Mandatory "Volunteerism"

Remember how there were always these rumors that President Bush was going to reinstate the draft? It was complete nonsense.

This however, is not a rumor. It is actual legislation , H.R. 1388, that has passed the House and is on its way to the Senate.

You can read a more inflammatory description here.

Another description is here.

I tried. I can't make head nor tails of the actual legislation. The bits and pieces that I do read worry me. It seems this is an attempt to nationalize charitable work. Consider section 120:

‘(3) YOUTH ENGAGEMENT ZONE PROGRAM- The term ‘youth engagement zone program’ means a service learning program in which members of an eligible partnership described in paragraph (4) collaborate to provide coordinated school-based or community-based service learning opportunities, to address a specific community challenge, for an increasing percentage of out-of-school youth and secondary school students served by local educational agencies where--

‘(A) not less than 90 percent of the students participate in service-learning activities as part of the program; or

‘(B) service-learning is a mandatory part of the curriculum in all of the secondary schools served by the local educational agency.

Excuse me. I will teach my children the Corporal Works of Mercy and the Spiritual Works of Mercy. I don't need the federal government stepping in with their "service-learning curriculum".

In addition, the bill changes "clothing" in the authorized benefits list for the Civilian Community Corps to read "uniforms". Put the kids in a uniform and indoctrinate them. That does not sound like the American Way that I know.

It would behoove us all to study the principle of subsidiarity and resist this sort of federal government intrusion.