Obama calls on Americans to volunteer
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noborito
Volunteer because there is no money to pay you.
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adaydream
You'll be paid.
But feel free to believe those republican talking heads. They cry about uniforms and it's a mandatory service and what else have they been crying about? < :-)
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skipthesong
skip calls on US politicians to volunteer.
You already make too much money, you are allowed to expense purchases through your office, you are allowed to give you family members contracts (Fienstien, D, Ca.) of 25 Million dollars, you are allowed to vote yourself a raise, you get free health care for you, your immediate family and including family you just found, you are provided with free housing, free travel, free schooling, and you are paid to open your mouths.
Just like when we wanted your children to join the military, we are now DEMANDING that you kids be the first to voluteer and that includes those wives of yours who really do not nothing.
Aday: I knew you were going to post something typically childish. I am willing to bet I have volunteered more than you, and I have given more in charity than you and while we are on it, I am sounding off at both repubs and dems.
We you ever at any site after Katrina? Were you ever given a task to teach English to Latin Americans? Have you ever given any money to help poor Cuban refugees? Have you ever volunteered as a firefighter? Have you ever traveled to South America and provided free dental care? How much money have you given over the last year, no ten years?
Quit your crying, this latest request is disgusting. The timing couldn't be worse, with unemployment as high as it is, taxes are still an issue, credit is hard to get (which is good in many cases).
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neverknow2
Thats true!! But still a good idea I think. It's a good way to change the culture of a nation.
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skipthesong
Thats true!! But still a good idea I think. It's a good way to change the culture of a nation."
I see a lot more Americans volunteering around the world than I have seen any other. Travel more often. There are more NGO's in America than any other country doing their best even if I don't agree with what they are doing.
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uperjer
obama calls on americans to volunteer.
americans call on obama to pay their bills.
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knowitall
Could someone explain how is something that pays you money "volunteer work"? I have always considered volunteer work something done for the good of your fellow man without expectation of pay. While admitting that I do not know the full details of this system, it sounds like government jobs. It may be a good idea, but it certainly doesn't sound like volunteer work (at least to me), unless you consider that any job other than forced labor is voluntary.
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LostinNagoya
knowitall
...The bill also ties volunteer work to money for college...
Volunteers doesn´t get a salary, they may get benefits. Or they don´t get anything at all, except a smile or a thank you - which is a good thing.
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Badsey
What I see is very dismal performance at some of the larger city schools. If volunteering can help fast track these kids into success I am all for it. But much of the failure can be directed at the parents of these failing kids.
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skipthesong
What I see is very dismal performance at some of the larger city schools. "
Not for nothing, look at it more historically. Our parents and grand parents went to schools with a lot less, yet they probably did better than kids today. I think the Fed need to stay out of the school systems and let the communities decide how to teach the kids.
Why should you need to volunteer when the education sec gets paid a bundle of cash?
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adaydream
Vollenteering for American service industries has been going on for a long time. There's Vista and all kinds of vollenteer service industries. Even the military is considered a vollenteer service, all though this isn't what's being talked about above.
Obama spoke during the campaign about ways to vollenteering for America. People who are retired, mentoring, all sorts of ways vollenteering avenues. He even mentiond it as a way to help pay off student loans.
skipthesong you upset about this.
I'm not going to compare vollenteering history. You may have vollenteered much more then me. Thanks.
I've been busy serving my country, raising 6 children, being a Boy Scout leader for 15 years and trying to retire.
Vollenteered contest with you. No. You win. < :-)
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teleprompter
Kneel before the hope and change.
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skipthesong
aday: I am upset because in my view, a politician is the last animal to come out and ask people to volunteer!
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adaydream
I seem to remember hearing this personally:
Ask not what your country can do for you.
Ask what you can do for your country.
One of the greatest vollenteer request. < :-)
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skipthesong
Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.
Just what more am I supposed to do for my country? When the hell are they going to be sastisfied? Why not ask those people living off of welfare, using their food stamps for crack do something for once?
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adaydream
It's a request to everyone. Those on welfare, those who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth, those who sit on their butts and want something to do.
It's called vollenteering. If you don't want to, you don't.
Have a good evening. < :-)
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timorborder
So the President has laid down the gauntlet. Will the people of America respond?
There are at least 4 ways in which Americans can volunteer, the Army, the Air Force, the Nay and the Marines. A great way for young people to earn money for college and learn handy civvy street skills like handling automatic weapons. They might also get access to disability benefits. Travel as well, Iraq, Afghanistan or a small guano-covered rock in the mid-Atlantic like Diego Garcia. So what about it folks, volunteer today!
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cow76
A recent surge in applications? I doubt anyone is doing it just for the measly $12 000 which would barely cover living expenses. The only explanation I can think of is a renewed pride Americans have in their own country, pride which has been engendered by political change. Obama talks about hope and people become more optomistic. He's done great things so far, keep it up.
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teleprompter
Since it has been proven over many decades that conservatives are more generous in giving both time and money to charity I guess Obama is calling on "liberals" here.
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timorborder
it has been proven over many decades that conservatives are more generous in giving both time and money to charity I guess Obama is calling on "liberals" here.
Another interpretation of this might be all the "liberals" are struggling to make minimum working wages, while all the pork-barreling, good-old boy "conservatives" find themselves with enough free time to help pursue their interests in young, undocumented female workers and the poor.
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teleprompter
But coming from a non-American it would basically be just that- little more than idle speculation. Or has Obama moved you to rush out and perform volunteer work in Japan or Australia?
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SushiSake3
This is great.
But will Republicans know what 'volunteering' means?
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teleprompter
Honestly, it is amazing how ill-informed some of the America-obsessed here can be.
"JANUARY 22, 2009
"Conservatives Have Answered Obama's Call"
"...In May of last year, the Gallup polling organization asked 1,200 American adults about their giving patterns. People who called themselves "conservative" or "very conservative" made up 42 percent of the population surveyed, but gave 56 percent of the total charitable donations. In contrast, "liberal" or "very liberal" respondents were 29 percent of those polled but gave just 7 percent of donations."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123258358706104403.html
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SushiSake3
What does GOP leader Rush Limbaugh have to say about volunteering?
Does he volunteer for anything?
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smithinjapan
"The service law expands ways for students and seniors to earn money for college through their volunteer work. It aims to foster and fulfill people’s desire to make a difference, such as by mentoring children, cleaning up parks or buildings and weatherizing homes for the poor."
A most excellent call upon the people of the US to do better by themselves. It's volunteer, and in no way selfish. Everyone benefits, and both seniors and college students can earn a bit of scratch at the same time.
People like teleprompter have absolutely NOTHING to criticize on the issue and can only sit by, fuming at Obama's success, and say things like 'kneel before the hope and change', like the scared little tucker he is.
Seriously, this is a good thing, and comparing the call for volunteers to the calls from JFK for similar things is very apt.
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SushiSake3
Smithinjapan, I think teleprompter is criticizing Obama's excellent initiative - which I must note has very likely come from the President's community volunteer work that the GOP heaped scorn on only a short while ago - because teleprompter doesn't understand that in contrast to the vast majority of GOP initiatives and laws, volunteering actually benefits Americans.
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teleprompter
Hmmm, not looking good at this point for Obama.
As I have pointed out before: on threads where those who did not or could not vote for Obama outnumber his American supporters you are looking at a sure portent of failure for the Obama initiative in question.
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sharky1
Its cool to ask for volunteers, and its cool to volunteer. The good news is that the volunteering is not yet mandatory.
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adaydream
Some people here who say they have vollenteered in the past seem so upset about Obama looking for vollenteers. Gosh, you don't want to vollenteer for Obama...don't. < :-)
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adaydream
Vollenteering will never be mandatory.
Got something that says it will be sharky1? < :-)
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SushiSake3
teleprompter - "As I have pointed out before: on threads where those who did not or could not vote for Obama outnumber his American supporters you are looking at a sure portent of failure for the Obama initiative in question."
That's just a really, really silly statement.
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teleprompter
Knock yourselves out:
AmeriCorps: http://www.americorps.gov
0
Altria
60%+ approval rate
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Alphaape
But will Republicans know what 'volunteering' means?
Honestly, it is amazing how ill-informed some of the America-obsessed here can be.
"JANUARY 22, 2009
"Conservatives Have Answered Obama's Call"
"...In May of last year, the Gallup polling organization asked 1,200 American adults about their giving patterns. People who called themselves "conservative" or "very conservative" made up 42 percent of the population surveyed, but gave 56 percent of the total charitable donations. In contrast, "liberal" or "very liberal" respondents were 29 percent of those polled but gave just 7 percent of donations."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123258358706104403.html
A good book to read on this is called "Do As I Say, Not As I Do" and it goes into detail how many of the "limo liberals" talk about donating and giving, but when you really dig deep into it, they only give lip service and it is normally conservative organizations that do much of the heavy lifting in volunteering.
America all ready has the Americorp and other organizations at the "community level" that does a lot of these jobs. So to ask that we volunteer more is probably a bit out of touch. I would like to see Chelsea Clinton do a little volunteer work, or some of the other elites in both parties actually do some of the things that the rest of us are asked to do, and not at the level of organizing a $1000/plate dinner to get donations (that is good) but to actually go out and do some of the things that are suggested. Funny, I seem to remember "Bush the Elder" talking about his "1000 points of light" and how that sounded silly at the time. I guess with today's economy, those 1000 are only worth about 650 now.
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adaydream
Thanks teleprompter, I finally found the madatory statement.
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teleprompter
"What does GOP leader Rush Limbaugh have to say about volunteering?"
Again, for the America-obsessed here let me point out that the current RNC chairman is former Maryland Lt Gov Michael Steele, not the talk show host Rush Limbaugh. And for the record, it is a little odd for Canadians to refer to the Republicans as the Grand Old Party - but if it floats yer canoe, whatever.
Quick search reveals Limbaugh gave 320,000 dollars to cancer research and a whopping 2,000,000 dollars (matching 2 million raised by his audience) to an organization that provides scholarship assistance to the children of Marines and federal law enforcement personnel whose parents die in the line of duty. The money raised was part of a successful challenge to unfounded smears made against him by Sen. Harry "We Lost in Iraq" Reid. Reid never even contested his defeat, though I am sure he took some credit for the monies raised.
How much donated to charity by the pious, selfless 'liberals' at Air America? Oh, I forgot, though touted as the ones who would 'blow Rush out of the water' they went off the air in most of their target markets.
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timorborder
A good book to read on this is called "Do As I Say, Not As I Do" and it goes into detail how many of the "limo liberals" talk about donating and giving, but when you really dig deep into it, they only give lip service and it is normally conservative organizations that do much of the heavy lifting in volunteering.
And some people have me down as a liberal. In a political sense, I suppose I swing both ways. The above quote reminds me of the Dead Kennedies song, "Holiday in Cambodia." Elitist empathy for certain ethnic minorities, etc. At the end of the day, I think compassion transcends political views. There are those on both sides of the political spectrum who give deeply, while there are others who do not give a shxt about the plight of others. As I have pointed out in previous threads, what really irritates me is that the zeolots of both sides of the political fence who post here are not willing to debate the issues themselves, but rather revert to political standing. Indeed, my earlier reference to "conservatives" and "undocumented" female workers was an attempt to highlight the lunacy of the debate if things are seen through heavily-tinted political glasses. Furthermore, with regard to the question about my personal volunteer activities, the current President does not have to encourage me to do squat. I volunteered for the army when I was young (and ended up totally and permanently incapaciated as a result. Furthermore, if I was still capable of doing so, I would volunteer of Afghanistan in a heartbeat. I currently volunteer for guidedogs, and a number of other causes. I do this not out of political conviction but out of a sense of moral belief.
0
SuperLib
The ones who annoy me most are those who use the plight of others as a tool to further their political arguments.
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adaydream
Rush Limbaugh. The Great One. Oh gawd.
But back to volunteering, I've been advovating for years that everybody n eeds to do at least 6 months military service or some kinda of servive toward country. So if Barack Obama comes up with something like this, I'm for it.
It'll make those welfare people do their volunteer service, also. < :-)
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Alphaape
In 4 years, if Obama is elected again, by the middle of his second term I figure his oldest daughter should be about 18. I wonder will she do some of the "volunteer" work that Obama is asking from us. Whether you liked him or not, at least one of McCain's sons is a "grunt" in the Marine Corps with a tour of duty in Iraq under his belt. I am not sure how many other of the supposed "enlightened" on both side of the aisle can make that claim.
I wonder what else we will be called to do.
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skipthesong
criticizing Obama's excellent initiative"
Well, for those of you that are soooo supportive of these words, which have been said many times, both repubs and dems mind you; its nothing new, go ahead and tell us what you're going to do?
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smithinjapan
teleprompter: Hilarious to see you against doing any kind of volunteer work for others, instead choosing to say how Rush Limbaugh simply throws money at some organizations and that makes Obama somehow a bad guy.
Face it, this is a good thing. If you don't like it, simply don't volunteer, as you probably won't anyhow as it doesn't fit your political agenda.
adaydream: I agree, in ALL countries, save for the military service deal. I think people should have to give the six months you mentioned or the equivalent over a certain period of time for those who have full-time jobs they cannot easily take a break from to volunteer. Such volunteer work should likewise give them some kind of credit they can apply to certain fields. If you're a teacher, for example, some PD work credit, which could also in turn eventually lift your pay grade. If you're a lawyer or tax accountant, lecturing/helping people (moreso than already required in some fields) fill out documents and what not could help towards free time you must give, etc. That's the beauty of this idea is that, while giving, you could still be earning in more ways than one.
It's absolutely astounding that people would be against this, or worse yet that they would compare donations of political groups in an attempt to undermine the idea of volunteer work.
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dennis0bauer
i am sure a rightwinger will throw his boots at you.
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timorborder
i am sure a rightwinger will throw his boots at you.
Or some wayward Iraqi journalist. Apparently it is all in the wrist.
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timorborder
Alphaape - An interesting argument about military service. The last two Presidents have children (daughters) of military service age, however, I don't see them beating a path to a recruiting station. On the hand, McCain's son has hxmped his axs in Iraq. This is just typical of the McCain family. With regard to Obama's children, talking about whether or not his daughters should serve is probably a bit premature. At the same time, however, if he gets himself further involved in conflicts around the world and finds himself having to put other people's kids in body bags, then I suppose their is a moral obligation to encourage his own flesh and blood to join up. At the same time, however, the final decision lies with the person in question. Forcing people to join the miliary (through coocerion or a draft) doesn't do much for moral. From a military standpoint, it is a lot better to have a highly motivated volunteer force rather than a bunch of pimply kids who don't want to be there.
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sailwind
I'm having a hard time with this one. I do volunteer work for a home for kids with special needs here in Japan, mainly children with Downs syndrome. Last Christmas, I got to be Santa Claus and hand out the gifts to the kids. It's really hard to describe the feelings I had after that or for that matter the feelings I have everytime I've helped out there. Though, boy I sure feel good after it.
I don't think I'd have the same feeling if I was getting 'paid' to do it. I might be a little weird in my thoughts here, but if I was Santa for the kids and then afterwards was handed a check by the sponsors for my time......I'd feel horrible if I accepted it. I really would. I'm going to have fall on the side that it sounds noble but in the long run will be self-defeating if people start to feel that they actually expect to get paid to do volunteer work. It may end up with people not actually wanting to do 'real volunteer' work, the type that doesn't come with a paycheck but the feeling I get everytime I handed a gift to those kids.
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teleprompter
Always with the melodrama. No one is "against" this. I know this is hard for Obama's starry-eyed devotees to understand but the man is not the first to undertake volunteer work or request others to do so.
We are headed for double digit unemployment. It's not like we are looking at a shortage of skilled people who can make a difference in their communities.
Indeed, I reckon the vast majority of the country is wondering what Obama and his little coterie of social engineers are going to do as regards getting more Americans gainful employment.
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skipthesong
sailwind:
I commend you for that. I feel like sending you something just as a gift.
But, why I am so hyped, and I was before back when Colin Powell set something this up under Bush, my response was the same. Here is what I want before I feel that hve the right, politicians, to make such a request: 1. I want them to do some volunteer work and not just for PR. 2. I'd like them to get a flat rate for pay 3. I'd like to see their kids out there more. When have we seen any politicians kids doing anything, yet the politicians get extra pay for family members. 4. Under the new tax plans, its going to be harder to write off charity payments, I want that reverted back. 5. Politicians, including Obama, are notorious for hiring their family members as their staff. That has to stop or it should be completely volunteer work. 6. I know some able bodied people, men, who get welfare. Put them to needed work. 7. All lawyers and doctors should be required to teach 8. Politicians should not get paid for speeches, it should be done voluntarily.
am I asking for too much?
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Alphaape
timorborder: I was aware that the Bush daughters did not join the military to fight nor did Chelsea and any of the Kennedy's after JFK do any sort of "in harms way obligation." I know that when it is all said and done, the decision to volunteer for military service is just that a decision to volunteer. If the eldest Obama daughter does not wish to do that, I understand. But, just like the others on both sides of the aisle who tell us how good it is to do something like volunteer (and I am not talking about just military service) and then don't have anyone that is directly related to them actually doing the same thing kind of seems hypocrical to me.
Take a look at the Obama decision to send their daughters to private school. I understands their concerns about security, but you have to admit, if Obama can go visit troops in Iraq, I am sure that his daughters will be well protected in any D.C. Public School. Yet on the campaign trail he talks of revitalizing the failing schools and all of the reforms he wants to institute. So why not send his own kids if he is that much of a believer? Or, if he is concerned about security, then why not let other parents who show those same concerns have the option of maybe getting a voucher to send their child to a private school. Sending your daughers to a private school, and then having a photo op at the White House with public school children digging in your garden to plant vegtables pretty much sums up what I think will become of this inititiave. It will sound good and make good press, but in the end, it will be the rest of us "Imperial Grunts" who will be forced to give up their time in order to volunteer for more access to educational funding or whatever other carrot they put out there for people to do this. Typical elite (both Rep. and Dem.) way of doing business in D.C.
0
Badsey
If this money was used to set up volunteering systems for people in need -I would maybe gofor it.
Ex. There is a 7-8am slot on Tuesday to teach/assist/help a class.
I would also say it is always better to help your own community first. --Many people are having real questions about many of these national non-profit groups.
Could there be a tax deduction for your travel and time -seems fair.
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ca1ic0cat
Although I agree completely that there are a lot of hypocrites in politics (probably close to 99%) there is nothing wrong with this message no matter who is delivering it.
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TexasAggie
In Obama's America people can become government employees as early as the sixth grade, and child labor laws will become a thing of the past.
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TexasAggie
Memo to Obama: People getting paid to perform a public service are not "volunteers".
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Ashiri3
As a past AmeriCorp volunteer I can attest to the fact that the pay received is so minimal that I could not have lived on this job alone had I not been a student receiving education loans! Due to my "income" I qualified for food stamps...a person deciding to serve their community while living in poverty are volunteers to me- (FYI funding for AmeriCorp was decreased under Bush)
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LostinNagoya
I don´t understand you people who already are volunteers, saying you are having a hard time with volunteering and receiving some money at the same time. Does it hurt? I have volunteered under these terms and it helps a lot. With subway and train tickets, for instance. And if you feel uncomfortable with receiving some money while volunteering...well, you can always give this money away for charity funds. Or the homeless close to you home. I am sure he/she will be happy to have some food that day. Open your mind, people!
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