| | I don't know the answer to this: in what way does Obama endorse conscription. Sounds like McCain is pro-draft. Obama seems like more of a pro-mandatory-community service kinda guy. I'll take soup kitchens to war trenches any day. On January 10, 2007, a bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Democrat Charles Rangel. The bill, H.R. 393, also known as the “Universal National Service Act of 2007," will "require all persons in the United States between the ages of 18 and 42 to perform national service, either as a member of the uniformed services or in civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, to authorize the induction of persons in the uniformed services during wartime to meet end-strength requirements of the uniformed services, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the favorable treatment afforded combat pay under the earned income tax credit, and for other purposes."
In an MTV/MySpace forum on February 19th, 2008, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both expressed support for the legislation. When asked about education expenses, Clinton said: “... that’s why I’m in favor of two years of national service, where you could earn up to $10,000 a year doing national service and go right into helping you pay for college.” In a follow up comment, Barack Obama then stated: “... one of the things that I’ve proposed, for example, is that I will give a $4000 tuition credit - every student, every year - so that they are not being loaded up with enormous debts, but there will be a community service - a national service component. The military could be one way for you to get this $4000 tuition credit. Another way would be to work in an under-served school that needs help. Another way would be to work in an under-served hospital or a homeless shelter, or a veterans home. The point is, I think it is important for young people to serve.”
It's bad enough that Clinton and Obama (and other Democrats) think that our primary moral obligation is to serve others. What's even more worrisome, however, is that they think that such altruistic service should be implemented via national conscription, which is a clear violation of the 13th Amendment's prohibition of involuntary servitude.
On July 2, 2008, in a speech at Colorado Springs, Obama made another reference to such legislation when he called for the creation of a "national civilian military service" by saying: "We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded." Northwestern University law professor James Lindgren has estimated that this civilian national security force would cost somewhere between $100 billion and $500 billion, or between 10% and 50% of all federal tax receipts. Even adults who’ve already served in the U.S. military are not exempt from Obama's national conscription. "People of all ages, stations and skills will be asked to serve," he said.
Obama then went on to explain his vision of a national service program similar to the one he outlined in the MTV/MySpace forum, saying he would make federal assistance to schools contingent to school districts establishing service programs, with a goal of 50 hours of service per year for middle school and high school students, and 100 hours of service per year for college students. So the service wouldn't be voluntary on the part of the students. They would be required to perform it as a condition of the schools' receiving federal assistance.
In a commencement speech at Wesleyan University, Obama advised graduates not to pursue a successful, money-making career in private industry but to serve others. "You can take your diploma, walk off this stage and chase only after the big house and the nice suits and all the other things that our money culture says you should. But I hope you don’t."
Speaking to a group of women in Zanesville, Ohio, Obama's wife Michelle said, "We left corporate America, which is a lot of what we’re asking young people to do. Don’t go into corporate America. . . . Become teachers. Work for the community. Be social workers. Be a nurse. Those are the careers we need, and we’re encouraging people to do just that."
But the Obamas are doing more than "encouraging" or "asking." Michelle made it clear: "Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. That you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zone. . . . Barack Obama will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual — uninvolved, uninformed." Note the language, "require," "demand," "never allow" -- Barack, the new service emperor! Is this the language of people who believe in freedom of choice or have even the vaguest notion of individual rights?
All you young people out there -- aren't you excited about the wonderful "changes" that Obama plans to impose upon you, once he's elected? Don't you just want to run out and vote this congenial, smiling man into office, so he can usher in a new era of compulsory national service in which you'll be required to participate? Of course, you do. Just remember to straighten your spine and keep a stiff upper lip! You'll need it.
- Bill
(Edited by William Dwyer on 9/13, 3:35pm)
(Edited by William Dwyer on 9/13, 3:57pm)
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