Barr criticizes Obama’s national service proposal
July 9th, 2008 by Jason PyeIn a press release issued today, Bob Barr chided Sen. Barack Obama’s proposal for mandated government service and says that there is no justification for such a plan.
“Americans are among the most generous people on the planet and excel at serving one another,” says Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential candidate. “Unfortunately, Sen. Barack Obama wants to turn service into a government requirement” by forcing middle, high school, and college students to work in federally approved jobs. “But service must be an outgrowth of the heart to be life-changing for both parties. It isn’t possible to mandate generosity or coerce compassion,” Barr explains.
Moreover, “it certainly isn’t Washington’s responsibility to dictate to every middle school, high school, and college across America the sort of activities they should require of their students,” notes Barr. “If local school boards and college presidents believe mandatory service to be a good idea, they can—as many have done—make it a graduation requirement. There’s no justification for the federal government to set a national standard.”
Indeed, Barr observes, “the next president and Congress will have a lot of serious issues on their hands. Such as cutting the federal budget deficit. Restoring the Constitution’s protections for civil liberties. Withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq. Confronting the entitlements budget crisis. Dealing with high energy prices. Reforming taxes. The list goes on and on.” These are the challenges that Americans expect their leaders to meet. “Washington politicians should not be telling schools across America how many hours their students should work, and in what kinds of jobs,” says Barr. “The Founders displayed great genius when the framed the Constitution, because they limited the federal government to national problems while preserving state and local authority over such issues as education, including youth service.”
“Everyone agrees that service is a wonderful gift from those with much to those with little. But we should not sacrifice the great value of voluntary service by turning it into a government requirement,” Barr concludes.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:42 am
no wander, obama, after all, is a communist
July 9th, 2008 at 11:54 am
As a liberal guy who recently dumped the DNC, I can say that I have often thought about ideas like Obama’s in the past, but what Bob is saying is right on with our current society. We all have a choice everyday as to how we live our lives and what kind of contribution we make to our great nation. Americans are the kindest and most giving people on the planet and given more freedom and incentive we could do even more. Matching dollars donated with tex credits, no matter how little you make, will be a great start when the LP wins congress this year.
We have been changed as a people over the last 30 years. We have been changed into a nation that waits for big brother to come and help us, come and save us, and guide us in our daily lives and decisions. The message needs to get out that we are still a great people who have our own minds and ideas and abilities and can do great things for one another. We need to become the greatest generation of our time as our grandparents were of thiers and the LP has the message to help us do that. I know I don’t need Obama or any other government official telling me to help others.
Jeff Indiana
Jeff Indiana
July 9th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Slightly off-topic note … AOL today listed the ‘10 Books you should read before you die’. I’m not sure Harry Potter is appropriate for such a list, but as usual Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” made the list.
For those of you who haven’t read Rand, “Atlas Shrugged” and von Mises’ “Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis” provide overwhelming analysis of the failings of Socialism [both Obama's version and McCain's version].
http://shopping.aol.com/books?ncid=AOLCOMMshopDYNLsec0001&icid=200100397×1205150047x1200262002
July 9th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
No wonder people hate libertarians, god forbid people give back to their country.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
From a Reason Magazine article linked to through ‘Third Party Watch’:
“Baldwin, along with Howard Phillips, will be one of the hot-ticket speakers at the July 12 “Revolution March” in Washington, D.C. Bob Barr will not be there; Ron Paul will be on the podium.”
Why won’t Bob Barr be at Ron Paul’s ‘Revolution March’ ?? I really want an answer to this question !!
July 9th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Bob, you are correct. We need someone out there providing an intellectual defense of our rights. This kind of collectivism is dangerous. If Obama wants to serve, let HIM serve. Perhaps he could even take some millions from his book revenues and pay others to “serve”.
Barack Obama is a bad man. I am very thankful that I have the opportunity to vote for Bob Barr.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I guess Obama hopes that mandated “volunteering” will cut federal expenses. In the liberal mindset, having children work for you is bad if you pay them but good if you make them work for free.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Bob, as usual, is spot on in his assessment of Obama’s policies. Excellent article and makes a great contrast with what both Obama and McCain are putting out.
DeeDeeT,
I am not sure of the exact reason, however, on the front page of this site shows upcoming events. Barr is schedule to be in Las Vegas for the Freedom Fest event. I would imagine that is why he won’t be at the march. Hope that answers your question.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
RR,
it seems like the Ron Paul event in Washington [which has been scheduled for some time also] is a MAJOR libertarian event … afterall, Ron Paul’s supporters ARE strongly libertarian-leaning. If Mr. Barr would be hoping for Ron Paul’s endorsement, or at least vocal support, then why abandon this particular libertarian event to Chuck Baldwin ? It seems like Baldwin will walk away from this event as the ‘perceived winner’ of Ron Paul’s support, even if such a conclusion is false. Bob Barr’s absence will definitely be noted.
It seems like an error in priorities … but it is Mr. Barr’s campaign to run.
July 9th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
THIS is SCARY !! Our KGB … excuse me, Homeland Security … is asserted in this article to be investigation the feasibility of requiring all airline passengers to wear wrist bracelets containing GPS trackers so they can be tracked after checking in at the terminal until leaving the airport at their destination. These bracelets also have the capability to stun the passenger with an electric shock if ’someone’ feels the need to subdue the passenger for any reason.
Our government is rapidly becoming more efficient at oppressing its citizens than the Gestapo, SS, and KGB combined ever were.
Paranoia, followed by delusions, then pre-emptive strikes on a “perceived” enemy equals severe mental psychosis.
http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/07/update-dept-of-homeland-security-weighs-forcing-passengers-to/?icid=200100397×1205305335x1200244680
July 9th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
DeeDeeT,
I am by no means suggesting that Barr got it right as far as priorities. I personally would much rather he go to the march than to the Freedom Fest. I would rather he be there to counter the theocracy movement that Chuck Baldwin represents. Baldwin will walk away from that event with a “bump” I imagine, but I think that Barr is willing to take that risk. Barr wants to show his candidacy can stand on its own, without having to ride the coattails of another. Baldwin’s campaign is built on riding the coattails of Ron Paul, while Barr’s campaign appeals to a much larger group. That is just my opinion though.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
“Justin Larsen Says:
July 9th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
No wonder people hate libertarians, god forbid people give back to their country.”
There is a fairly major difference between volunteerism and compulsory service to the state Justin. They call the latter communism.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Jeff,
Your assesment of what it means to be liberal is much more accurate than the DNC’s!!
July 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Justin -
You are completely and totally wrong on this issue. And Barr is completely right. Government should not be in the business of telling students to do community service. Especially not the federal government. Obama has come up with a stupid idea and shows his complete lack of intelligence for suggesting it.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
As a recent member of AmeriCorps, I’ll say this: mandatory service will NOT play well with America’s young people. With stuff like this, Barr can be competitive for the college vote.
Bob Barr:
He wants to run the government, not your life.
Let’s return a mustache to the White House
It also says something about Obama and D’s in general. They may not like war as much as the R’s, but they LOVE compulsory national service. In fact, they would prefer to get all the trappings of war (just without the guns) – compulsory service, high taxes, regulation and rationing. You see this especially in some older FDR D’s – they just love communal national sacrifice for its own sake.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Justin,
You miss the entire point. No one is condemning service to your country or giving back at all. What Bob Barr is saying is two fold: One, the federal government should leave the decision about service requirements to each school district and board. The federal government should stay out of it. Secondly, he is saying that forcing people into service is not the way to go. Any service should be an extension of the heart of the individual, not some government mandate. If it comes from the heart, it will be truly life changing. If it comes from the government, it will have no lasting effect on the person. This article again shows the contrast between Bob Barr and Barack Obama. Bob Barr wants to get the government out of our lives; Barack Obama wants to increase the presence of government in our lives.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
I have a right to “[my] life, [my] liberty and the pursuit of [my] happiness.”
Where exactly does it say that a government can force me to do anything and take away my liberty (and do mandatory public service)? What’s next a draft for the military.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a slippery slope we are on.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Justin Larsen said:
“No wonder people hate libertarians, god forbid people give back to their country.”
Note the words “give back to their country.”
That’s clearly not what Barack Obama has in mind. It’s not an issue of someone giving back to their country, it’s an issue of the country taking from that person. If an individual was previously inclined to give back selflessly, then compelling them to do so would undoubtedly dampen that sentiment; especially if the experience wasn’t at all rewarding.
July 9th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
We need a program where people can get a tax credit for the hours they volunteer. A tax credit of so much per hour to help people afford to volunteer. I work 60-70 hour a week at two jobs so my time is a little tight, but I would have nothing against doing more in my community if I could. That is besides trying to help the LP do well this fall.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I would like to point out that this “press release” is poorly written; it intensely editorializes in between Barr’s quotes.
As I journalist (and Barr supporter), I find that annoying. Let’s let REASON, not propaganda through press releases, be the reason Barr wins.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
“Jeff Says:
July 9th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
We need a program where people can get a tax credit for the hours they volunteer. A tax credit of so much per hour to help people afford to volunteer. I work 60-70 hour a week at two jobs so my time is a little tight, but I would have nothing against doing more in my community if I could. That is besides trying to help the LP do well this fall.”
That’s not a bad idea except it still occurs under the pretense that we should have to file income taxes. What we should have is a consumption tax and no income tax.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Bob Barr won’t attend the Washington march because of the Freedom Festival. Although the Washington march will be big, it will probably be smaller than the Freedom Fest which will have thousands of liberty minded people from the West.
I guess they just chose to focus on the Freedom Fest and not try to take away the spotlight from Ron Paul in Washington.
July 9th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Patrick Shields: Damned near the whole thing is in quotes. I don’t see what part could really be considered editorializing.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
When I was in college a few years ago (graduated 06), in one of my classes the majority of students supported mandatory national service. I was frankly shocked when that happened - I was one of about five people with a brain in their head. (I wonder if they’ll support bringing back the draft if we go into Iran.) The stuff you hear in the news and the polls about the younger generation, the younger you go, the more totalitarian and un-American it seems to get. Truly scary stuff.
July 9th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Daniel Quintiliani
I agree with what you are saying. A lot of younger people just don’t understand what it means to have to make their own decisions and deal with what comes with them. Perhaps we need to borrow from other movements and have some kind of Young Libertarian group. Like I said above, we need to undo the past 30 years of learning that people have had.
Jeff Indiana
July 9th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Young people are not all for Obama. I am 18 and go to a Gwyennd-Mercy (in PA), the whole campus is basicly for Bob Barr and the others are Ron Paul people trying to pick a new person. Now it could just be my area but their are alot of Libertarian minded young people out their sick of (D)s AND (R)s.
P.S. - Support your loacal militia. They are the only ones keeping our boarders and families safe on the home front. I have also just joined the minutemen of Bucks county with a friend of mine.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I believe that this isn’t a bad idea, but if it is to be implemented it needs to only be done so on a school to school or city level (as Mr. Barr said) and only to high school and middle school students. College is hard enough for some people with out piling on more responsibilities.
On the same page however I am sick of society ‘being forced’ to raise children whose parents are too lazy to do the job themselves. And worse children who are being raised by their parents effectively tend to get mixed up in this as well. Mixed feelings.
July 9th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
DJ,
I am specifically referring to this sentence which was not in quotes: “These are the challenges that Americans expect their leaders to meet.”
I just wish they had posted the raw quote without saying things like “Indeed, Barr notes”, etc. It should be in past tense and maybe just include one “Barr said.” Other than that, it is too personal for a press release.
July 10th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Why do so many people still believe Obama is really for change? All of his policies, including this one, do nothing but support the same statist quo we have had for years. Mandatory service for youth? How is it any different from the draft, which the Left was so angry about in the 60s? Obama does not support any sort of real change. (except in his view on the FISA bill and the Iraq war)
July 11th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Ok so let me see If I understand what y’all are saying… You support kids dealing drugs, Doing Drive-bys, committing other Gang crimes. you support kids growing up without a work ethic so they can go on welfare as adults? You support the Taliban going into poor villages recruiting terrorists?
Folks I think your frackin NUTS!!! The republican’s & Democrats need your vote. Hell they need all you brainless idiots who can’t think to keep them in office.
Here is what this calls for :
“all middle and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year.” Oooh how inhumane. How dare they! Yet the Boy Scouts of America DEMAND each scout perform at min. 5 hours community service before advancing in rank. Hell lets just be fair & give everyone who joins the eagle Rank reguardless of his earning it right?
I’m sure your lazy brats could put in an hour a week doing something like painting some elderly folks home.
the Obama Plan tales 50,000 (WELFARE & Gansta) young people a year a chance to learn construction job skills and complete high school.
Just what we need future educated adults who do more than go on welfare. How DARE they take people off Welfare.
Require 100 Hours of Service in College: Obama will establish a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that is worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.
Oh now those Berkley Liberals would HATE this… Rather than do something productive they can sit around & ***** about how America sucks like everyone else. We can’t have that can we??
& You Republicans CAN’T have a tax break now can we?? NOOO Must have More Taxes right???
You folks know why those who lived in the 40’s were called the greatest Generation? They earned that by getting off their asses & DOING something for this nation… Like serve in the Military. those that could not serve Worked for a Defense Plant. those who could not do that found other ways to contribute.
Sounds to be Bob Barr Wants us to be a Leech Nation where everyone sits around drawing welfare. Then ***** about people being on welfare.
Oh and something to think about. PBS’ Frontline did a story about two doctors in afghanistan. They would go from village to village offering FREE Medical care. Many Never met an American. Many were pro Taliban. Yet the Taliban NEVER offered in any way shape or form to help them except token bribes. These two Doctors converted many villages to OUR side by doing what they could.
Right now the ONLY way an Afghani can make money is grow opium that will end up in your local drug addicts. How many here bitching & moaning could offer an alternative & teach these folks a new skill or new way to make money?
The ONLY way we will win the war on terror is deprive terrorists of recruits. If those they recruit see us as doing far more to improve their lots in life the more they will help us.
Bob Barr needs to stop bitching & moaning & offer up his own version of this that does BETTER then this.
Something like for college kids Serve a Summer volunteering in americorps or other such program & get one year FREE college.
so thousands of College kids could rebuild communities hit by Katrina, Rita or whatever other disasters strike in the summer & the Goverment pays all college expenses ( Books, Classes, Materials, ect.)
Middle & High school kids could join a scouting program as part of their volunteer service. Or recieve Vocational training. If they Graduate they will get all or part of their college education paid for
depending on how well they did in school. They get an A average they pay NOTHING. B Average they pay 25%. C 50% D 75%.
Hell it sure beats building more welfare offices & Prisons.
Ike
July 11th, 2008 at 5:13 am
The federal government should never be involved with forcing people to serve…This needs no explanation… Almost anything that is “forced” is pretty much not in adherence with our constitutional republic.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Lazyike
So basically what you are saying is we should continue to raise other people’s children for them? I am twenty four years old and I was not involved in drug dealing, drive bys, and have a good work ethic. I did no community service, and in fact was quite reclusive in high school.
Might this help the kids whose parents don’t care or have not a clue? Perhaps. But college students? People who already might have this much trouble?
And most people here see no problem with this. Just that it should be implemented on a localized level (which is better than having a federal bureaucrat give us a one size fits all version).
Please stop your bitching and moaning and actually listen to what is being said.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Most college scholarships require community service. My son attended Ariz. State U. and spent more time at Habitat for Humanity than he did in class.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Ike, you’re dreaming if you think forced “voluteerism” is going to change “gangsta” and welfare culture! People need to want to volunteer for it to have any meaningful impact. This marxist drivel that McBama wants to impose is just another un-Constitutional, nanny state, fuzzy feelgood, big government boondoggle. Parents should be the only authority to have their child volunteer for anything! If you want to stop the “gangsta” and welfare culture, the government, especially at the federal level as it’s un-Constitutional, should stop subsidizing it! As Dr. Paul stated correctly in one of the debates, “Once you subsidize something you get more of it”. You mentioned Americorp. Has anyone ever measured it’s true success? Do we even know if we’re getting our money’s worth from this un-Constitutional program? As far as a being leech nation, the government has been leeching off us taxpayers far too long for **** like McBama wants to impose with NO accountability!
July 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I personally am disgusted with the big brother mentality that has poisoned our society’s mindset for far too long. I don’t think mandatory is the answer. Giving under force isn’t giving at all. It’s like paying taxes. It should be up to individual school systems to decide what is best for their community.
Our nation isn’t a one size fits all and should be treated as such. I do like Barr’s stances on these issues. I look forward to his campaign and hope he can win so we can have some real change. Not just empty promises like we have had for the past two decades.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Hey why are people hating on Justin for saying “No wonder people hate libertarians, god forbid people give back to their country”? I believe he was using a little something called sarcasm, you ought to try it sometime… jeez lighten up people, not *everyone* is assaulting freedom.
Anyway I think perhaps Barr consciously decided not to go to the Washington march because it would create an awkward situation with Baldwin there because it would become obvious that both of them were there just to get attention and some of Ron Paul’s c.r.e.a.m.
July 11th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Its like volunteering, except its not voluntary, so its really more like slavery
July 12th, 2008 at 1:00 am
Once again…Obama showed his true colors: “Arbeit Macht Frei.”
@ Ike: “You folks know why those who lived in the 40’s were called the greatest Generation? They earned that by getting off their asses & DOING something for this nation… Like serve in the Military.”
History will show that grandad was referred to as part of “the greatest generation” because winners right the history books.
My grandfather went to war in 1941 (and his father in WWII) for the ultimate purpose of insuring the profits of the international banking community.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Correction: Grandads father went to war in WWI
July 12th, 2008 at 1:31 am
As a high school student who is trying to leave high school early to enter the local university, I am sickened at the thought of this proposal. I personally spend roughly 10 hours a week with my neighbor who is disabled because I feel it is the right thing to do. When the government tells me to do something, I feel like I am just jumping through hoops. I would have to fill out countless pages of additional paperwork and document my service, make the kid’s poor mother fill out even more paperwork, and go to the office several times to find my counselor when he is not busy to review the paperwork with him.
It’s not like volunteering for 100 hours in a library is going to get some stoned teenager to commit his life to service or anything. In fact, this will make people SEE SERVICE AS A DUMB REQUIREMENT and end up hating it.
What about the kid whose brother has special needs and is busy enough as it is? What about the kid who has to work to help his parents support his family?
The American people are among the most charitable in the world. Having the government tell us how to live our lives merely dehumanizes us and turns us into passive tools of the government. It is so refreshing to hear a voice of reason in this campaign!