And you thought that whole "change" mantra would be over. Oh, not so. Enjoy the sweet burning savor of your freedoms on fire. The new Presidential administration has launched their website, Change.GOV.
Here's a great directive from the Dictator-elect about requiring community service from children and college students. Did you think all his promises for "free college for everyone" wouldn't cost a thing?
"Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by developing a plan to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school and 100 hours of community service in college every year. Obama will encourage retiring Americans to serve by improving programs available for individuals over age 55, while at the same time promoting youth programs such as Youth Build and Head Start."
Don't get comfortable. This won't be the end. To borrow Joe Biden's "mark my words", here is my prediction of things to come:
You're itemizing your tax return with various write-offs? 100 hours of community service.
Part of the 40 percent in this country who don't pay federal taxes? 300 hours of community service.
Expecting one of those 95 percent tax cut rebate checks? 500 hours of community service.
Your rural city applying for a matching federal grant to fix city streets? 10,000 hours of community service.
It's called "involuntary servitude", and the founding fathers forbade it, right along with slavery. Check out the 13th Amendment:
"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."
I tried to work off two speeding tickets with community service last year, instead of paying the fine. I was given the option to work from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a dog pound in a very dangerous part of town for at least two shifts. Or, plant trees from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break, working with nonviolent criminal offenders for at least four shifts.
There were no other "community service" options. Either work this, or pay.
This isn't just voluntary work with your church. In fact, I doubt that will even count. When I presented the hours I already spend every month with the Remnant service group volunteering for various ministries and churches and needy citizens, painting and cleaning, repairs, construction work, yard work, all I got was "that doesn't count." It had to be a government sponsored agency AND on their list.
Be sure and find an Obama supporter and thank them.
UPDATE.......
Obama loves change. In fact, he loves to change his website too.
As of yesterday, the above quote and screen shot of the "America Serves" portion of the Change.gov site was accurate.
As of today, the wording has been "tweaked." Check it out:
Yesterday:
"Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by developing a plan to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school and 100 hours of community service in college every year."
Today:
"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."
In other words, Obama didn't spin it right. So now it's been spun. The wording didn't sit well with Americans not too friendly with government mandated work without compensation.
His administration will still be implementing requirements for community service, he'll just do it more stealthily.
0 comments:
Post a Comment