United Liberty
Obama’s Mandatory Service Proposal
Tue, 02/17/2009 - 12:46pm | posted by Trevor Hazen
First, let me lay out a couple things. I have no problem with giving back to our country. I am completely for supporting our country, for volunteering in the community, and for sacrificing my time for the betterment of our society and I encourage others to do so as well.
But the problem with Obama’s mandatory service proposal is that it is exactly that: mandatory. The 13th amendment clearly states:
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
It is unconstitutional to require mandatory service from anybody in the United States. A lot of people think this is a good idea because it would be good for the citizens (primarily the youth) of America to learn what it’s like to give back through hard work. No argument there. Many people think this is a good idea because it would bring a great deal of comfort knowing that everyone would be trained on how to react after natural disasters or
during national emergencies. Again, I agree completely. This is a great idea except for one thing: it is required. That makes it unconstitutional, even though it is a good idea.
One obvious fact is that all of this training and community service Obama is talking about implementing is already available to everybody! That is one of the great things about this country- we have the choice to join the National Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or a local community service program. Anybody can volunteer their time in the community or serve their country if they so choose. But they are not forced to do anything.
This ideology offers America a small taste of socialism. I have seen the effects of a socialist country firsthand, and in these countries this type of thing would be very normal. Fortunately for you and me, the United States is not a socialist country. In fact, the basic principles on which America was founded completely contradict the tenets and philosophy that form the basis of socialism.
Something that is required can not be called a volunteer based program. And if any institution involves involuntary servitude, it would be unconstitutional, whether the proposed outcomes were intended to be positive and good, like this one, or if the results were abhorrent and unfair, such as slavery. I am not trying to diminish that blighted period of American history- slavery was a dehumanizing institution that I would never wish upon any race, people, or generation of any time. However, in view of the 13th Amendment, both slavery and any non-punitive mandatory community service are unconstitutional and that is why I can be nothing but opposed to it.
Where is the compulsory element of his proposal? I don’t see that setting goals for service at the middle and high school levels and offering a tax credit in exchange for service in college constitute mandatory service.
From Whitehouse.gov-
Expand Service-Learning in Our Nation’s Schools: Set a goal that all middle and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year. Develop national guidelines for service learning and give schools better tools both to develop programs and to document student experience.
This looks like a requirement to me. I wonder how it would be implemented in private, parochial and homeschools though.
Here you go, this is straight out of Rahm Emanuel’s book “The Plan” on pages 61-62
“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.”
Compulsory? I think so. If it was not required few would do it. And by required I mean there would have to be consequences if one did not do it. I.E. jail or even MORE (mandatory) service on top of the three months.
http://www.davidcarlsonpolitics.com
I posted a video by Ron Paul speaking about this and I’ve been concerned that Washington politicos are too keen on this creepy idea. However, I haven’t actually read or heard about it outside of libertarian circles. Is there actually hard news of leading Obama administration officials advocating compulsory service?
“Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.” - Thomas Jefferson
I think it was a bigger story when Rahm Emanuel was first appointed as Chief of Staff, and I’m sure the ‘hard news’ you are talking about was more prevalent during that time. If it’s going to happen, it most likely will happen within the next year or two (most major Presidential initiatives are taken during that time in a term). It’s definitely been out in the open, and he is not shy about it (if you read the part of his book where he talks about it). Regardless, it must be stopped. Preferably through education.
One Obama supporter’s response was “haha you honestly think this would happen? It won’t.” Great argument in support of his candidate’s policy. “It won’t happen.”
-David Carlson
http://www.davidcarlsonpolitics.com
Read Butler v Perry, fools!
An unfortunate ruling that is now irrelevent.
Having read Mr Obama’s ‘Mandatory Service Proposal’, the conclusion I draw is the government think doing things voluntarily (hold on, volunteers are mandatory are they?), ie, carrying out public duties for nothing will solve the problem.
It’s all well and good talking about tax credits etc, in exchange for services rendered, but we are dealing with young students as well. Is it not part of the governmental psychology of life to encourage people into the capital market, by showing them the reward they deserve on a weekly/monthly basis, not on a piece of government paper claiming: “We didn’t take AS MUCH this year.”
I don’t think 50 hours is much to give away each year for your country, but it saddens me that this will probably turn out to be the mandatory part of this proposal; the poor bl—dy youth’s get blamed for half the grief in society, when we all know the head boys are not boys at all, but grown men manipulating children into gang wars etc.
If my friend wrote me a note with ‘mandatory’ in the title and then continued with the words ‘encourage’ and ‘voluntary’ or asking older people to work on after retirement (as we all know many want to), I would laugh at it, but in my opinion, the title ‘mandatory’ is a contradriction in terms (perhaps they have written the real intention in the title by mistake)! What of those who do not agree with voluntary work; don’t they have rights too?
Just to add one more thing to that; he does seem like a step up from Bush to be fair! I still can’t see why driving a false economy is not illegal; Bush and Blair knew and encouraged the rate of lending to keep the figures high then hopped out of office before the walls came tumbling down.
Wait a minute folks, this mandatory “volunteer” service and “youth corps” is reminscent of somebody else in history. I do not mean to pessimistic, but is our president the reincarnation of Adolph Hitler. You tell me.
Less like Hitler, more like John Adams.
Apparently we aren’t familiar with our history.
Mandatory military service was proposed and very nearly accepted as part of our constitution. It seems to have been supported by such rampant socialists as Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton.
Fortunately their secret fascist agenda to subvert freedom and create a European type socialist nanny state was diverted.
….
oops. Lost my train of thought there.
Their specific reasoning was to prevent the potential abuse of power by a standing army. We encountered this again with Nixon who, by ending the draft, was able to quiet public outcry over future military actions (Grenada anyone?).
Looking at Obama’s proposal (which is more different), there is value in making the safety and security of the nation the responsibility of it’s citizens. There are reasonable objections as well, but this “slavery” meme isn’t really one of them.
Look, you just can’t confuse chattle slavery with a stint of public service. If they are the same, then I am TOTALLY blowing off jury duty next week. SCREW INVOLUNTARY SERVICE!
For some details on the constitutional debate over mandatory service, check this out: http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0505-08.htm
That depends entirely who you are defending against, especially an enemy the American people didn’t make themselves. They are then told to defend a nation against enemies the GOVERNMENT made by sticking their noses into the affairs of the Middle East and suddenly deciding to recreate Israel then selling one side every piece of crap weapon they no longer wanted and arming the other to the teeth (that goes for all allied governments). To fight mandatory, a cause you do not believe in and has reasonable grounds for suspicion (like the fact they fell apart a couple of thousand years ago as a nation) is SLAVERY; no other word for it!.
“Original Socialism is not a way of life, it’s a tool to use in the circumstance of war!” Mr M.R. Godden M.E
Obama has as of today (4/21/09) just signed into law the mandatory government civilain service act into law and i heard it on neil kovito on fox news at 4:05 pm eastern time this afternoon.and i fear for my own kids and those of america.this means slavery has come back here to america once agin. HIDE YOUR CHILDREN!! Beware AMERICA!!!! THE (PRESSGANG) COMMITH!!! the 13th amendment of the constitution says that the government cant force the american citizens to do coumuiniety service unless you are arrested for a criminal offence what obama is doing in my opinion is high treasion and he should be charged with such and sentance carried out immeadiatly along with everyone who had any part in this. BUT don’t listen to me.Check this out for your selves and make your own decision on what you are going to do!!its up to you america as for me i know what me and my town will do and yes it will be legal..or unless the government starts a war with the american people