Any Volunteers For National Service - The New American Magazine - 2-2-09.pdf
1. Obama: The Change That’s Not • Interview: Arthur Thompson • EU Déjà Vu in the Caribbean
February 2, 2009
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Any Volunteers For
nAtionAl serVice?
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3. First Ten Amendments to the Constitution
Article I. Congress shall make no law respect-ing an property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be
establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or taken for public use, without just compensation.
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a Article VI. In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall
redress of grievances. enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of
the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed,
Article II. A well-regulated militia being necessary to the which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and
security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be
shall not be infringed. confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory
process for obtain-ing witnesses in his favor, and to have the assis-
Article III. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered tance of counsel for his defense.
in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war,
but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Article VII. In suits at common law, where the value in
controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury
Article IV. The right of the people to be secure in their shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise
persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the
and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, rules of the common law.
but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirma-tion, and
particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or Article VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor
things to be seized. excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article V. No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or Article IX. The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain
otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by
a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the people.
the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger;
nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put Article X. The powers not delegated to the United States by
in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to
to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or the states respec-tively, or to the people.
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9. Inside Track
obama’s Stimulus Plan will cost at least $187,800 Per New Job
$1 trillion dollars being proposed by Democrats in Congress will
yield a mere 3.3 million jobs, or a cost per new job of $303,000.
If government statisticians are to be given any credence at all,
then the real figure will probably come out somewhere between
these two extremes.
Even the optimal figure of $187,800 is an extraordinary sum
of money, equaled or exceeded by the annual salaries of a very
small number of elite professionals and very successful en-
trepreneurs. Yet the jobs to be created by the Obama stimulus
Barack plan would likely be non-professional, entry-level or wage jobs
Obama whose annual pay would be only a small fraction of a six-figure
income.
All of this supposes that the government can calculate with
any accuracy the number of jobs a given allocation of funds can
AP Images
create. In point of fact, government cannot do this, any more than
government planners can calculate the proper levels to fix prices,
According to Barack Obama’s presidential transition team, the enact wage controls, or impose production quotas or other forms
new stimulus plan being prepared by the upcoming Obama ad- of economic controls without destroying economic productivity.
ministration can be expected to create between 3.3 million and This is because centralized economic planning is impossible to
4.1 million jobs. This is according to the Washington Times, carry out successfully; central planners do not have the informa-
which also pointed out that “the president-elect wants [the plan] tion to make calculations for the economy as a whole, or to evalu-
to total slightly less than $800 billion but … some Democratic ate the fluctuations in consumer demands and tastes that cause
leaders say [it] should near $1 trillion.” prices and wages to rise and fall. Only the unfettered free market
Even considering that government statistics are notoriously can do this, as both economic theory and brute experience have
unreliable and tend to err on the side of special interests, it’s proven again and again.
worth considering what kind of bang for the buck the Obama When government undertakes to “make work,” it is always
plan, taken at face value, would deliver. If the plan creates the done at a cost to taxpayers, with a net loss in what would have
maximum number of jobs forecast (4.1 million) for the mini- otherwise been productive private income. George W. Bush’s
mum projected expense ($770 billion is the most widely bruited stimulus plan of last year certainly did not jump-start the econo-
amount), then the cost of the plan will be roughly $187,800 per my. If Obama’s new plan, or any other like it, is allowed to pass,
job created. If the plan is minimally successful, then the sum of America will be the poorer for it.
china curbing its appetite for U.S. Debt
China is finally being forced to curb her appetite for U.S. govern- making more funds available for domestic loans instead of buying
ment debt, according to the New York Times. China, which last foreign debt. Moreover, multinationals, responding to the reces-
September overtook Japan as the largest international holder of sion, are scaling back investment in China. Chinese and inter-
U.S. Treasuries, now holds more than $1 trillion in U.S. govern- national investors alike are moving large amounts of money out
ment debt. Its willingness to buy IOUs from the U.S. government of China and into safer financial havens after the collapse of the
is the major reason that the Fed’s reckless creation of money out Chinese stock and real estate markets. Finally, the Chinese trade
of thin air over the past several years surplus is falling as demand for Chi-
has not resulted in hyperinflation at nese-manufactured consumer goods
home. Newly printed money, in the falls worldwide.
form of government debt issues, can All of these factors have conspired
always be exported when there are to create a money drain, leaving the
willing purchasers overseas, and the Chinese government far less able
removal of that money from circula- and less inclined to continue buying
tion here at home helps buoy up the enormous amounts of debt from the
purchasing power of the dollar. U.S. government. Should the Chinese
Now, however, China is struggling market for Treasuries disappear alto-
to deal with the global economic gether, the U.S. government will have
downturn. To stimulate its own econ- few options left for borrowing money
omy, the Chinese central bank is now to stave off financial collapse.
www.TheNewAmerican.com 7
10. Inside Track
Bush Designates New Marine Sanctuaries
With just two weeks left in office, President Bush designated almost frontiers of discovery; and for the American people they will be
200,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean as a national monument, places that honor our duty to be good stewards of the Almighty’s
using powers granted by the Antiquities Act of 1906. The new ma- creation,” Bush said before noting that the military will help keep
rine “monument,” an area about the size of Spain, is the largest a look-out for violators. “The new steps I’ve announced today are
protected area of ocean ever established, breaking a previous record the capstone of an eight-year commitment to strong environmen-
also set by Bush in mid-2006, when he decreed 140,000 square tal protection and conservation.”
miles in Northwest Hawaii off-limits using the same authority.
Taken together, the new protected areas from American Samoa
to the Mariana Islands to the Rose Atoll are larger than Texas. The
new status of the area means it will be closed to commercial and
most recreational fishing, mineral exploration, waste dumping,
under-sea mining, oil drilling, and virtually all other uses, though
snorkeling and a few other recreational activities may be permit-
ted with a permit from the federal government.
“For sea birds and marine life, they will be sanctuaries to
grow and thrive; for scientists, they will be places to expand the
why ron Paul opposed the Gaza resolution
When the House passed the resolution “recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks
from Gaza, reaffirming the United States’ strong support for Israel, and supporting the Israeli-
Palestinian peace process” on January 9, Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) was one of only five
congressmen to vote against it.
In his statement on the resolution, Paul opined: “The resolution in fact will lead the U.S. to be-
come further involved in this conflict, promising ‘vigorous support and unwavering commitment
to the welfare, security, and survival of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.’ Is it really in the
interest of the United States to guarantee the survival of any foreign country? I believe it would
be better to focus on the security and survival of the United States, the Constitution of which my
colleagues and I swore to defend just this week at the beginning of the 111th Congress.”
Paul, who advocates the United States minding its own business in foreign affairs and staying
clear of foreign entanglements, noted in an extension of his remarks on the House floor that the
United States funds both Arab nations and Israel and that there has been “too much blowback.” He
Ron recalled that “Hamas was encouraged and really started by Israel” as a counter to Yasser Arafat and
Paul that the United States was allied with Osama bin Laden when we contended with the Soviets.
AP Images
No Stake in the Heart of the trans texas corridor
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announced on January 6 that
the extremely controversial Trans Texas Corridor is “dead.” The corridor, which
has been promoted as a series of highway expansions and improvements to ease
traffic congestion in Texas, is in reality the initial U.S. section of a superhigh-
way that leads from deep-water ports in Mexico through the United States and
Canada. (See “Express Route to Poverty” in our October 15, 2007 issue.)
But the highway is not dead. Even as TxDOT proclaimed TTC’s death, it laid
out a new highway plan called Innovative Connectivity in Texas/Vision 2009.
The new plan looks like, smells like, sounds like, and probably even tastes like
the old plan — only with a new name.
The speculation is that TxDOT has falsely proclaimed TTC’s defeat because
TxDOT itself is up for reauthorization this year, and a flurry of complaints
AP Images
by Texans could lead the Texas legislature to put tight building restraints on
TxDOT (and effectually defeat the TTC). n
8 THE NEW AMERICAN • FEbRuARy 2, 2009
11. QuickQuotes
More than identity Being Sacrificed as Slovakia adopts the euro
“We’re saying goodbye to the Slovak currency that meant so much to
us. Part of us, the Slovak identity, is leaving.”
As of January 1, the Slovakian koruna is no more. Prime Minister Rob-
Robert
ert Fico seemed merely nostalgic about the change while indicating
AP Images
Fico
little awareness that a loss of economic independence for his country
of 5.4 million will lead to a loss of political independence.
czech President No Fan of european Union
“A well functioning bureaucratic EU is not my goal. [The Czech Republic]
is not an EU province.”
As the Czech Republic assumes the rotating leadership of the European
Union, President Vaclav Klaus repeated his disdain for the multi-national
arrangement and for its Lisbon Treaty that his country has still not
approved.
Vaclav
AP Images
reporters Shifting coverage From iraq to afghanistan Klaus
“Afghanistan was the forgotten war; that’s what they were calling it, actually.
Now it’s swapping places with Iraq.”
As U.S. news bureaus shrink their operations in Iraq, some are beefing up their coverage of events in
Afghanistan, according to Michael Yon, an independent reporter who has covered both conflicts.
one Governor Says No to Bailouts
Mark “While many states and local governments are lining up for a bailout from
Sanford Congress, I went to Washington recently to oppose such bailouts. I may be
the only governor to do so.”
Opposing bailouts for governments and auto companies, and recommend-
AP Images
ing against a new federal stimulus package, South Carolina Governor
Mark Sanford now leads the Republican Governors Association.
auto companies lose Heavily but executives aren’t replaced
“General Motors lost more than $72 billion in the past four years, and yet you can count on one hand
the number of executives who have been reassigned or lost their job.”
One aspect of the implosion of our nation’s auto giants drew a sharp comment in Fortune.
toyota will Post First loss in 70 years
“The tough times are hitting us far faster, wider and deeper
than expected. This is an unprecedented crisis requiring ur-
gent action.” Katsuaki
Formed in 1938, the Toyota Motor Company has never suf- Watanabe
fered a loss. But it will in the fiscal year ending in March
AP Images
2009 according to President Katsuaki Watanabe.
No Global warming in alaska
“Never before in the history of a research project dating back to 1946 had the Juneau Ice Field witnessed
the kind of snow buildup that came this year. It was similar on a lot of other glaciers too.”
Glaciologist Bruce Molina reported that 20 feet of new snow remained on the Taku Glacier in late
July. And the Anchorage Daily News commented about the unusually large snow buildup near
Alaska’s capital.
He Dares to label Social Security a Ponzi Scheme
“The government itself runs a fraud much bigger than Madoff’s. Our Social Security system is the very
definition of a Ponzi, or pyramid scheme. If the government truly had an interest in protecting people’s
savings, they would allow people to opt out of Social Security altogether.”
In his weekly Texas Straight Talk column, Congressman Ron Paul correctly hung the Ponzi label on
the Social Security system. n
— compiled by John F. mcmanuS
www.TheNewAmerican.com 9
12. NatioNal Service
Any Volunteers For
nAtionAl serVice?
Barack obama’s national-service plan purports to be voluntary,
yet nonparticipating schools would lose funding, and uncooperative
individuals would be denied tax credits.
10 THE NEW AMERICAN • FEbRuARy 2, 2009
13. by Patrick Krey spread experience of virtually every young of Time magazine. He had his magazine
American.” (Emphasis added.) host the “Service Nation Summit” at
I
n 2007, Richard Stengel, former Stengel’s plan involves a huge growth of Columbia University last September 11.
speechwriter for liberal senator/presi- government, including making a new cab- Both John McCain and Barack Obama at-
dential candidate Bill Bradley and inet-level department to manage national tended the summit and joined the chorus
managing editor for Time magazine, wrote service and drastically expanding Ameri- of establishment leaders supporting na-
an article entitled “A Time to Serve,” pro- Corps and the National Senior Volunteer tional service. McCain said the following
moting “Universal National Service” for all Corps. Stengel also proposes creating new of Americans and their desire for national
Americans. Constitutionalists would find “corps” with distinct “brands” for educa- service: “They understand the challeng-
themselves irritated. Stengel book-ended tion (to work in troubled school districts), es that we have in this world. They see
his piece with quotes from the Founders healthcare (which would mostly assist the Russian invasion of the little country
and disingenuously implied that such na- people in obtaining welfare benefits), a called Georgia. They see the problems in
tional service would have been warmly “Green Corps” (to somehow combat “cli- Afghanistan growing larger. They see a
received by the promoters of laissez faire mate change” and most likely stifle any whole lot of things happening in the world
who fought for our independence. Stengel contrary debate on the subject), a “Rap- that’s going to require us to serve, and that
wrote, “The courageous souls who signed id-Response Reserve Corps”
the Declaration of Independence pledged (for call-up in times of national
‘our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred emergencies), and a “National-
Honor.’ The least we can do to keep the Service Academy” (“to provide
At the college level, Obama says
Republic is to pledge a little time.” Stengel a focused education for people he will create a new tax credit that
apparently missed the point that the Dec- who will serve in the public sec- will reduce education costs by
laration of Independence was considered a tor — either the federal, state or $4,000 for those who serve. One
treasonous act against the British Empire local government” — in order could opt out by simply paying
ruling the colonies at the time. Stengel’s to create a new generation of
proposals sound more along the lines of bureaucrats). $4,000 more than the person who
what the loyalists of the day believed, doesn’t opt out. That is a high
not the patriotic individuals who revolted establishment consensus price to pay for something that is
against a tyrannical government. Stengel was not content to only allegedly optional.
In his effort to promote universal na- push national service in the pages
tional service, Stengel bemoaned
the fact that “today the two central
acts of democratic citizenship are
voting and paying taxes. That’s the future of america: Rahm Emanuel, Obama’s chief
basically it. The last time we de- of staff, would institute boot camp for all American
manded anything else from people teens, as part of a national-service program.
was when the draft ended in 1973.”
According to Stengel, that’s appar-
ently a bad thing. While he tiptoes
around the use of the word “draft,”
his article is filled with adulation
for the notion that Americans owe
more to the government than what
has been asked since the end of the
mandatory draft. Stengel feels that
it is for this reason that today’s com-
munities have grown disjointed,
and the way to unify the people is
through “universal national service”
to government. “It is the simple but
compelling idea that devoting a year
or more to national service, whether
military or civilian, should become
a countrywide rite of passage, the
common expectation and wide-
Patrick Krey, M.B.A., J.D., L.L.M. is a law- Defense Link
yer and freelance writer from New York.
www.TheNewAmerican.com 11
14. NatioNal Service
the repeated mistake of most creating “America’s Voice Initiative” to
progressives by failing to distin- send Americans fluent in other languages
In a July 2008 speech, Obama guish between voluntary charity overseas as part of a new public diplomacy
himself stated: “We cannot of individuals, which occurs in outreach.
continue to rely on our military a free society, and government- Obama has set the goal of 50 hours per
in order to achieve the national directed actions of collectives, year for high-school students and 100
security objectives we’ve set. which have more in common hours per year for college students. He
with Marxist governments. claims he is not going to directly compel
We’ve got to have a civilian Barack Obama, like most young people in high school to serve 50
national security force that’s just politicians, does not invent the hours per year, but instead would simply
as powerful, just as strong, just as ideas for his initiatives but rath- withhold educational funding from schools
well-funded.” (Emphasis added.) er adopts others’ proposals and if they fail to comply with his programs.
then promotes them as if they This means that for public schools to con-
were his own. A brief review tinue to receive federal funds, they will
opportunity has to be provided to them.” of Obama’s “Blueprint for Change” on have to implement Obama’s plans; other-
It’s no wonder this man performed terri- his website would appear as if he simply wise, the funds will be denied. In order for
bly at the polls. McCain actually believed cut and pasted Stengel’s article. Stengel the high-school students to graduate from
that Americans watched the violence in himself freely admitted that he was not these federally funded schools, they will
Georgia and Afghanistan unfolding and the originator of these ideas, but rather have to participate. This is how the federal
thought, “How can I get my kids involved that they came from a variety of sources. government works. There is no such thing
in this?” Isn’t it odd that so many different politi- as a free lunch, and federal funding always
Obama acknowledged the fact that both cians and journalists seem to be converg- comes with strings attached and central-
he and McCain have very similar views ing on a similar framework for national ized control for D.C.
on national service. He also invoked the service? With a few minor differences in At the college level, Obama says he will
tragedy of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to gain wording, the plans are virtually identical. “require 100 hours of service” per year by
support for his policy proposals. “On 9/11, Obama advocates expanding AmeriCorps creating a new “American Opportunity Tax
Americans across our great country came from 75,000 to 250,000, and establishing Credit” that will reduce education costs by
together to stand with the families of the a “Classroom Corps,” a “Health Corps,” a $4,000. So instead of it being mandatory,
victims, to donate blood, to give to char- “Clean Energy Corps,” and a “Homeland one could opt out by simply paying $4,000
ity, and to say a prayer for our country. Security Corps.” Obama also wants to ex- more than the person who doesn’t opt out.
Let us renew that spirit of service and that pand national service beyond our nation’s That is a high price to pay for something
sense of common purpose.” Obama made border by doubling the Peace Corps, and that is allegedly optional.
AP Images
One less hoop to jump through: These 2008 graduates of the University of Wyoming received their diplomas without
having to do 100 hours per year of mandated minimum national service. Obama’s plan calls for all college students
to do national service or lose $4,000 of federal monies. Other Democratic plans call for mandatory service as a
prerequisite for entering college.
12
15. Voluntary Service or compulsory Draft?
Obama, like almost all other promoters of
national service, assures us that this will
not be mandatory or compulsory, but as
they say, the devil is in the details. James
Lindgren, professor of law at Northwestern
University, explains that Obama’s plan is
anything but voluntary. “Because Obama
calls his plan voluntary, it’s important
to understand exactly what he says and
doesn’t say.... One hurdle that Obama’s
plan must vault is the U.S. Constitution,
which limits the federal government to
enumerated powers. Lacking the power
to mandate universal community service
directly, Obama candidly discloses his
strategy: making federal funds contingent
on schools having service programs that
meet federal standards.”
Lindgren continues: “Thus, it would
be the public schools that would impose
federal standards of coerced service on
each child as part of their requirements for
graduation. For students, service would be No national service for them? Barack Obama has proposed a national-service program,
involuntary. Even for the public schools, which will be imposed coercively on youth by making schools require service or lose
AP Images
their participation would be only nomi- federal funding. His daughters, however, go to private school, and private schools often
nally voluntary — for how many public don’t get federal funding.
schools can survive without federal assis-
tance?” It would appear that Obama’s plan
is voluntary in name only. of Obama’s plans can be gleaned from So Obama’s chief of staff is on record
Most of the talk regarding Obama’s na- his choice for chief of staff, Rahm Israel advocating universal boot camp for all
tional-service program brings to mind peo- Emanuel. Israel is Rahm’s actual middle Americans. While constantly stressing
ple planting trees in town parks or helping name and shows how close he and his that this is not a draft, Emanuel’s words
old ladies with their groceries. But what family are to that nation. Rahm’s father, reveal otherwise. In 2006, Emanuel spoke
about military service? Is that going to be Benjamin Emanuel, was born in Jerusa- with the New York Daily News about his
a part of this national-service initiative? lem and was a member of the militant Zi- ideas for national service. In the interview,
One has to wonder considering Obama’s onist group Irgun, which had committed Emanuel stated: “Somewhere between the
military ambitions. President Obama is terrorist attacks against both Palestinian ages of 18 to 25, you will do three months
going to need troops to support missions and British targets. Rahm Emanuel him- of training.... There can be nothing wrong
ranging from an escalation in Afghanistan self actually volunteered to work for the with all Americans having a joint similar
to intervening in the Sudan. The Center Israeli military in 1991 during the first experience of … civil defense training or
for National Policy (CNP), a bipartisan Gulf War. civil service … some sense of service to
think tank, produced a policy report enti- Emanuel must have admired the Israeli country in preparation, which will give
tled Agility Across the Spectrum: A Future program of mandatory military service: people a sense of what it means to be
Force Blueprint for the military, recom- he himself has been a vocal supporter of an American.” Apparently, according to
mending that the United States “embark something similar for Americans. Eman- Emanuel, knowing what it means to be
upon a program of mandatory national ser- uel coauthored a book entitled The Plan: an American involves serving the federal
vice for high school graduates to include a Big Ideas for America, in which he called government, which is ironic considering
spectrum of activities from community to for “a real Patriot Act that brings out the that Rahm only served the Israeli govern-
military service.” (Emphasis added.) The patriot in all of us. We propose universal ment. Perhaps this service is truly univer-
report praised Obama’s plan but encour- civilian service for every young American. sal? He continued and said, “If you’re wor-
aged him to officially make it mandatory Under this plan, all Americans between ried about going to have to do 50 jumping
in order to help fill the ranks required to the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will jacks, the answer is ‘yes.’ ”
meet the many U.S. military commitments be asked to serve their country by going Emanuel also stated that this training
around the world. Will Obama heed this through three months of basic training, can be accomplished “through your State-
advice? civil defense preparation and community National guard.” Of course, the National
Some information about the true nature service.” Guard was supposed to be a home guard
www.TheNewAmerican.com 13
16. NatioNal Service
his wild-eyed supporters of the ‘bad guy’ and produces no
seem to be clamoring for martyrs in handcuffs for the evening
Establishment leaders have long desired national service that may, news. You just can’t get a job if you
a universal national-service program, or may not, be employed don’t do as you’re told.... But make
but the enthusiasm that Obama brings to achieve “national secu- no mistake: Barack Obama wants
to the debate makes it a real option rity” objectives. Accord- your kids. And he’s willing to draft
ing to the Army Times, them, in a plausibly deniable way.
now. How would the Democrats and Obama even “said last
the liberal press have reacted had summer that he thought Establishment leaders have long desired
a President McCain or Bush tried to national service could end a universal national-service program, but
promote a similar program? up leading some people to the enthusiasm that Obama brings to the
serve in the military.” debate makes it a real option now. How
Civil liberties lawyer would the Democrats and the liberal press
comprised of citizen-soldiers. The numer- J.D. Tucille claims that Obama’s nation- have reacted had a President McCain or
ous National Guard troops serving over- al-service campaign is just a clever way Bush tried to promote a similar national-
seas shows how quickly the government to reintroduce the draft to the American service program? Justin Raimondo, of An-
expands roles beyond their initial pur- people: tiwar.com, concludes: “If George W. Bush
pose. It would be naïve to think the same and/or John McCain had called for the cre-
cannot happen to these “civil defense” Under Barack Obama’s plan, a re- ation of a domestic paramilitary force, the
positions. fusal to participate in a national- liberals and certainly the Left would have
While giving a July 2008 speech about service program touted at the federal seen it as an ominous development, with
his plans to expand national-service level will be punished by the with- the more excitable types raising the spec-
programs, Obama himself stated: “We holding of high school diplomas by ter of fascism.” President Obama doesn’t
cannot continue to rely on our military the school district in your town. And have to worry about any such opposition
in order to achieve the national security without that diploma, few colleges or coming from the left, at least for the fore-
objectives we’ve set. We’ve got to have employers will even bother to look at seeable future. The establishment may get
a civilian national security force that’s your application. It’s a softer sort of their wish if enough Americans are not
just as powerful, just as strong, just as authoritarianism which requires no made aware of the real danger posed by
well-funded.” (Emphasis added.) That draft boards, muddles the identity Obama’s plan. n
comment caused an online fer-
vor among conservative and
libertarian bloggers. Obama’s
defenders claimed that there
is nothing to worry about be-
cause Obama was simply
talking about his AmeriCorps
and Peace Corps expansion.
Therein lies the problem. The
disturbing point of all this na-
tional-service talk is how eas-
ily Obama makes the transition
from talking about volunteering
within one’s own community
(under federal direction) to the
loaded term of “national secu-
rity.” The constant word-twist-
ing employed by government
officials tends to blur the lines
between what they are saying
and what they actually intend.
Much like how the U.S. gov- Soldiers on the surface: In Israel, women are required to
ernment changed the name of enter military service, but because they are not allowed in
the War Department to the De- combat units, they often do nothing more purposeful than
fense Department after WWII, provide coffee during service. Similarly, the logistics behind
finding meaningful work for all American teens, work they are
AP Images
despite the fact that the role of
capable of doing, would be close to insurmountable.
the military has been expanded
beyond “defense.” Obama and
14 THE NEW AMERICAN • FEbRuARy 2, 2009
17. NatioNal Service
At Uncle Sam’s Service
National service is often associated with patriotism, but the degree to which it
becomes compulsory is the same degree to which it becomes involuntary servitude.
what service may mean:
To accomplish his military
ambitions in Afghanistan,
Sudan, and elsewhere,
Barack Obama may need
to include military duty (a
draft) as a national-service
requirement for many.
AP Images
by Patrick Krey another Big-government Program In Springfield, Illinois, AmeriCorps
National service is just another costly and members presented a puppet show
P
roponents of universal national wasteful big-government program. Like to edify three-year-olds at the Little
service claim that it will bring this most federal government programs, it will Angels Child Care Center by alert-
nation together and teach younger be top-heavy, slow-reacting, expensive, in- ing them to the benefits of smoke
generations about what it means to be an effective, and administered from D.C. To detectors.
American. Sadly, many Americans seem get a good idea of what these new “corps”
to believe those claims. Even with infor- will be doing, one only has to review what Bovard also explains that AmeriCorps is
mation that the program will be virtu- AmeriCorps has been up to since its in- grossly mismanaged and has yet to pro-
ally mandatory and might lead to a new ception. Author James Bovard has docu- duce any serious, tangible results.
version of the draft, some Americans mented the almost comical “volunteerism”
might shrug their shoulders and say “so that AmeriCorps has produced: Though AmeriCorps abounds in ‘feel
what?” Well, there is much more wrong good’ projects, it has never provided
with national service than is immediately In most areas of AmeriCorps activ- credible evidence of benefit to the
apparent. ity, its effect is negligible — at best: United States. The Office of Manage-
Nineteenth-century French economist … An AmeriCorps member helped ment and Budget concluded in 2003
and statesman Frederic Bastiat famously organize a “Pink Prom,” the first gay that ‘AmeriCorps has not been able to
wrote in his essay “What Is Seen and What youth dance in Snohomish County, demonstrate results. Its current focus
Is Not Seen” that “a law produces not Washington. AmeriCorps mem- is on the amount of time a person
only one effect, but a series of effects. Of bers in Worcester, Massachusetts, serves, as opposed to the impact on
these effects, the first alone is immediate; presented lessons in half a dozen the community or participants.’ OMB
it appears simultaneously with its cause; schools about “Super Bowl Surge” noted in 2004, ‘AmeriCorps accom-
it is seen. The other effects emerge only — the problems that occur when plishments are difficult to measure,
subsequently; they are not seen; we are millions of people watching the big but its reported impact is small.’ The
fortunate if we foresee them.” What other game use the bathroom during half- General Accounting Office noted in
effects could there be to this universal na- time.... Puppet shows are a favorite 2000 that AmeriCorps ‘generally re-
tional service? activity for AmeriCorps members. ports the results of its programs and
www.TheNewAmerican.com 15
18. NatioNal Service
sor Arthur Brooks, author of Who Really
Cares, did research to see who gives more
to charity between liberals and conserva-
tives. “When you look at the data, it turns
out the conservatives give about 30 per-
cent more. And incidentally, conserva-
tive-headed families make slightly less
money.... You find that people who believe
it’s the government’s job to make incomes
more equal, are far less likely to give their
money away.” (Emphasis added.) If those
trends continue, this huge national-service
initiative could have a similar effect. Peo-
ple who volunteer through government
programs will forgo volunteering through
private organizations. As more people be-
lieve that charity is the responsibility of
government, private charity and willful
volunteerism will decline.
In addition, by mandating volunteerism
at such an early age, universal national ser-
vice might have the effect of discouraging
future community service. According to a
research article published in the journal of
the American Psychological Society, “Stu-
AP Images dents who are not willing or not ready to
volunteer — but who are required to by
their school — may be less likely to vol-
rally for service: These young people rally to restore full funding for the government-run
AmeriCorps service programs, so they can “serve.” But the Office of Management and unteer again in the future.”
Budget said in 2004, “AmeriCorps’ accomplishments are difficult to measure, but its The reality is that present government
reported impact is small.” policies are obstacles to private volun-
teerism. Former special assistant to the
Reagan administration Doug Bandow,
activities by quantifying the amount exists, and if taxpayers were not being in testimony to Congress on national-
of services AmeriCorps participants mulcted for every goofy and evil social service programs, said that while much
perform.’ GAO criticized Ameri- welfare scheme, they would have the “worthwhile service work remains to be
Corps for failing to make any effort time and resources to devote to increased done across the country … government
to measure the actual effect of its genuine charitable efforts.” Grichar, hav- often stands in the way of private indi-
members’ actions. ing witnessed AmeriCorps firsthand, also viduals and groups who want to help.
wrote that “the real horror is always the Such barriers should be stripped away,
More taxes and inflation same — you as a taxpayer pay more and yet [federal national-service programs]
What will happen when taxes are raised get less than you would have if the private may divert attention from the ways the
to pay for this increased spending? The sector — either for-profit businesses or government hinders private provision of
money will have to come from some- non-government-funded private charities important social services.… Restrictions
where. It will either be raised by taxes or — handled the problem. The inefficiency, on paratransit operations limit private
created by the Federal Reserve, thereby waste, fraud, other corruption and abuse transportation for the disabled. Regula-
inflating the money supply. Either way, inflicted on taxpayers by the federal gov- tions also harm other forms of volunteer-
the American people will bear the brunt of ernment — like all governments it has a ism. Health regulations prevent restau-
the cost. How will this increased spending territorial monopoly of power and the au- rants in Los Angeles and elsewhere from
impact present levels of volunteerism and thority to tax citizens to pay for its activi- donating food to the hungry, for instance.
charitable giving? There is the real threat ties — appears endless, a price we have to In short, in many cases important needs
of crowding out private sector charity by pay for progress.” are unmet precisely because of perverse
having the federal government take such a government policy.”
large leap into bureaucratizing community Destroying Private charity There is another danger posed by bu-
service. Jim Grichar, a former economist Research has shown that believers in big reaucratizing roles typically run by private
for the federal government, wrote that government do not put much stock in pri- churches. Obama has vowed to continue
“real volunteerism in this country still vate charity. Syracuse University Profes- George W. Bush’s faith-based initiatives,
16 THE NEW AMERICAN • FEbRuARy 2, 2009
19. but he wants to put his own mark on it: government to “indoctrinate”
“Make no mistake, as someone who used our nation’s youth? The pos-
to teach constitutional law, I believe deep- sibility is certainly there. Obama will be all too willing to
ly in the separation of church and state, but The “Classroom Corps” throw federal funds around for
I don’t believe this partnership will endan- could assist with teaching chil- national-service programs, even
ger that idea — so long as we follow a few dren the accepted progressive ones involving religious charities,
basic principles.... First, if you get a fed- notions of the day. The “Health
eral grant, you can’t use that grant money Corps” would immediately
but participating charities will have
to proselytize to the people you help and put to work a new coalition to abide by the rules of the state.
you can’t discriminate against them — or clamoring for socialized med- One can only imagine what will
against the people you hire — on the basis icine and further government happen to volunteer work for such
of their religion. Second, federal dollars intervention into healthcare. issues as abortion.
that go directly to churches, temples, and The “Clean Energy Corps”
mosques can only be used on secular pro- could spread the message of
grams. And we’ll also ensure that taxpayer a “necessary” global solu- of the all-powerful State as the solution to
dollars only go to those programs that ac- tion to the dire threat of “climate change” all of life’s problems. This new “service”
tually work.” most likely administered through the UN. generation would be more willing to ac-
Basically, this is more of the “strings Finally, the “Homeland Security Corps” cept big-government solutions at both the
attached” federal funding approach. could help train a generation of citizens national and global level.
Obama will be all too willing to throw on how to implement the directives of the
federal funds around for national-service federal government at a moment’s notice. Un-american and Unconstitutional
programs, even ones that are involved What starts out as voluntary soon becomes The whole notion of universal national
with religious charities, but participat- mandatory. This initiative would also assist service runs counter to the founding prin-
ing religious charities will have to abide with the continued centralization of power ciples of our nation. Alex Epstein, writing
by the rules of the secular state. One can in Washington. In every way, national ser- in the online Capitalism Magazine, ex-
only imagine what will happen to volun- vice would only serve to tie our nation’s plains that “America was founded on the
teer work for such controversial issues youth more closely to government and in- principle of individualism: the idea that
as abortion or sex education. If a church doctrinate them in the mindless worship each individual is a sovereign being with
doesn’t follow Washington’s direction
in controversial areas, they run the risk
of being left behind in the national-
service tidal wave of state-controlled
“volunteers.”
indoctrination
Federally funded and directed programs
would be a great way for establishment
leaders to control the debate on the is-
sues. Since the 1950s, the federal gov-
ernment has become more and more in-
volved in education. During this time,
education policy has become more pro-
pagandized and directed from Washing-
ton. Jacob Hornberger, president of The
Future of Freedom Foundation, writes
that “public schooling has achieved suc-
cess in one important area: the creation
of a flock of good little citizens who be-
lieve that the paternalistic welfare state
constitutes freedom and free enterprise.
Indeed, herein lies the power of public
AP Images
schooling — the power of government
employees to indoctrinate children,
year after year, with their officially ap- National-service substitution: In U.S. society, when there is a need for charitable
proved version of what it means to be contributions, a private entity emerges to fill the void. Evidence shows that when people
free.” Could national-service programs expect government to aid others, they cut back on private charity.
be another method employed by the
www.TheNewAmerican.com 17
20. NatioNal Service
the idea that the Nation is least if you take the text of the Constitu-
something to be served?... tion seriously.... Note that the Amendment
Sheldon Richman, editor of The
This is a profoundly un- forbids not only ‘slavery’ but also ‘invol-
Freeman, asks, “Where do people get American concept. It’s far untary servitude,’ a provision deliberately
the idea that the Nation is something more consistent with the inserted to prevent state governments
to be served?... This is a profoundly European despotism of the from, in effect, reenslaving blacks by im-
un-American concept.... You don’t first half of the twentieth posing ‘temporary’ forced labor systems.
century. You don’t have to Mandatory national service, which would
have to look hard to find quotations look hard to find quota- require young people to do government-
by Mussolini (dare I mention Hitler?) tions by Mussolini (dare I mandated work … is pretty clearly invol-
about the duty of the individual to mention Hitler?) about the untary servitude under any reasonable
serve the Nation.” duty of the individual to definition of the word.”
serve the Nation.... This is The truth of the matter is that any
not what most Americans program of universal national service is
the moral right to his own life and to the thought at the time of the founding.” unconstitutional and un-American. Con-
achievement of his own goals. This is the The first thing that comes to a con- gressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) put it best
basis of the political idea, enshrined in our stitutionalist’s mind after contemplating when he said, “Some politicians simply
Declaration of Independence, that the indi- Obama’s proposal is that there is no au- love the thought of mandatory service
vidual possesses inalienable rights to life, thorization for it in the Constitution. It ap- to the federal government.... Both sides
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The pears that Obama hopes to do an end-run share the same belief that citizens should
Founders accordingly reconceived the pur- around the Constitution by employing the serve the needs of the state — a belief our
pose of government as being the servant liberally interpreted “General Welfare” founders clearly rejected in the Declara-
of the individual, rather than his master.... clause that is used to justify the taxing tion of Independence. To many politicians,
This collectivist belief in the supremacy of and spending powers of Congress. Even the American government is America....
the group over the individual is the foun- with this dubious rationale, the question Compulsory national service, whether
dation of the national-service ideology, remains whether universal national ser- in the form of military conscription or
which regards the individual as a servant vice violates the 13th Amendment’s pro- make-work programs like AmeriCorps,
to the nation. The notion that people are hibition on “involuntary servitude.” Ilya still sells on Capitol Hill. Conscription is
‘nothing without the group’ and owe their Somin, a law professor at George Mason wrongly associated with patriotism, when
lives — or any portion of them — to the University, certainly thinks so. “I think really it represents collectivism and invol-
state is antithetical to American individu- that the answer is pretty clearly ‘yes,’ at untary servitude.” n
alism and freedom.”
Volunteerism as it exists
in a free society has virtu-
ally nothing in common expectations and reality: The National Guard, whose
with the vision of national main duty is to provide force protection for the United
service promoted by Obama. States, has been increasingly activated for combat
Sheldon Richman, editor of overseas. How long will it be before Obama’s planned
The Freeman, explains that “civilian national security force” is co-opted into fighting
“if people wish to perform abroad as well?
service for others, they of
course should be free to do
so, with their own time and
money. They should neither
be forced nor use force in
the name of service. A le-
gally enforceable obligation
to perform service clashes
with the principles of the
free society and proclaims
that individuals are not self-
owners but rather the prop-
erty of society or the state.
If there is no right to live for
AP Images
one’s own sake, there are no
rights at all.” Richman also
asks, “Where do people get
18 THE NEW AMERICAN • FEbRuARy 2, 2009
21. tHe riGHt PerSPectiVe
by charleS Scaliger
Obama: The Change That’s Not
P
resident Bush has left made public, Obama’s aides
office amid the great- have indicated the price tag
est economic calamity may exceed $770 billion.
in several generations, per- Regardless of how it’s
haps ever. The federal budget designed, Obama’s stimu-
deficit is poised to triple last lus package, like all federal
year’s record $400 billion, government pork, will only
rising to a projected $1.2 tril- further ratchet up the deficit
lion. Trillions too have been while doing little to jump-
added to the national debt by start the economy — an echo
a desperate Bush administra- of the Bush administration’s
tion and craven Congress, feeble economic stimulus
most to bail out America’s package last year. The only
corporate and financial oli- possible effective stimulus
garchs. Meanwhile, the fed- would be to reduce drasti-
eral government continues to cally the burden of taxes and
prosecute its wars in Iraq and regulations that Americans
Afghanistan and myriad other are saddled with, but Presi-
expensive military projects dent Obama, as ideologically
AP Images
overseas, as well as preside wedded to socialism as his
over a vast array of welfare predecessors, will, with the
programs and subsidies. De- support of a willing Congress,
spite tens of trillions of dollars of debt, the federal government only seek to enlarge the federal welfare state. Handouts to the
continues to borrow and spend as though money grows on trees poor, unemployed, students, researchers, artists, farmers, and the
— which, in the presto-chango economics of Federal Reserve countless companies still clamoring for bailouts will continue
printing presses, it does. unabated, all of it tendered in money the federal government will
Enter Barack Obama, a fresh face, saddled with endless wars, have to borrow because it does not have the funds.
a federal government drowning in debt, and a host of other in- As for foreign policy, Obama has stated that he intends to
tractable problems brought about by decades of federal cor- “engage immediately” in the Middle East, including the Gaza
ruption and abuse. Throughout his campaign, Obama, exuding situation over which he is “deeply concerned.” Obama has clar-
competence and confidence, promised change to a war- and ified that his interest in the Middle East is not “short term.”
recession-weary American public. He instead has plans for “building a process whereby we can
Were he Ron Paul, Obama might be expected to do the right achieve a more lasting peace in the region.” What’s more, wrote
thing — to end America’s debilitating overseas military activi- Amie Parnes and Glenn Thrush in an article for Politico.com,
ties, scale back the federal government to within constitutionally “Obama quietly adopted many of his former rival’s [i.e., Hillary
authorized bounds (bounds that have not been observed since Clinton’s] more hawkish foreign policy positions by the end of
before the First World War), and return our money to a sound the primaries.”
footing — a gold and silver standard. In other words Obama, like his predecessors, has no intention
But Obama is not Ron Paul, and intends none of these things. of reducing our profile as the world’s policeman, in the Middle
Instead, youth, freshness, and glib campaign slogans notwith- East or presumably anywhere else. Look for ongoing wrangling
standing, Obama intends to continue the policies of his prede- with Iran and North Korea over their nuclear programs, con-
cessors, and very likely will take full advantage of the global cri- tinued U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and
sis to further reduce America to fiscal and political servitude. possible new military commitments in Syria, the Sudan, and
President Obama believes only government — not the free elsewhere.
market — can save us from economic ruin. “At this particular Those who voted for change in Barack Obama will soon be
moment, only government can provide the short-term boost nec- disappointed, as our new president charts a course from the very
essary to lift us from a recession this deep and severe,” Obama same road map his presidential predecessors have followed for
warned recently in a speech at George Mason University, add- nearly a century. Big government at home and abroad will con-
ing that the ongoing recession could “linger for years” unless tinue to expand, to the detriment of our fast-disappearing free-
Congress spends unprecedented sums on bailouts and other faux doms and our evaporating wealth. Before long, the lament will
stimuli. While details of what the Obama camp has been call- likely be, as a popular Clinton-era bumper sticker styled it, “I
ing the American Recovery and Investment Plan have yet to be voted for change. Now that’s all I have left!” n
www.TheNewAmerican.com 19
