The Democratic attack on the youth vote
posted at 8:02 am on November 13, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Rahm Emanuel’s remarks about the civilian defense corps shows a blindness to a potential political cliff that fellow community organizers are about to lead Democrats over like lemmings. The danger here isn’t that the Obama administration is about to launch a 21st century Land Service program, but that a civilan draft will damage the volunteer military. And a relaunch of any kind of draft may hit the Hope-and-Changers right where they live: in the youth vote.
Let’s deal with the draft itself. What Emanuel proposes is what the nation had for over 30 years, a draft supported by both Republican and Democratic presidents. Like Emanuel’s proposal, draftees had to live in barracks and wear uniforms — but they had to do it for two years. Eventually, the draft got so unpopular that it had to go. When the voting age was lowered to 18, the writing was on the wall.
Unlike the draft, however, this time everyone will apparently serve — which will make it even less popular than the draft. Those who would volunteer to serve their country now would join the military anyway, but three months in a “civilian defense force” might blunt that desire, especially if it’s as pointless as Barack Obama’s description of it. The cost of it will be enormous, and it will end up competing for work that could be done by private-sector efforts that would actually employ younger workers rather than have them work as slaves to the government. If the term is only three months, then most of that time would go into training, leaving little time for productivity.
And how will the nation’s youth react to forced labor camps, which is exactly what Emanuel proposes? Community organizers might think of this as heaven, but the rest of the young adults between 18-25 will resent the hell out of it. After turning out the youth vote in 2008, they may find that 18-25-year-olds will discover their inner libertarians and vote out the Democrats who sold them into indentured servitude against their will.
The draft at least served real security interests of the US over its 30+ years of existence, and it wound up so unpopular that Democrats and Republicans use it to make voters nervous about the plans of the other. I doubt it would take 30 weeks for its return to reach the same depths of resentment among its targets.
Blowback
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indentured servitude
Shouldn’t these words be somewhere on Obama’s new Presidential Seal?
Rovin on November 13, 2008 at 9:09 AM
Ja, a few months in the “sturm abteilung” and then off to the werhmacht…what could possibly be the downside?
All those healthy youth confined to barracks and camps….close quarters…hormones…and each and every one of them having a deeply established sense of citizenship, country, honor…adult leadership chosen from communities based on love of youth…have the recruitment ads shown up on NAMBLA sites yet?.
coldwarrior on November 13, 2008 at 9:09 AM
Where do I sign up? Do we get to wear cool berets?
Illinidiva on November 13, 2008 at 9:09 AM
Hey…maybe the yutes will be put to work “doing the jobs Americans won’t do.”
NOT.
If my daughter were in the target age, we’d be civilian-draft dodging to Canada. Or she’d go in the real military instead, not some BS communist labor camp! (And it actually IS a communist idea – I don’t throw around that word lightly.)
bamapachyderm on November 13, 2008 at 9:10 AM
You wanna know what I’m popping the popcorn and watching?
As much as we are fighting, it’s public, it’s over minor differences, and I think we’ll be able to patch it up at least by ’10.
What’s been kept out of the papers is how the Democrats have shoved knives in the backs of women and gays to win this year. Gays are already turning on the blacks, and I can seriously see women having held their noses this year to vote.
Could the Democrat coalition be fracturing?
Sekhmet on November 13, 2008 at 9:10 AM
All of our Democratic allies, including Isreal, have some short term mandatory civil or community service and have had it for years. I don’t think that this is as unpopular as you imagine, particularly in communities of color and poor communities.
It’s interesting. We’re supposed to be a center right country, no? And isn’t community/national service a core principle of conservatism? Then why does .5% of the country serve in the military? That should strike people as odd. Is it more likely that we’re just a country that TALKS about the conservative value of servce but rarely ACTS on it? And now we have a President who has a committment to community service and people are calling it “indentured servitude.” Over. the. top. Indentured servitude and 3 months of community service could not be further apart. That’s ONE summer out of a kids life or a month, three summers in a row. And we’re calling it “slavery” and “nazism.” Conservatives are totally confused.
DeathToMediaHacks on November 13, 2008 at 9:11 AM
As someone who has gone through the same thing you have.. and more.. I suddenly lost the use of my legs 4 years ago..(long story and a perfect argument agianst universal healthcare) at the time, whenever i went to the grocery store, or box stores, I could not get the motorized cart because they were all in use. While shopping, I would notice all the carts were being used by hugely OBESE people and it infuriated me to no end. I thankfully have regained the use of my legs, but my mom has MS and this trend continues….
All that said,it is not the gov’t place to restrict what people eat… it must lie in personal responsibility…
I forget to tell you that in CA, BAKE SALES are no longer tolerated as benefits in public schools…. where will this end?
As you can tell by my screen name, I bake cakes for a living… highly specialized cakes like the Ace of Cakes…. most of my clients are not the obese system drainers, they are people who want a really special cake for a special event… like a wedding…. the banning of all things deemed “unhealthy” by the food police is a real possibilty and a very unpleasant road..
Sorry to be preachy, but I too have passion regarding this subject.
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 9:11 AM
They will wait till the next attack on American soil, THEN they will spring this program on the Yutes. IMO
abinitioadinfinitum on November 13, 2008 at 9:11 AM
Actually, they can take my two lazy twenty-somethings right now
Bevan on November 13, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Obama merely represents the powers that have systematically deconstructed our Constitutional government.
The powers that elected Obama (given mouthpiece by the media) want to destroy our military. It isn’t that they don’t realize what they are doing; they know exactly. And THEY are better organized in destroying than WE are in preserving.
Ed, it is past due time for conservative media minds to organize in formal association/affiliation if preservation of the Constitution intact is imperative. It is.
maverick muse on November 13, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Holding high degrees and grand ideologies does not make one smart. Memo to the libs: pragmatic people are quite intelligent indeed! Plant your feet on earth, ideologues.
fiscallyconservative on November 13, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Mine is in the target age and I plan on fighting to keep her from this program. If it involves moving to Canada, so be it. She already told one of her friends she was going to move their if Obama won.
becki51758 on November 13, 2008 at 9:13 AM
No, it means you raised her to have common sense and think critically, rather than being brainwashed at school and following the herd.
bamapachyderm on November 13, 2008 at 9:13 AM
Shut up troll… as stated in a previous thread… Israel is not an apples to apples comparison…. do not speak of things you know nothing about….
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 9:14 AM
Actually, I wouldn’t pick Canada. That’s where all the chickensh*t “conscientious objectors” go. I’d pick somewhere with better weather. Maybe Fiji. ;)
bamapachyderm on November 13, 2008 at 9:15 AM
Which means… DO NOT SPEAK!
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 9:15 AM
THIS. ^^^
Also, DIAF.
bamapachyderm on November 13, 2008 at 9:16 AM
Alright, then let’s practice. Get down and give me 50.
sherry on November 13, 2008 at 9:17 AM
Well..luckily we live in a small town in PA(clinging to guns and our religion) and our school has kept our Judeo-Christian values and encouraged all student to think for themselves. We have a curriculum that includes history and civics, we have prayer at school board meeting and graduation still. I thank God for that.
becki51758 on November 13, 2008 at 9:18 AM
I disagree, Ed. Sadly, I think much our “youth” would be all-in for a paid 3-month ideological bootcamp run by a bunch of lefties. Heck, I’m sure they’d make it fun. You know, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. I bet they’ll have to turn youths away. Really. I’m serious.
Rational Thought on November 13, 2008 at 9:18 AM
Fixed it for you
johnsteele on November 13, 2008 at 9:18 AM
And isn’t community/national service a core principle of conservatism? Then why does .5% of the country serve in the military?
You must have missed the other core principal of conservatism, something having to do with personal responsibility and small government.
Forcing, yes FORCING people to serve doesn’t exactly fit into the “personal” part of that term.
You must be suffering from inbred confusion.
Bishop on November 13, 2008 at 9:18 AM
LOL!!!
Hire a teenager/twenty-something while they still know everything! ;)
/get off my lawn!
bamapachyderm on November 13, 2008 at 9:19 AM
hmm Fiji does sound good.
becki51758 on November 13, 2008 at 9:19 AM
I don’t know of a country called Isreal. I do know of a country called Israel, which has mandatory service because it is surrounded by crazed religious zealots that have much greater populations. If there was some drastic change in the make-up of the population of Canada, then I’d agree with you. Otherwise, it makes no sense to change the formula that has been working so well for the past thirty years just so the liberals can feel good about America’s shared sacrifice by requiring all 18-year-olds to spend time as Obama youth.
Illinidiva on November 13, 2008 at 9:22 AM
You do have a good point. I have found that working in the group home, kids will resort to anything to sneak contraband in…cigarettes, drugs, chewing tobacco… even with being searched and even with good supervision. Who knows what could happen in these camps.
becki51758 on November 13, 2008 at 9:22 AM
You see no progression to any government sponsored program that is mandatory. Emanuel’s proposal is not only political suicide, it’s historically mundane and moronic.
ConservativesOne “conservative”aremay be totally confused.Rovin on November 13, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Most trial lawyers are Democrats. The trial lawyers association supports The Obama™. There won’t be any lawsuit.
johnsteele on November 13, 2008 at 9:23 AM
Hack – May I call you Hack?
Nope, Bubba. Conservatives are focused. The lights are coming on. We are identifying Socialism and a “Nannystate” mentality for what they are.
Liberals are confused. They thought they elected a man of substance. They got an empty suit.
There is fixing to be a big case of Buyer’s Remorse in this country.
By the way, Illinidiva, we won’t get the berets. The “volunteer” corps will probably get Black berets and shirts like another group. I’m just sayin’…
kingsjester on November 13, 2008 at 9:23 AM
So when Barry mandates this, I can expect you to volunteer to take my place? And would your wife like to volunteer in my husband’s stead? It’s going to be awfully hard for us to keep the mortgage payments rolling in when we’re both off having three months of unpaid community service. We’ll be in touch.
fiscallyconservative on November 13, 2008 at 9:25 AM
21st Century Re-eduction Camps with Obama’s seal of approval.
Rovin on November 13, 2008 at 9:27 AM
THANK YOU!!! Isn’t it funny how the Israel-bashers so consistently misspell it? Just goes to prove their abject ignorance of the subject.
BTW, DeathToTrolls – community service is important to conservatives. VOLUNTARY service. Some call it “charity” (a concept strangely foreign to libs). It’s something we just do – we don’t have to be forced to do it. Nice try with that army of strawmen, though. LOL.
bamapachyderm on November 13, 2008 at 9:27 AM
I can’t get past what the Democrats would have made of such an organization if McCain had suggested it. All that BushHitler hyperbolethat was everywhere would’ve gone nuclear.
Yet Obama’s team can casually toss this out AFTER the election and no one seems a tad freaked by the implications? If it was such a good idea – why not speak loudly and proudly about it BEFORE the election?
Is this Obama’s “Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell” miss step in the first 100 days of HIS presidency?
suntzuyou on November 13, 2008 at 9:27 AM
21st Century Re-education Camps with Obama’s seal of approval.
Rovin on November 13, 2008 at 9:27 AM
Rovin on November 13, 2008 at 9:27 AM
If the Republicans end up with the ability to do filibusters, I hope they don’t do it on this one as this is the rope the Dems will use to hang themselves.
Kafir on November 13, 2008 at 9:28 AM
I wonder how many youth will think this plan is a good thing simply because Obama was the one who proposed it.
They will be for it until they have to lift a finger. Then it’s all over for Barry!
Grafted on November 13, 2008 at 9:29 AM
This is nothing more than a back door draft. The blowback will be severe.
swami on November 13, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Because obviously if you do you don’t get elected. The truth is something with which Democrats do not even have a passing aquaintance.
johnsteele on November 13, 2008 at 9:30 AM
I’m repeating myself, but THERE IS NO VALID REASON FOR THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM
However, if you look at history and look at current regimes, then you understand why the lefties are trying to implement it.
Rahm “I was there when Freddies books were cooked” emannuel has said he would like it to be SEVEN MONTHs..
This entire thing is BS. If you have a democratic congresscritter, you need to be there when they are doing their public apeparance thing and protest, aske pointed questions about this.
This holiday system we need to have the cojones to bring this issue up at parties and family gatherings “Gee do you know they want to take our kids for 7 months”
THIS IS NOTHING BUT A MEANS FOR THE FINAL MASS INDOCTRINATIONS…
bullseye on November 13, 2008 at 9:30 AM
That’s ONE summer out of a kids life or a month, three summers in a row.
Tell that to the family farmers who lose their kids during the entire summer, or the young people who watch their younger siblings while school is out and the parents are working.
What about those who have jobs waiting for them; internships, OJT positions or family businesses? Are Obarky’s little darlings going to do swamp reclamation in Florida or do they get the cozy desk job in Manhattan? Will they have to attend at all or will they get a waiver?
Bishop on November 13, 2008 at 9:31 AM
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 9:11 AM
This is why the health care issue is so powerful; I am not in favor of “banning” anything- I’m just furious that my own health care costs have gone through the roof to pay for people who have the ability to improve their own health and choose not to. If Barry wants to mandate health insurance, let him start with people that refuse to help themselves. I’d like to know where the people who regularly eat in fast food places are getting their cash for it! I’m forever telling my kids to forget me paying 25.00 bucks to destroy their arteries, We’ve got a 30.00 co-pay to clean them out! No thanks!
It’s just a vicious cycle of Gov. dependency that Obama only wants to deepen, and not only that but his re-education camps will probably dismiss the fat kids from active duty- (but it won’t be their fault)
So, as much as I bemoan the cycle, I know that banning will only intensify the problem. I grew up in CA as well, and I have only fond memories of all the bake sales and every transfat laden chip I ever ate! Not to mention the carne asada burrito’s from the Roberto chains…..
anniekc on November 13, 2008 at 9:31 AM
You can always tell what the left is up to by what name they call conservatives… they always (falsely) call us what they are doing or about to do to deflect the label from themselves.
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 9:32 AM
I have a feeling that the 3 month term will only aply to the good little obamabots. Those who resist the indoctrination will be held over for continued re-education.
thomasaur on November 13, 2008 at 9:33 AM
It establishes a precedent. It establishes the idea that any citizen can be ordered to go live somewhere else and do what the government tells them to do. Apparently everyone but Da Boss thinks it was bad when FDR did it to the Nisei, but it’s just fine if they do it to everyone?
If 3 months isn’t a big deal, then neither is 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48, or 60. That’s how you boil a frog.
The Monster on November 13, 2008 at 9:34 AM
This is simply a way for Obama to grab hold of the minds of every young person and use the time to drill the principals of socialism into them.
It’s all the time he needs and it will change an entire generation of voters and Americans citizens
Something out of Rules for Radicals…
katy on November 13, 2008 at 9:34 AM
Phase II will be mandatory midnight basketball.
whitetop on November 13, 2008 at 9:35 AM
High school students in our school district already have to do 40 hours of public service every year to get their diploma. Communist training camps will be popping up soon!
flytier on November 13, 2008 at 9:36 AM
They will have brain washed kids from all over the world trying to join the O-Army, just to be a part of “Hope,” “Change,” “Yes We Can.”
abinitioadinfinitum on November 13, 2008 at 9:37 AM
I think the big O is too smart for this. He’ll beef up the Peace Corps and call it a day.
Mojave Mark on November 13, 2008 at 9:38 AM
Another quick story… i had diabetes during and after the birth of my child… I had higher premiums and signed a form stating that i understood why I had to pay extra… if the gov’t nationalizes health care, either people will not care how much they cost the system because it is not their money, or when the system gets overloaded and they are unable to get care at all (there would be selective care) they will scream discrimination…. whatever it is, it will not teach people personal responsibilty… that is the key to solving the problem.
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 9:39 AM
“And isn’t community/national service a core principle of conservatism?”
Conservatives believe VOLUNTARY service
Bevan on November 13, 2008 at 9:39 AM
Nah,it means that you actually taught your daughter to be informed and to think for herself, and not to go with the crowd. A lot better than most parents if you ask me.
Just don’t let her go all the way over to the dark side… :)
Sir Corky on November 13, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Three months.
Not enough time for the mandatory Uncle Sugar sexual harassment, equal opportunity, hazmat, how to lift properly with your back, training. It’ll take one month just to get everyone to wear their pants above their groin line.
Limerick on November 13, 2008 at 9:41 AM
Imagine how wonderful they’ll all feel after serving their 3 months, and the excuses start coming in as to WHY they’re getting NO money whatsoever … ideas ?
Lessee….
1. big bad corporations stole that money from the treasury by moving jobs overseas. sorry, nothing for you.. but dontcha feel good about yourselves ??
pambi on November 13, 2008 at 9:43 AM
Thanks..and dont worry, she wont go over to the dark side. lol She does like arguing with her friends. I told her she shouldve joined the debate club in high school.
becki51758 on November 13, 2008 at 9:43 AM
LOL
becki51758 on November 13, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Everyone who has kids in high school now or knows any should let them know about this. I told my 15-year-old about it and he was barking mad. He never got on the Obama bus anyway, as he is a nonconformist and a free thinker. Many teens are. They will be conservatives for life if the Obamans try to push this program through.
rockmom on November 13, 2008 at 9:45 AM
As a side note, where does this leave Slick Willy and Dick ‘Shotgun’ Cheney? Will opting out of national service suddenly be taboo again?
Nah. They will never accomplish this corps concept. What it will morph into is a play or pay system. It will be your option to play, and get a tax write off, or stay home and not. The Dems are going to want their wallets a lot more then they want their souls.
Limerick on November 13, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Huh, yesterday AP told someone to “settle down” when he compared this plan to Bergen-Belsen. Now it’s declared forced labor. Should we be concerned about this or should we settle down?
Akzed on November 13, 2008 at 9:49 AM
Most of these people are so dumb, when Obama says its all Bush’s fault they will believe it. He will say he is forced to do these unpopular things because of Republican malfeasance. And miraculously the extremely unpopular Democratic party sponsored draft will be a negative for Republicans.
Bush hate: the gift that never stops giving.
tyrfing on November 13, 2008 at 9:50 AM
This has been a great thread this morning. You guys have really lifted my spirits.
Here’s a thought:
These yutes would not be serving America.
They would be serving the new administration’s vision of America.
kingsjester on November 13, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Russia has this sort of thing already, some government-sponsored collection of yoots who get free education, food, apartments, etc. in exchange for supporting the regime and appearing as thugs and counter-protesters when necessary.
Very good, Comrade Odummy, you have learned your lessons well.
Bishop on November 13, 2008 at 9:51 AM
What is a retraining program? I have never heard anything like that.
becki51758 on November 13, 2008 at 8:27 AM
WE should call it what it really is “re-education”. I can see it now… “welcome to Uncle Barry’s boot camp, brainwashing..I mean orientation will begin at 0700 tomorrow”. This is sick.
God bless your daughter and you for the fantastic job you do.
milwife88 on November 13, 2008 at 9:52 AM
man, I’m not telling my kids about this- they’ve got enough stuff to worry about! They’de be up all night fuming about it. kids have enough stuff going on trying to get the grades, get a part time job, (stay alive in some public schools) I’m not about to demoralize them with Obama’s “plans”. Hopefully someone will perhaps, cause Obama to “see the light” regarding his re-education objectives….
anniekc on November 13, 2008 at 9:53 AM
Ed, are you NUTS? Hush up and let ‘em figure this out for themselves. Why give them the heads up?
Well, they wouldn’t believe the obvious if it was smacked over their head anyways.
Hehehe….
mikepatr on November 13, 2008 at 9:54 AM
A stupid idea. I was expecting the Dems to overplay their hand but not so early…
JohnAGJ on November 13, 2008 at 9:54 AM
lol
abinitioadinfinitum on November 13, 2008 at 9:54 AM
Another question is the medical cost. Can you imagine the worksmans comp claims from this program? Backs, butts and limbs are going to be on the government payroll (and your dime) until Jesus returns to heal us all.
Limerick on November 13, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Ironically, it will probably be the kids who voted for him.
sherry on November 13, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Thanks. I also have a 30 yr old who has a 3 yr old. I do not want him to grow up with this hanging over his head. My daughter is scared for him, as am I. Maybe Im being melodramatic, but this country is heading to a bad place under an Obama presidency.
btw..the night before the election, my liberal brother called us after not hearing from him in 5 yrs(hes an alcoholic, lives in Cleveland) and he tried to talk Rachael into voting for Obama. He even sent her e-mails to donate to him. lol Well..Rachael spoke her mind to him and I dont think I’ll heard from him in awhile.
becki51758 on November 13, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Now if they truly practice “separation of church and state”, the where does this leave the Mormon’s mission’s. They serve 2 years to the church, then 2 years to the government?
This idea is doomed…
right2bright on November 13, 2008 at 9:59 AM
Maybe those who can’t figure out the difference between voluntary service and mandatory service might consider as a comparison the difference between voluntary sex and mandatory sex.
Merovign on November 13, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Helen Jones-Kelley will be the director of the “3 month program”.
right2bright on November 13, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Tell them now,you don’t want them coming to you later asking if you knew about this. They can’t rebel against something they are unaware of. My girls would be p*ssed if I held this back.
thomasaur on November 13, 2008 at 10:05 AM
DTMH – The service in Israel is not as compulsory as everyone thinks. If you’re ultra-religious, gay, a conscientious objector, etc, it’s not too hard to get out of serving. It’s only the truly patriotic or those too dumb/lazy to come up with an excuse that serve now.
Also, there are many types of conservatives, so, while some may put an emphasis on service (though compulsory free labor hardly counts as service), most put the value on individual freedom – whether the individual chooses to serve his fellow man or chooses to lie in bed all day doing nothing (the flip side being our belief in taking the consequences of your actions). It’s just a bonus that, on average, more conservatives choose to serve others than liberals.
JadeNYU on November 13, 2008 at 10:07 AM
If this happens, it will be the best thing for military recruitment yet–why serve in the Obama forced-labor camps when you can serve in the real military and actually make a difference?
m064404 on November 13, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Would a refusal fall under the “Right to Privacy?”
It’s my body, right?
Bishop on November 13, 2008 at 10:13 AM
this is how it’s sold. Is deathtomediahacks an Obot who has been assigned Hotair by Axlerod to begin the propaganda campaign? Neat.
Seriously, though, if other countries told you to jump off a cliff, would you? wait. Yeah. You would. I feel so fantastically safe right now.
Mommypundit on November 13, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Funny part will be the Logistics of this plan…
You’ll have to build infrastructure, and have permanent staff… even though the programs will mainly be used only in Summer, when kids are out of school…
or… is it Barry’s plan to somehow take kids out of school for this?
Romeo13 on November 13, 2008 at 10:14 AM
Now is a good time to prepare your children to avoid the draft. It was considered a feather in the caps of all the liberals and leftists during Vietnam so surely it’s the right thing to do now. Jimmy Carter gave all of them amnesty and I’m certain that some future leftist Democrat would do the same for the children of this generation. Teach them the chant I heard at the ports of debarcation when I left for my tours in Vietnam . . . “Hell no we wont go”. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
rplat on November 13, 2008 at 10:14 AM
This is pretty freaky. I have a couple of Aunts. One was in a Concentration Camp. She told me of a similar idea that Hitler had. The kids would end up snitching on their parents. Then the parents would be hauled a way. Not saying this is the same. But it is eerie. Where are they going to get the money to do this? Doesn’t he know that we are in a real bad way here? Some change he will be doing for us. Thankfully I don’t have small or teens. I just hope my Liberal minded formal Daughter-In-Law doesn’t do this to our Grand Children. This is nothing like Israel. Nothing.
sheebe on November 13, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I’ve been in the Reserve Component since ’85 (Army National Guard and Army Reserve). I STRONGLY oppose a draft. It’s a violation of the 13th Amendment both in letter and in spirit. (The Supreme Court dodged the question in Selective Draft Law Cases in 1918.)
Further, what I’ve seen of AmeriCorps has been a joke. I’ve done volunteer work side-by-side with AmeriCorps folks and they (again, in my experience) were completely worthless. They had no supervision and didn’t do jack.
Here’s a radical suggestion: Teach kids why they should love and respect their country, flawed as it is, and they might choose to serve it willingly as they are able. Stop insulting the men and women who wear this country’s uniform. Quit insulting the Founding Fathers and point out their achivements (which are many) rather than dwell on their limitations.
Abelard on November 13, 2008 at 10:17 AM
Dood! The way the Financial System is crashing, Lord Barry will not have the cash to run the White House let alone his Love Army.
ronsfi on November 13, 2008 at 10:18 AM
How cute! Obama made a peace sign with the ‘O’ and the ‘b’ in his signature on his Selective Service Registration. Does he always sign his name that way??
Brat on November 13, 2008 at 10:20 AM
LOL . . . but right on.
rplat on November 13, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Youts?
Rollie on November 13, 2008 at 10:23 AM
I’m going to stand outside on campus and burn my community service time-sheet for all to see!!
Punchenko on November 13, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Actually, there is no “transfat” in lard. Or butter. Or meat. Transfat is hydrogenated oil, which is used to solidify substitutes for lard and butter, as a way of reducing saturated fat. It turns out the lard and butter were better for you than the margarine and shortening.
Irony.
Count to 10 on November 13, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Yes, the pictures of Obama’s little Brown Shirts were not encouraging but any further movement can be stopped if people make a lot of noise and fight back.
rplat on November 13, 2008 at 10:29 AM
that is correct… trans fats were considered the “replacements” for the “unhealthy” fats like butter. Also had longer shelf life.. food police suck!
beththebaker on November 13, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Time to form the American Maquis.
Dr.Cwac.Cwac on November 13, 2008 at 10:33 AM
but three months in a “civilian defense force” might blunt that desire, especially if it’s as pointless as Barack Obama’s description of it.
.
The pointless description is a calculated smokescreen. IMO, objective is to use massive taxpayer funding to install and maintain a corps of political activists, thinly disguised as ‘civil defense caretakers’, which would be granted a beachead in every significant urban location. From these strongpoints, led by cadres trained in the Chicago school of ‘community organizing’, they would cash in on the initial wave of Obama’s youth popularity to use peer pressure to influence first, the hip young generation and second, their parents and relatives. All so caring and good.
.
This would then be extended to ‘civil defense’ drills, a command structure, and the identification of the demons which this glorious corps would so righteously oppose. Foreign threats? Guffaw – these demons would all be domestic, and would be characterized as selfish, greedy, oppressive and a threat to community security. This corps would have a natural alliance with ACORN – hell, much of its cadre would come from there – and could easily be employed to ‘protect’ election events and polling places.
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You may extend this scenario by reasonable use of the imagination. I’d only add one more characteristic: it would be rigorously described in its internal documents and public promotions as ‘non-partisan’ (as is ACORN itself), and the MSM would accept that description without a blink.
Insufficiently Sensitive on November 13, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Its one of the reasons I don’t mind the trans fat bans so much. In some sense, a state or municipality may be entirely in its rights to ban a substance. This may be going a bit far, but, still, all we are really talking about is going back to what we used before hydrogenation was invented.
New habits or requirements that or worse than traditional ones are a bit of a pet peeve for me.
Count to 10 on November 13, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Am I the only one that finds it mildly ironic that in the aftermath of our election of the first black president one of the first things discussed by his sycophants is a program that can be roughly described as indentured servitude?
Is this the servitude that we’ve been serving for? (Jeez, that didn’t work – I guess you have to be a liberal to write those nonsensical, circular logic phrases the like to use…)
turfmann on November 13, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Basic training in our military is 8 weeks, AIT training is 8 weeks, that’s how long it takes to teach a GI to walk and chew bubble gum at the same time. After all of that they have tons of other training to that makes them ready for service. This whole idea is a joke. I’m not taking any shots at at our fine men and women of the military, just saying that 3 months is just about enough time to make them dangerous. and we already have the military & local police National Guard state police the CIA the FBI and county sheriff departments I mean WTF!!!
driver on November 13, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Maybe we should try hitting the streets in large mass demonstrations before we go guerrilla. I’m sure it’s not as romantic as it seems.
ronsfi on November 13, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Don’t know if this program will make it through legislation, or what it would look like once congress got done with it. However, some element of shared sacrifice might contribute to a stronger sense of citizenship, in the same way that the WWII generation was less selfish than their children and succeeding generations.
Maybe if you could contribute time to your community in exchange for lower property taxes, that would be worthwhile.
dedalus on November 13, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Now, if you were to require every high school graduate to go through basic training, that might be something…
Count to 10 on November 13, 2008 at 10:42 AM
So what are they going to do when my 18 year old son won’t go? Because he won’t. No freakin’ way. Drag him away? Lock him up?
Sefton on November 13, 2008 at 10:43 AM
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