you should fight for better domestic.

A little involintary servitude never killed anyone.

[Meshelle]

Slavery was abolished in 1865

Amendment XIII

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

[garebear]

most colleges make you do that much already, don't they?

It's good IMO - many people here beat their chests about how military service should be mandatory.  Why not make a little community service mandatory?  You all live here.  If you should fight in military, you should fight for better domestic.

Nah, war is too romantic to people, even those in the military. Domestic - boring!

[Bindare_Dundat]

Slavery was abolished in 1865

Amendment XIII

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

 Involuntary servitude does not necessarily connote the complete lack of freedom experienced in chattel slavery; involuntary servitude may also refer to other forms of unfree labor.

[gcb]

Slavery was abolished in 1865

Amendment XIII

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Didn't they have conscription at some point?

[shootfighter1]

I don't like the way some of this sounds either Blindare.  Sounds like the gov could be stepping too far into private matters under Obama...we have to see what his exact proposal will look like though.  I find nothing wrong with offering tax or school credits for real community service but the minute we make these things mandatory, the minute we start moving away from being American.

"substantial infusion of funds" is very concerning as well.  We've tried that for 25 years now.  The biggest problem with schools in low income area is the lack of cohesive family, poor discipline and poor ethics/values.  You can't throw $ at those things and they are needed to provide a solid foundation for learning and advancement. 

[Bindare_Dundat]

"substantial infusion of funds" is very concerning as well.  We've tried that for 25 years now.  The biggest problem with schools in low income area is the lack of cohesive family, poor discipline and poor ethics/values.  You can't throw $ at those things and they are needed to provide a solid foundation for learning and advancement. 

My thoughts exactly.

[Fury]

More people doing community service would be a good thing, but I don't think they should be required to.

[headhuntersix]

Involuntary servitude is a United States legal and constitutional term for a person laboring against that person's will to benefit another, under some form of coercion.

The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution makes involuntary servitude illegal under any US jurisdiction whether at the hands of the US government or in the private sphere, except as punishment for a crime: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."

Bingo......this is how it starts....my kid is not in any way shape or form getting involved with the Obama youth.........

[Fury]

Bingo......this is how it starts....my kid is not in any way shape or form getting involved with the Obama youth.........

LOL. "Obama youth". Funny stuff.

[drkaje]

I thought Meshelle would have moved to Canada by now.

[Soul Crusher]

I think this is probably missing details...  It can't possibly be what it says.

Ok, the site was obviously put together really fast, on another page it says: Require 100 Hours of Service in College: Obama and Biden will establish a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that is worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.

I'm wondering about "require"

If he has a draft, what will you say then?

[Bindare_Dundat]

Over the weekend President-elect Barack Obama scrubbed Change.gov, his transition Web site, deleting most of what had been a massive agenda copied directly from his campaign Web site.

Gone are the promises on how an Obama administration would handle 25 different agenda items - everything from Iraq and immigration to taxes and urban policy - all items laid out on his campaign Web site, www.BarackObama.com.

Instead, the official agenda on Change.gov has been boiled down to one vague paragraph proclaiming a plan “to revive the economy, to fix our health care, education, and social security systems, to define a clear path to energy independence, to end the war in Iraq responsibly and finish our mission in Afghanistan, and to work with our allies to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, among many other domestic and foreign policy objectives.”