Congress Sends Obama a Bill to Boost Community Service

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Dear Editor,
Community service is unpaid work which benefits a community, but something has gone amuck with our nation’s volunteerism. There has been a lack of people who want to volunteer, so our nation got concerned and decided to set in. Their solution to the problem was rewarding those who do volunteer with things such as scholarships and cash awards. When the number of people volunteering only increased slightly the word volunteer was taken out of the picture and graduation requirement took its place. Community service is meant to be a way of helping because it was thought to be the right thing to do, a way of getting satisfaction for making something better, or just a random act of kindness. This thought process has been turned into “what do I get out of it?” thinking.
President Obama passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve American Act early this April. “It will increase the number of federally subsidized opportunities for volunteering each year from 75,000 to 250,000, while also expanding the program's mission by creating several new "service corps" devoted to clean energy and health care.” The problem isn’t the lack of organizations; it’s the lack of motivation. There are several organizations that are trying to help better people’s lives and they just aren’t known. An example is Habitat for Humanity, people get together and build a home for those who might not have one or are in danger of loosing it. The issue is the lack of knowledge of how one can help their community, or people elsewhere, not the lack of organizations. An organization that is in need of assistance isn’t too difficult to find. By adding more organizations it puts a harsher strain on the currently existing ones.
The idea of doing something to get something in return is beginning to take over and the government is aiding it. Volunteering your time, hands and/or mind should be a selfless act and there shouldn’t be a reward or money given out, if that were the case would that not be called work? What is the difference between working for a pay check and working to get a grant of money? There are grants, and rewards for those people who meet certain requirement and work a certain number of hours, mostly 350 hours. You could work at a job for 350 hours and get the same amount of money that you would volunteering. The government is giving those who volunteer for these organizations; why not just give the money straight to the organization, the people who need it most.
Schools are beginning to require their students to volunteer for a certain number of hours in order to graduate. This is a restriction, these students aren’t helping because they want to it is because they have to. By being forced to volunteer brings the idea of it being a chore and not doing something because it is for the good of their community. This thinking process is going to discourage children from volunteering their help in the future. When searching for the definition of “community service” most dictionaries will give 2 possible definitions, one of which is “Similar work preformed by law offend to serve a sentence in lieu of or in addition to jail time.” These children are not convicted criminals so why are they being treated like ones?
The second and most popular definition of “community service” is “unpaid work which benefits the community”. This isn’t happening anymore. Community service is just another chore that people don’t want to do anymore, it is not the lack of organizations. Community service needs its own help.

Kayla of CA 1:38PM October 28, 2009

cEwnFE

Tmcdeeui of OK 1:22AM July 14, 2009

The House version that passed, but isn't in the final version approved by the senate also. I'm sure they'll add amendments later. READ THE FINE PRINT PEOPLE
SEC. 125. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.
`(a) Prohibited Activities- A participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not engage in the following activities:
`(1) Attempting to influence legislation.
`(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes.
`(3) Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing.
`(4) Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements.
`(5) Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office.
`(6) Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials.
`(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization.

Jodi of OH 9:54PM April 09, 2009

workers than just some more fast food workers and c-store clerks. The more jobs you create at the lower end, the higher you raise all wages at the lower end. Go Obama.

Muser of NM 6:04PM April 09, 2009

The premise of the Obama plan is that most people don't volunteer. This flies in the face of all fact and is an insult to the vast majority of Americans who have spent their lives asCub Scout, Girl Scout leaders, school board members, library assistants, Rotary, Shriner and Mason members, working non-stop in all manner of civic "giving back". Sadly, only Obama-approved community activities will be considered. This is just another intrusion by a government which wants to pick winners and losers.

Linda Dwyer of CT 10:29AM April 09, 2009

Although the government may try to cloak it and cover it up in sweet smelling phrases and appealing to high ideals, there is no hiding the fact from those with their eyes wide open that this is exactly what certain individuals did in Germany back in the 1930's. This is not something that we as a people should stand for.
If you truly wish to volunteer, you do not need the Government to provide incentives. You volunteer because you want to and it is the right thing to do.
To allow the Government a greater hand and control in this arena will only lead to abuse. The drumming of marching boots which had been distant since this president was elect gets closer and closer with each passing day and more control of the private sector is consumed by the power hungry cabal of president BO. With each of these actions that much more of the American soul is destroyed.

John of NY 9:20AM April 09, 2009

Simply put...a great idea as we all need to give back and not just take from this world. Besides it makes you sleep much better at night and will in my opinion increase ones life span.

L. Williams of SC 7:39AM April 09, 2009

I was wondering how long before the government, representing mostly non-religious folk horned in on the concept of volunteerism, which is offering one's service for no monetary payment by the way. On the surface this looks good to make non believers feel good about themselves and get at risk kids off the streets. Call it what it is. Working for very low pay. A senior working during good time at Walmart could make at least $3,000 for doing 350 hours of work."History has shown that in times of crisis, Americans turn to service and volunteering for healing, for rebuilding, and for hope," said George Miller, a Democratic congressman from California. Well, for the rest of us, we havent forgotten about God who is more comforting during hard times and good than government promises. Christians pool resources during disasters and poor christians in this country give more percentage wise monetarily to charities than the more well off. Government can't replace God or charitable acts.

stitchathome of VA 3:20PM April 08, 2009

Greetings,
Yes, boost community service and restore the judiciary system. Once you tap into this court industry, you'll find their is a lot of misuse of Federal funds.
This misuse of money could finance community service and a host of other projects. Please take a look of International Attorney Richard Fine as he explains.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HLbdnzDvp8&feature=channel

.Moore of CA 2:50PM April 08, 2009