The author mentioned that the website of Americorps had an "unfortunate red and black color scheme" and then went on to associate these two colors with fascism. Those two colors are not "owned" by fascism. They are also the colors of the (Spanish) anarchist flag - a far cry from fascism, don't you think? Here's the flag:
http://flag.blackened.net/anarpics/blkred1.gif

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The fascist colors are black and brown. From my earliest youth in the occupied Netherlands I remember this fascist song:

Schwarz-braun ist die Haselnust
Schwarz=braun bin auch ich
So soll auch mein Maedel sein
Gerade so wie ich

It was sung by a girl of about six years old and that brings me to the Jesus Camps

link to website Jesus Camp with on their home page the canvassing text:
A growing number of Evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership roles in advocating the causes of their religious movement.
Jesus Camp follows a group of young children to Pastor Beckey Fischer’s “Kids on Fire Summer Camp” where kids are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in God’s army and are schooled in how to take back America for Christ. The film is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America’s political future.

watch the video

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how dangerous will this be?
folks who understand and embrace our constitution
folks who help the elderly and unfortunate
folks who help with energy efficiency and are educated
OH NO!
who will Faux Noise lie to then?

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"The final bill sent to the president merely expands existing programs (some of which were founded under Presidents Richard Nixon and George H.W. Bush), such as AmeriCorps, SeniorCorps and Learn and Serve America. The Act also increases funding for service-earned college scholarships and programs for youth with disabilities and foster children."

The nut cases who are complaining will not be taken seriously by the public ...

This is just another cheap theatrical trick by Obama supporters to gin up an enemy ... the real enemy are the Wall Street Banksters that will bankrupt this country and Obama's men are already helping them loot our treasury.

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The conspiracy folks are also hyperventilating about the Serve America Act--and repeating much of this right-wing crap to prove their case.

This was eminently predictable. Now that the Democrats are back in power, the conspiracy folks have stopped lying through their teeth about Republicans...and started lying through their teeth about Democrats.

The 9/11 Truthers, in particular, will repeat any right-wing smear against Democrats. If you go to some Truther websites, you'll see that 99% of their links are to bogus news sources like Fox, NewsMax, and the Wasington Times. This alone proves the Truth Movement is bogus.

Q: Why are the 9/11 Truthers wholly-owned subsidiaries of the right-wing slime machine?

A: Because the Truther paradigm holds that both parties are essentially the same. Since a quick glance at reality reveals that Democrats and Republicans are not a bit the same, the Truthers use right-wing smears to make the Dems appear to be as bad as Republicans.

In this way, a delusional fantasy is maintained.


How to rid ourselves of those pesky Republicans: Right Will Eat Itself

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IT SOUNDS EGALITARIAN... BUT WE SHALL SEE

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.....but I DO think that their track record for doing MANY things right is pretty poor. We shall see how this works out.

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What we have here is your classig good news/bad news scenrio....

Good news:
The Republican party is going down in flames.

Bad news:
They are utterly determined to drag the rest of the country down with them.

As if that weren't weird enough, there's the governor of the Lone Star State, Rick "Good Hair" Perry, treatening secession.

NOTE TO THE GOVERNOR:
You just might want to rethink this one, pardner. Between you and me and the lamp post, there are a whole heck of a lot of people out there who believe that Texas secession would be a perfectly nifty idea. It's a movement of opinion that is growing by the hour. Let me explain something to you Governor Perry, yours is the state that gave us Molly Ivins, Bill Moyers, Kinky Freidman (not to mention the Texas Jew Boys) and the Barras family of Port Arthur (my first cousins on my mother's side). We kindly thank you for that. But you're also the state that gave us George W. Bush, Phil Gramm, Tom Delay - and you. My advice? Don't go there. Don't even think about going there. Believe me, Governor, many of us would be blissfully content to give that state back to Mexico. As someone much wiser than I once opined, "Be careful what you wish for."

The Great Republican Implosion of 2009

— Tom Degan, Goshen, NY

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and I won't pretend to try.

But they hate America.

It is clear they have bought into their bullshit propaganda, which we have suffered for 30-some years.

Repubs and the right have run this country into the ground and now they howl about efforts to rebuild it?

Fuck them - they can just move if they don't like it.

They'd be happier in Russia, I think where things are still crumbling and falling apart.

Or maybe Somalia - they have NO infrastructure whatsoever. A Republican Dream Come True.

I can't wait for the day they realize how full of shit they really are. When they finally realize they have NO CLUE what they are talking about.

That, my friends, will be an interesting moment in time.

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There could be no better investment in America than to invest in America becoming energy independent! We need to utilize everything in out power to reduce our dependence on foreign oil including using our own natural resources. Create cheap clean energy, new badly needed green jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.The high cost of fuel this past year seriously damaged our economy and society. The cost of fuel effects every facet of consumer goods from production to shipping costs. It costs the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon to charge and drive an electric car. If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV's instead had plug-in electric drive trains the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota.We have so much available to us such as wind and solar. Let's spend some of those bail out billions and get busy harnessing this energy. Create cheap clean energy, badly needed new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. What a win-win situation that would be for our nation at large! I just read a really good new book out by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence Now. http://www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com Investing in energy independence would positively impact our economy and futures.

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These members of Congress are making these remarks without looking at what these great groups do. Perhaps if this were Bush introducing the National Service legislation, it would be a different story. They'd sing its praise from coast to coast. Bu because it's Obama's plan, it's fair game.

Had they all done their homework and visit what AmeriCorps and other national service programs do and what they're all about, I don't think they'd be saying foolish things and embarrassing themselves in the media.

In the mid 90s, Arianna Huffington hated national service as well. She bashed Clinton's support of it even as a fill-in host on CNN's Crossfire. I saw the episode and remember it well. Months later she came to visit CIty Year headquarters in Boston and met with the founders. Months later she supported national service. Perhaps these leaders need to investigate more, visit the programs they're bashing, and maybe they'd become more enlightened. If people like Malkin, Bachmann, and others continue to go on the path they're on and bash national service, the more they end up hurting themselves.

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Purple Girl left this note on my comment above. Very good:

Being from MI I have to laugh when a Texan Cries that DC isn't listening to them. How the hell do they think our region got the name 'Rust Belt'.
Our region has been under seige for about 3 decades.
DC's been 'listening' (and cartering) to TX for the last 3 decades and their OPEC Overlords.REason our country is Addicted to Oil!! Don't bitch about the Big 3 antiquated gas guzzlers unless you are willing to point a finger at the 'Drug' Cartel they worked for.
Needless the say Reagan began the frontal assault, But we have even been betrayed by a so called Dem "Heckova Job" Slick Willy! Our Factories and their communities are melting into the ground!
I'll admit I have at times thought the Rust Belt would be far more appreciated by our Canadian neighbors, But I am Not a Public Servant, A "Leader" of a state (not even my own community)..Just a Lowly blogger- with no Cable Coverage to expose my Irrate ranting nation wide.It's time the Leadership of this country get some reins on some of their collegues- perhaps even a Bit in somes mouths Bachmann). It is not only a matter of Professionalism, but responsiblity that goes along with these Official Posts.
Side Note: How will TX protect those vast border regions- from Mexico, US and any attacks from Sea- Perhaps they may need to institute a Mandatory Military Service requirement for all their Able body citizens- Much like some Communists countries do- Ah Commrades? and what will their economy run off when the rest of US go green? Cattle? Better hope we don't all go vegan too, or they face further natural disasters related to Global Warming (wouldn't that be ironic)
So all Perry has proven is that Texans are whining sniveling pansy asses, They panic at the mere thought of no longer being catered to in DC. You want to meet 'Tough', you Redneck Dumbasses- Come on Up to Detroit, Flint, Gary, Pittsburgh, Cleveland,Chicago....We've been Struggling to survive for 3 decades and have still not denounced our Citizenship to this Great Country. But that's the Strength & endurance of Our countrys History- so we endure.Maybe there should have been more 'Rust Belt' types at the Alamo.

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It's time the Leadership put some reins on this Feral Folks. In fact Bachammn could use a Bit shoved in her mouth!
It's time Pelosi take action against some of the Unprofessional and Irresponsible Rhetoric coming from those in The House.
Bachmann is a great place to start to reinstitute Accountablity to POlitics. She ahs called her collegues 'communists', claims she's working 'behind Enemy Line', Called for people to become 'Armed and Dangerous', Blatantly called Islamic leaders Terrorist threats, and now insinuates Our President is out to brainwash our kids. If that is not inciting hysteria and Violence, then our Definitions need to be rectified.
If Bachmann claims to be 'behind Enemy lines' While serving in OUR Body of Gov't, Who the Hell does she Work For then???? When she calls for 'Armed and Dangerous'- Isn't that an attempt to provoke insurrection? Isn't that outright Treason? She wasn't calling for Protests- she was calling for a Coupe, or an at the very least murder/assasination.And if a country that Proclaims Religious Freedom, holds fast to the Law "innocent until Proven guilty' (which indicates a Crime must first be committed)- Is Her statements about the Imum's UnAmerican- For both legal reasons?what about the international implications. When you illegitmately claim Muslims are all Terrorists- aren't you setting up our "Christian" citizens who travel to the ME to be labled the same. Only further endangering them of arrest, mistreatment, possibly execution?
Free Speech does not cover Rhetoric or accusations which could endager others lives (aka "Fire") Nor is it acceptable to 'Bear False Witness'- reason we have Liable,Defamation,Slander and Perjury laws.
As a Nobody Blogger I have the advantage of not having a national audience- only those who waste time reading my ramblings (VERY limited effect) .But those granted the Airwaves, and even more Public Office have not only a Professional Ethics to adhere to, but also legal Responsibility to gauge their Words and Ideas. The sheer scope of the listening Audience guarantees their are some socipaths listening. Sociopaths are not only Dissassociated from Societal rules &Mores, They often have a 'God Complex' - everyones talking to THEM and they are the ONLY One who can Fix the 'Problem'.
The Dangerous Political Game the Right is playing must end and it will take an Act of Congress to do it. At the very least,Censure Bachmann.although much higher charges are warranted- reckless endangerment,Treason.
How many more People will be murdered because the Repugs want to win a few more seats back in '10? or the Presidency in '12? These are not Words of Public Servants, these are tactics of Meglomaniacs- divide & conquer.

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If Bush had proposed this, as an earlier poster commented, the Mighty Wurlitzer of the right would have sung its praises, to the tune of the Horst Wessel song ... and most of the folks on this site would have (rightly) damned it as the second coming of the Hitler Youth.

Yes, the mandatory aspect was stripped out --- it's in a NEW bill (HR 1444, if memory serves) --- but rest assured, conscription is the real point of this exercise in "community building." Because there are already ample grass-roots opportunities for anyone who wishes to donate their time and talent to help their community; so what's the point of yet another federal initiative?

Voluntarism is great. It's as American as a barn-raising. Compulsory induction, whether for a civilian work brigade or for the military, is fascist, plain and simple. ... A free society that doesn't inspire altruism enough to fill the ranks of its armed forces as well as to service the needs of its communities is worthy neither of defense nor succor.

You who support this ultra-nationalist youth corps concept are lining up to volunteer yourselves and your children, right? Because if you are not, you are simply an effing hypocrite --- like those right-wing elitists who clamor for conscription, knowing that it's someone's else's kid that will be inducted.

Last point: what's to stop the next neocon administration from making this program compulsory and morphing into something truly repugnant (like, say, a civilian surveillance corps)? The history of our country is replete with examples of seemingly benign legislation that later became socially regressive: the income tax, for some reason, comes immediately to mind.

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. . .indulges in them, but just good common sense based upon the pandering evil of Obama and the brainlessness of Democrats if, oh, a different group does exactly the same thing?

Because the whiplash is starting to hurt.

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OK, must we forget that Obama is a fascist liar? I will gladly take the good parts, but Hitler did good things too for Germany at the time. He was very popular.
I think he mentioned this as a way to teach kids patriotism and unity in CO Springs. Whether that's good or bad, or whether you want your kids taught patriotism and unity in a "required" volunteer program should be up to parents. We pay taxes and don't need to be taught patriotism and unity as children. The government needs to earn my patriotism and unity.

We must know by now that you do have to read into his words, because if you don't, he'll say you were not paying attention, which would be true.

Horse's mouth

It bugs me the way he sometimes uses the words volunteer on things he tries to require.

So schools will have to meet goals, or the federal government would be able to withhold our own tax dollars from the whole school district.

The service for college is required, whether or not you want the government's help. Does it say everyone will be able to provide the kind of service they want, or where are the quotas this nation will have to meet for him, because some of them do include military...

If people are out of jobs, why not let people actually volunteer for these programs and get paid. It would help with 2 problems at once. You do work for the government, and get paid a real wage for doing it, instead of tying federal government approved service into whether a district gets our own tax dollars back to pay for schools.

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I asked this a little late in another thread, so please forgive the repeat question.

Should Obama have the power to monitor and disrupt the Internet at will?

can we ask ourselves if he should have that power at all? This is a dangerous thing to give any body, and I think him, especially.

He wants to be able to have others monitor Internet at his bidding, nobody anonymous anymore, and add the legal disclaimer that no other laws apply.

He also wants to be able to shut down sections of the Internet at will, to protect us from information and cyber-attacks, at will.

His people used thugs to intimidate old ladies at the primaries. We're paying a local mercenary group to do Israel's bidding right now. Now do we blindly assume he won't abuse this power against dissent, and just give that to him and his people?

I think this is dangerous, like no coming back dangerous, and we have the right to be paranoid for not trusting him or any elite group with it. What emergency is worth doing whatever he deems necessary is vaguely defined, in regards to people's Internet usage and activities. For the doors this bill opens, it seems to be getting little debate. It's being pushed by Rockefeller and Snowe.

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The last thing we the people here in the USA need is more government involvement in our lives.
The Obama administration is exactly the same as the Bush administration.
They both work for the multi-national corporations, who profit from the war on drugs, terror, crime, immigration, the economy, and now, pirates!
They are going to continue to steal billions of your dollars and hand them over to their rich criminal friends on Wall Street.
When will the people in the USA wake up to this fact?
We must stop believing their lies, and start networking together to plan to stop the people in power from completely destroying our dollar, economy, and way of life.
The people on Wall Street are using the people in Washington to literally steal our money and our future, and most of us are supporting them while they do it, and they say it is for our own good and we nod our heads and agree with them, Fools! Wake up!
The rich corporate criminals on Wall Street must be stopped and the political tools in Washington must be forced to stop them through stronger regulations for the Wall Street Banksters, and higher taxes for the rich, then we will not need the government to supply everything for us, because we will live in a nation where we can keep the money we earn, and buy the things we need at affordable prices, and then we can choose how to volunteer our time and money to help our neighbors.

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I love seeing the sore-loser conservatives freaking out over this stuff! The sad thing is that some people are going to be taken in by their craziness and lies. The republicants and fundies *want* to keep the people ignorant, though -- it's a time honored strategy for keeping power from being shared with people they don't see as equals. Slaves in the old South weren't allowed to learn to read. Girls in Afghanistan can't go to school. They don't want people too smart or too informed about the way things work, otherwise they'll start questioning what the people in charge tell them to think and do.

People are easier to prey upon if they're kept dumb and scared, which is the M.O. of orgs like Faux News. And keeping large segments of the population ignorant is just what the conservatives in this country want. And they're panicing because they don't have the power to keep it that way.

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I'm all for this idea. The more left wing the better! I don't see the democrats pulling this off, since most of them are pretty far to the right. I will gladly quit my job and live in a tent, if I could teach in a real left wing reeducation camp.

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How far does this absolute insanity have to go before some real American leaders and authentic journalists stand up and declare that enough is enough.

It used to be kind of funny to listen to the raging and the spew of OReilly, Limbaugh, et al but this has all spread too far simply because we let it.

Volunteerism, community service, working to improve our society being compared to Hitler youth? Our President being called a "communist" and "Hitler"? National networks supporting and celebrating an astro-turf protest as if it were something more than an opportunity for least-informed, most insecure and insincere, angry little people to get out and feel less alone by attacking Obama in any way that they can!

Here we are facing the worst set of personal, community, national and global economic challenges of the past 70 years in the midst of two wars and a generally unstable world and we tolerate these self-centered, arrogant blowhards as they seek only to find a source of power and personal wealth.

This is the ultimate form of unpatriotic behavior as there is no ambition to help resolve the horrific set of problems that we have regarding housing, employment, health care, education, energy and the environment. There is just a rampant form of "me, me, me" and a need to attack the efforts of people and organizations who actually care about the future strength and character of our society.

It is no longer funny or the least bit entertaining.

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For foisting the likes of George Bush, Tom Delay, Karl Rove, John Cornyn, Rick Perry, Phil Gramm, Dick Armey, "religious" hate groups, far right extremists and the like, on you good people, I personally apologize. Please know, however, that there are millions of us down here who love Texas, and the United States, and who are working diligently to restore the positive image that Texas once had; just like there are many millions who are working to restore the image of the United States, after 8 years of lawlessness and corruption. What are some of the common elements that produce the right-wingers, hate groups, lunatics, and paranoid gun folks (I am a hunter), the folks who hate gays, but proclaim to be Christians, the poor folks who the Republicans twisted into voting against their own interest? Read the postings just on this thread alone. I say the common thread is ignorance, lack of education, smugness in their ignorance, personal problems engendering hatred, and bigotry; but that NUMBER ONE (# No.1) is the lack of facts used by this fringe to support their position; and indeed, their fear, loathing, and anger, when cited the facts.....

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I went to the site to see what projects were available in my rural area about a month ago. About 4 out of 5 were posters of "get rich quick schemes" that were abusing the system. I reported it to the website, but have not been back to see if the posts are now being reviewed first.

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the 2008 State of the Union address when Bush said that he wanted to create a civilian defense corps that would act as a line of defense against our enemies if we were attacked. He was advocating a Blackwater-type of quasi-military organization for civilians to replace our National Guard. Yet not one of these Republican jackasses ever stood up and said - ABSOLUTELY NOT! In fact, most people did not even catch it in the speech at all, and he never directly proposed a bill to establish such a force, he merely gave contracts that allowed mercenary groups to set up shop across this nation - shops that still exist today.

Now the Republicans are acting like traitors and provocateurs of violence at a bill that expands existing programs of social concerns on the environment, helping vets, and helping the elderly. They use buzzwords to create a sense of fear and panic in people who are so poorly educated that they do not even understand what it is that is being actually discussed.

Those who post here and elsewhere are the Internet need to not only keep on writing to warn about this kind of subversion, but we also need to work in our communities to demand better education of our children, work to establish community classes to educate our neighbors and other adults as to the dangers that ignorance of our nation's government's policies can create, and work to prevent the seeds of hate and disinformation from spreading across this nation at the hands of the GOP and their pundits and Bachmanns.

Our country stands at a crossroads, and we need to choose - Peace and unity; or War and division. We face a civil war that will either lead to our total destruction or will lead to a new nation that is conceived to fulfill our Founding Fathers hopes for us of unity, equality, and happiness. If we allow the hate of the GOP and their corporate greed to further corrupt this country, we will not fulfill our destiny. But, we must be willing to defend our nation and ourselves against those from within, perhaps even more diligently than those from without. It is time to choose which path we are to follow, and these Bachmanns and Becks and Perrys make it clear that the time to choose is NOW.

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Yet, these same people have no problem wrapping themselves in the flag, with bible in hand and beating the war drums the loudest, sending our young women and men off to war. These same noise makers generally have excuses why they have never worn a uniform of their country or put their own arse in harm's way. All they seem to understand is that we need to be at war for them to feel good about themselves or this country.

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Alexander Zailchik is being paranoid by labeling any dissenters to his fringe left-wing views as lunatics. In doing so he immediately loses creditability to the reasoned, thinking individual. If the Service American Act limits itself to what is claimed, it is a good thing. But if it introduces pro-religion or anti-faith measures, and provides indoctrination into the socialist/ nanny state philosophy, then are "Obama Youth" camps not far away?
P.S. A value 1 comment grade from far left zealots is a badge of honor.

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Alexander Zaitchik writes like a thoughtful friend sharing what he's come up with and how it fits together. He writes the way we all need to be talking to each other.

Yes, this article really puts things into perspective, including showing the fallacy of positions that lead to "throwing up your hands" and doing nothing; and a consideration of the elements of truth in these right-wing positions, and how to see them as hooks - without getting sucked in.

I'll be watching for Alex' byline.

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It's NOT re-education they're so damned afraid of! It's ED-UCATION PERIOD! They are scared to DEATH that if their OWN KIDS get an education based on KNOWLEDGE and SCIENCE instead of Superstition and BLIND FAITH that they will become even more irrelevant than they already ARE.

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wow.
that's so... ReichWing predictable.

If it had a lot of Crusader crosses slapped all over it...
...it would be something they could wallow in, right???
...or would they prefer something with corporate logos smeared all over it?

naturally, its this same sort of NeoCon paranoid penny-pinching bullshit
...that keeps Canada's Katimavik programme from actually attaining any sort of substantial or satisfying impact...


perspective, people.


Perspective.

The Jeff Farias Show: streams FREE & LIVE Mon-Fri, 6-9pmEST

FREE podcast

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168 Congressional Republicans and scores of the lunatic fringe. I believe that statement is totally redundant. The Congressional Republicans are the lunatic fringe!

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The phony hubbub raised by rethug congresspeople is but a clumsy allusion to the former Soviet and Nazi regimes and their brutal and oppressive methods of governence. It completely ignores the thriving democracies in Europe, which prove beyond any doubt that it's possible to have a socialist state that is also democratic in nature. More importantly is that the REAL powers that be may be pushed aside in favor of a more egalitarian society, and that is intolerable to their deranged minds. They've had it their way for so long that they really believe their own lies regarding their entitlement to the lion's share of our national bounty. Their worst nightmare is that they'll be unmasked for what they really are, by a better educated and more politically aware citizenry, and their ivory tower toppled.

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As Reagan said of the Soviets "Trust , But Verify". All these "right-wing fringe lunatics" will be doing (along with many other concerned citizens) is to verify that the implementation of this act follows the original intentions as laid out in its text. Tow the line, and no need to worry about the "lunatics". Try to pull off something different, and down comes the roof!

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this is completely ridiculous!

our current education system only produces nicely coddled children well prepped for the corporate killing floor and fully automated soul crusher.

clearly, living within the credit bubble rather than living within our means has been our downfall. Re-educating America to save rather than spend imaginary money will have to happen! Saving money and living within our means will bring prices back down to earth as well. It's living within the credit bubble that has everything constantly expanding including the prices of virtually everything we buy.

how we get around in our cities will require a change as well. We have gotten so used to using cars and if you look out there and watch them go by you will see that they are still only carrying one passenger per car mostly. If we expect to enjoy the same quality of life in the future we are going to have to give up our current way of looking at things and "re-educate" ourselves. There now... doesn't that sound better than; "You will be re-educated into useful but harmless slaves for the OBAMA administration!!!!"

Believe me, these very same people who are bitter over having a man of questionable ethnicity and origin (many of these people believe Mr. Obama isn't even an American)inhabit the "Whitehouse" would slam all of us liberals into the re-education chambers in a heart beat if they could. We have lived through 30 years of horrible conservative rule. Ronald Regan (curse his foul rotting heart (if he ever had one)) designated ketchup to be a vegetable in order to claim that kids were getting proper nutrition rather than increase the supply of real food going into their bellies. That I think is the defining moment for conservatives in America. Ketchup is a vegetable! The truth here is that the conservative ideology is in every way completely bankrupt. Morally, economically, environmentally and even spiritually bankrupt. The place we are at today in America and in the world is a very dangerous place. Never forget that we were led here by conservatives and their completely bankrupt world view.

The bees are dying across the country now. they are necessary for pollination of 90 different crops. Thanks to the people in power who for 40 years have laughed at the hippies and their interest in saving our environment we as a nation have not done a thing for fear of being labeled by the conservatives as a tree hugger. But let us make no mistake, the conservative path is a path into the next dark ages. Our children and our children's children (going out to the year 3000 in fact to completely mitigate all the carbon dioxide we've injected into the atmosphere) will be paying the price for our willful ignorance of what it was we were doing to ourselves and our planet.

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We just handed over all our money no questions asked, to our charming new president and his staff.
Our internet is about to change dramatically with S773 and S778.
Our young kids will likely be required to join a youth corps (it's back with HR 1444). Our older kids will keep us in line.
But we believe it's all good because our charming president and the people telling him what to do can sweet talk us fools into anything. Remember the National Socialists German workers Party or how capitalism was demonized in Russia to justify a one party socialist state? It can happen anywhere.

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I am late twenties and finishing up my graduate degreee. I have been out of work for almost 6 months and was looking forward to doing something with AmeriCorps. The idea of being able to serve my country in a constructive way was very appealing.

HOWEVER. . .

Although AmeriCorps can provide minimal health coverage and a forbearance (which means that interest may STILL accrue) on student loans, they pay $11,00 for 11 months of work.

This would be fine in the Midwest or outside of the Bay Area, but I live in Silicon Valley, where the median income is about $70,000 a year and a place with 4 other roommates is about $600-700 a month. Also, this income would be taxed at approximately a 10% rate.

Also, the brocures for several of the AmeriCorps programs stated that the income was acceptable because it made you eligible for food stamps. In the current economy especially, I could not in good conscience, take food stamps from someone who really really needs it. Someone who is disabled, also lost their job, someone with kids, someone who just can't do things by themselves.

I wrote an e-mail concerning this, and received a reply back to the effect of "you are helping people at poverty level, and it helps if you are too". I have been living at poverty level or below since I started graduate school. I know what its like. I also know that I am not willing to put myself into fufther debt and dependence on the government, especially when I have the education and skills to avoid it.

I WILL NOT take away from the needy for an "experience" that will make me look like a martyr.

AmeriCorps, as it stands now, is a sham.

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America has a long history of overthrowing foreign governments, many of them legitimate democracies, in order to secure resources and/or strategic positions (google "Mossadegh cia", "arbenz cia", "angola cia" -- you get the picture). And yet despite mountains of evidence of our crimes, Americans go about their daily lives as if we're nothing but good guys. This is in no small part due to the fact that from a very young age, our children attend "public school", where they are taught that America has always been the good guy, and to be a good citizen one must agree with that position, and be ready to spend the rest of his/her life being a cog of lesser or greater importance in the military-industrial complex (altho only us paranoid conspiracy theorists still use that phrase.)

So now, here comes our government once again dictating how we should spend our time, once again dictating what our values should be. And all you knee-jerk Democrats are defending them like your lives depend on it.

Make no mistake, I've never voted for a Republican, and in 2004 I did my duty and voted for Kerry (the BEST the Democratic party could offer -- what a joke!). So now we have Obama, who's sending thousands more troops into Afghanistan, sending unmanned drones against villages in Pakistan, and has in no significant way indicated that he will change the hyper-military, corporate-imperialist course we're on. And all of you "rational" people just can't wait to have the government tell you how to do good deeds, because you can't figure out how to do them on your own; and that, in turn, is because you don't know what freedom is, and have to vilify the few of us left who do know what freedom is and think it's worth fighting for.

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Does Obama understand US treaty obligations (prosecuting torture)? The failure of prohibition?
Does Zaitchik understand that giving a trillion dollars to banks while looking the other way when it comes to oversight looks a lot like fascism? (Not to forget the undemocratic Fed's gift of an unaccountable $12 trillion at 0%-1% interest, making the stimulus plan look like scraps.)
Zaitchik's consistent and regular praise of Obama should give anyone pause as to his motives.
I repeat myself from above:
An entire article about forced volunteerism without mention of Rahm Emanuel, who was inspired to promote forced service by his own service repairing truck brakes during the Gulf War in the Zionist IDF, begs the question, "Is Zailchik a Zionist?"
Zionism = Racism, if you didn't know.
It is only a matter of time and indoctrination before a boogie man (new terrorists, like infringers of copyright, pot smokers or gun owners) is introduced, and "volunteers" are off knocking on doors and killing.

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In a world of increasing automation as well as increasing population, SOMETHING has to be found to occupy people.

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Ya know, you'd think after all thats gone on in the last 10 years to America there would be more anarchists out there. I mean, here's some examples: Patriot Act, wiretapping YOUR phone, cash for the bankers who caused a WORLDWIDE economic meltdown, etc etc. I wonder what other evidence it will take to bring more people over to the side of True Freedom...

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Seriously, Obama trying to do something decent and harmless, and they have the NERVE to block it out on petty political posturing. I can't wait until the republican party dies out, they are a cold,heartless people,selfish disgusting,cocksuckin bitches. They are everything that's wrong with America. I prey that God helps these people with their mental illness, I hope God can make them see the light.

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One, I don't see why such an act is necessary. There are plenty of volunteer groups already in America and they didn't need the federal government to start them. If we want to help veterans and the poor and teach kids how to read and do math, why do we need the federal government to pass an Act in order to do so?

At best this is an unnecessary piece of legislation and at worst the start of something like the Hitler Youth.

Just because Obama does it, doesn't mean it's a good or benign idea. I'm a left libertarian, a classical liberal, and I am proud to be a leftist. The right consider me about as unfriendly you can get, I am pro-choice, I support stem cell research, I am for gay marriage, I'm for legalizing marijuana.

For eight years we have hated being called the conspiracy theorists, extremists, unpatriotic, unAmerican, we have been heavily criticized for dissent. How can we turn around and do the same thing to people who just disagree with us? Isn't that hypocritical?

On the other hand, let's just step back for a second. If Bush had introduced the same legislation the entire country would be up in cries of tyranny and mimicking the Hitler Youth. We're the leftists, we're supposed to be the deep thinkers, don't you think that would be the case?

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they mean these people might have a life altering adjustment to their perspective, maybe. Often volunteers wind up working in areas that would never have presented themselves in the normal course of their lives. Having a chance to experience cultural or economic or environmental contexts that are truly "foreign" can be a very illuminating and mind expanding education. That is dangerous to the GOP cultural conservative. Opened minds, what a concept.

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First of all the Conspiracy Realist were way ahead of the right wing before this bill came out .
Ask yourself a simple question , do we need a program costing BILLIONS of Federal and local money to create a " voluntary program " when all you have to do is to pick a up the phone to volunteer or go down to your local food bank ?

Here's part of the bill , " Whether a workable fair and reasonable MANDATORY service REQUIREMENT for all able young people could be developed "

And " The effect on the Nation, on those who serve and on the families , if ALL individuals in the United states were EXPECTED, to perform National service or REQUIRED to perform a certain amount of National service ."

In my book any , ANY use of the word mandatory contradicts their supposed good intentions and by creating this huge bureaucracy , including 4 year leadership programs in collages , serving " foreign policy interests " over seas means the obvious a well planned indoctrination program ,hardly egalitarian at all , when a Federal program is created w/ Federal and local money costing billions of dollars (we can really afford that )with programs like 4 year "leadership programs" before it hits the local level for debate , it makes no sense at all . If you want to volunteer , pick up a damn phone .

And to the gatekeepers , kool-aid drinkers and apologists , READ the goddamn bill , would you and obviously they have the intent to make it mandatory later , WHY ?

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These "Alter"-Net Idiots fail to see that they are being played by the exact same people who played the right for the past 8 years!! When will the masses FINALLY wake up and realize the false left/right paradigm is a tool of control of the globalists to divide and conquer us!?!? When will you idiots, both left-wing and right-wing, break free from your labels and realize that ALL Americans just want to be left alone to live their lives in peace free from an oppressive and ever-growing Fedzilla government run amok, which does nothing but STEAL our money, WASTE it and commit GENOCIDE around the world in the name of "spreading DEMOCRACY"?

Our Constitution and more specifically, our Bill of Rights, was written to RESTRICT THE POWER of the federal government!! It's as simple as that. The Federal Reserve is UNCONSTITUTIONAL and should be abolished. It is wholly owned by private individuals and corporations and charges us INTEREST on the money they create for our economy. THAT'S why we're in such dire financial straits in this country and so deeply in debt. The IRS and the income tax was enacted the exact same year as the Fed (1913) to ensure the banksters who created the Fed would get their interest money from the unknowing public. Not ONE CENT of your income tax goes to ANY government program!!! It all goes to pay the interest on money created out of nothing by the privately owned Federal Reserve!!

Are you getting ticked off YET?!?! Now it is completely out of control as they create more and more FIAT money ($12.8 Trillion since October 2008) to keep their collapsing house of cards propped up until they can fully implode the economy and usurp complete control over everything and buy up infrastructure and resources for pennies on the dollar. It's 1929 all over again. Do some research people! All the while, the "LIBERALS" think the government "LOVES" us and wants to help!!! It's TRULY DISGUSTING to see how stupid and delusional both the LEFT AND the RIGHT are in this country. The power lies with WE THE PEOPLE, not YOU THE GOVERNMENT!!! Get it straight!!! The government is OUT OF CONTROL and completely owned and operated by the globalists hell bent on destroying our SOVEREIGN nation, NOT the RIGHT WING republicans OR FOX News. They are just a tool of control and disinformation as much as MSNBC, CNN and all main stream media, to include AlterNet which is controlled by the globalists as well.

WAKE UP! EDUCATE YOURSELVES AND OTHERS! We can still save our country and get it back, but not until the left and right quit their petty bickering and realize the government doesn't work for us, they work for the BANKERS and CORPORATIONS who OWN and CONTROL them!!! This is NOT conspiracy THEORY, it is FACT! Turn off your G** D***** TVs, break the brainwashing of the MSM and DO YOUR OWN DAMN RESEARCH! Read a book, go to the library, learn the TRUE history of this country for a change. Or, just remain intellectually lazy and dishonest like all the "liberals" blaming the right and all the "conservatives" blaming the left.

Reading the comments on this site just makes me want to SCREAM!! You people are so DELUDED and you'll NEVER admit it, because, God forbid, you MIGHT just be WRONG about something - scratch that - EVERYTHING!!! Shifting your paradigm and realizing the TRUTH isn't nearly as difficult as the pain we'll live through if the globalists win this war on humanity... Nuff Said?

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they are the uneducated, gun-toting, hitler-types like the ones Palin drew to her hate rallies disguised as campaign speeches. The majority of Americans are much more Intelligent and we will never be fooled by right-wing nut leaders again. They are acting like they all should be in asylums from some Rs in congress to the morons on the streets. They use lies and intimidations and don't even know what the truth of anything is, as they are so far removed from the truth, they just might fall off the planet. They are out touting teabags for Heaven's sake. Get your treasonous butts to work and try to fix some of these problems that the people you put in power for the past 8 years caused to our Country. Try very hard to see if there is something constructive you can do. We all know you have been nothing but destructive idiots, take some tranquilizers and smartnin' pills and see what you can do to help instead of adding to the problems, you've already done enough of that. You can rest assured that we, the Intelligent Americans will never be bowled over by the likes of you stupid morons again. Shame on you unAmerican lunatics, calling yourselves patriots fools no one either.

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is what got me wondering about this train wreck-- its an oxy-moron. But then again, that oxy-moron theme and meaningless rhetoric has been popular with the Obama camp with things like "imagine hope"-- Hitler Youth anyone?

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If it looks like work and sounds like work maybe its a JOB!

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“Who could be against helping veterans, the elderly, youth and the planet?” you state. Ironically, your statement is very similar to that of Hitler's propaganda machine attacking those who were raising the alarm and then those who raised the alarm began to disappear. The Hitler youth were organized for public works projects and then subjected to brainwashing similar to that of ACORN activists who are deluded and to be pitied. They are prime examples of propaganda brainwashing people to lie cheat and steal elections all because the overall good must be placed before ethics!

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Alternet is a "liberal" "left" site. Most alternet readers and posters would label worldnet as "wacko".

Worldnet is a "conservative" "right" site. Most worldnet readers and posters would label alternet as "loony".

We all act like we are polar opposites - left and right ends of a stick - instead of partners - left and right hands of a body of people.

Yet we label ourselves with words that have _no_ relationship - neither synonyms nor antonyms.

"Liberal": free-thinking or generous; and

"Conservative": resistant to change, prudent, or cautious.

Our political discourse has been massaged to the point that _all_ words descriptive of ideology have been squeezed into "liberal" or "conservative". E.g., "progressive" (desiring positive change) has been made identical with "liberal" and "tolerant". "Conservative" has been made identical with "authoritarian" and "xenophobic".

Others can argue over how the massage was accomplished. I think that argument distracts from the real challenge, which is to recognize and overcome the narrowing of political thought from a multi-dimensional cartography to a one-way spectrum. That liberal-conservative spectrum, with all its false synonyms and forced allegiances, serves someone to distract almost all of us from really exploring what's going on and what solutions might work best for the nation as a whole.

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OK,
So if you're not Republican, do you know that these same arguments Democrats and self-styled liberals are toting are the same ones that let Bush murder thousands?
Don't listen to your conscience, because it's only people who are biased trying to tell you about the lies.
If you let S773 and S778 pass, kiss your chances of a free America good by.
Sure, since it's your side doing it, I hope your soul can find a way to make up for it.

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Making "authoritarian" rhyme with "conservative" helps "liberal" politicians distract their fan base from expanding government power, just as making "liberal" rhyme with "regulation" helps "conservative" politicians distract their fan base from expanding government power.

The real deal is that there are aristocrats, and there are the rest of us. The aristocrats aggrandize themselves at our expense. The rest of us applaud or protest. Many of us turn against each other at the aristocrats' bidding. Meanwhile, the aristocrats shop and dine and work together at the top of our society while we struggle and survive at the bottom.

Whatever label we put on any particular aristocrat, does not impair the unbridgeable divide between the commons and the lords. Merely to converse with an aristocrat, automatically elevates a commoner into the higher realm. Just look at the founders of moveon.org, or at any pop sensation. They have little in common with W, or with Bubba. Yet they move in the same society - a society distinct from that inhabited by most or all of the people reading this comment.

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Life will prevail, of course.

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Anyone who can come up with government successes is treading on thin ice, as I can easily name PLENTY of government failures. What about our government's so called "War On Drugs?" Has the billions of our tax dollars really done away with the drug problem in our country? How about the War in Iraq? Have we really reduced terrorism and brought democracy to Iraq? What about 9-11? Was our government able to even protect its citizens (one of their BASIC, most IMPORTANT jobs in my opinion)against a small band of extremists armed with box cutters? (Despite the many BILLIONS of tax dollars we spend on an over-bloated military-industrial complex , oh, I'm sorry.....DEFENSE industry more interested in weapons better designed for the Cold War than for what we now face!) What about the 1960's "War On Poverty?" If the many $$$ spent on THAT had worked, we wouldn't be HAVING this new program of Mr. Obama's. New Orleans is still trying to recover from their disaster, thanks to government "help!" So please spare me the knee jerk reactions. I'm not impressed, nor should YOU be in my humble opinion. For all the money we throw away to our politicians and their pork barrel projects, we SHOULD have people who put our fires, decent roads, and honest, effective police (and I could even argue as to whether all 3 of THOSE things have really been achieved all the way down the line too!) I work in a public (government) school and guess what? I will be the first to tell you THEY'RE not working!!! (which of course you should know already anyway). It's not that the government WORKER (or teacher) is necessarily more lazy than their counterparts in private industry, there is laziness everywhere. It's that there is far too much inability to get things done efficiently and expediently, not to mention economically, due to administrative regulations and BS! This is not a Democratic vs. Republican thing either, as BOTH parties have been equally responsible. Bush started these government bailouts of private industry for instance (in my opinion, the offending companies should be forced to declare bankruptcy), the average citizen would have to, but now Obama is continuing along the same track. And guess who will be footing the bill? US!! I stand by my statement. Let's see in 10 years how this new program ends up. When politicians start asking you to volunteer so the government can "help," you had better check your wallet. And anyone who doesn't believe this is not using the brains God gave them. Our Founding Fathers did not trust the government to end all of our woes, (Don't believe me? Then go back and do the research and see for yourself.) So, why should we?

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the invasion of the right on this site overall lately has been amazing!!! what are you guys doing, setting up group blog attacks against sites you think are 'dangerous'??? is your objective to drive away those that do not agree with your views??? got news for you honey, more sites will pop up, you will never shut us up...

what I have read, and I do mean read out of curiosity is based on fear, the 'deer in the headlights' kind of fear... to the right, what are your suggestions??? all I have read are talking points, not willing to have a rational discourse, no counteractions, just slam dunks...

do we need to have a formal governmental organization to force you off the couch and lend a hand to others??? when was the last time you gave time and energy to someone in need without pay???

funny thing, the give-away to frothing at the mouth typed insanity is usually poor spelling and grammar skills (according to generally accepted internet protocol) within this entire site of tea bagging invaders... might we need a little 'tutoring' in 5th grade English for those that are native English speakers??? read a little from international on line newspapers, a journal article or two, god forbid a book of classical readings??? all for fun???

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I have some 50 year old books about Adolph Hitler. After reading about A.H. one can see many scary parallels within our own gov't for the past 30 or 40 years regardless of right or left. Example: Herman Goering in 1943 asked a class of cadets to not ask what their country could do for them but what they could do for their country. I would suggest everyone get a good, unbiased version (yes they are out there)and read it. Hitler did some good things for Germany but... Truth hung in a framework of falsehood is still falsehood

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The article is right who in their right mind could be against such a program..

I'm sure Germany asked the same question regarding Hitlers youth programs! But we all know it could never happen in this country.


And whats this "In a symbolic but meaningful gesture, the bill also designates Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service, thus expanding a post-9/11 concept of patriotism previously limited to dying in Iraq and shopping at JC Penny.""

You mean liberals are now saying they are patriotic????You mean the "offical "view by liberals isnt George Bush planted charges in the twin towers? Liberals aren't calling our military murderers or rapist any more? Wow, what happened? Has the world changed that fast?

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Nothing fascist or totalitarian about that. Sounds to me like a bunch of terrorists whining.

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If only Americorps (etc...) paid a livable wage...

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Acceptance of of racially diverse groups has not produced harmony but only seperate enclaves of mistrust. Only mongrelization can destroy the sins of diversity and foster a climate where people are judged more fairly. Affirmative action laws have to be upgraded and strongly enforced. New ideas are needed to quickly bring about the total Mongrelization of America. This can be done in less than one hundred years. Peacful relationships instead of diversity and mistrust will be the reward.

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Those Democrats and Republicans whose only wish is to maintain the status quo still hold much of the power. Our people too easily forget who brought our nation and other nations down. Here we are left with no jobs, no job security, low wages, no safety nets in what I call economic terrorism. It is a big Ponzi scheme but there are many Americans who can't see the trees through the woods. We elect them and they take our tax dollars and give it to special interests and get paid with our tax dollars. Its a one way street and its not about main street. They are willing to let ten's of millions across the world go broke, there is nothing worth saving and they are still fighting to hold on to their fortunes while we lose ours. Like Chaney's assination team, they will go for our economic throats to keep the gravey train flowing. The people of Mexico are poor and now so are we but still no revolution. I don't know how low it can go but it seems like people can endure an awful lot of suffering before they fight for change. Our world is in peril, global warming is baring down at a rapid pace and biG corporations are privatizing water like oil. Pesticides the size of pollen are killing our bees and there is now more plastic in our oceans then Plankton. The very source of oxygen on Earth. The confluence of events arw unfolding like Easter Island, but this time the Island is Planet Earth. And while the right wing fanatics are blinded by hate, the world around them is crumbling. If we are not going to take to the streets, we better fight to elect only those value us the most and not the status quo.

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Understandably the wingnutters are up in arms over what they see as mass indoctrination because they are projecting what they have been doing on a small scale and would like to do on a large scale. For the small scale action, check out the note about Jesus Camps above. And these are not the only examples of the heavy indoctrination of young children by the right wing religious types. There are many others and they have been in operation for a very long time.

"the importance of service in the nation's character."

As we have seen during the last 8 years on numerous occasions, the right wing is not particularly interested in service. Their motto, greed is good, requires them to charge for everything they do and refuse to help their neighbor if they don't see anything in it for themselves. Therefore they fear that if people become accustomed to service without thought of material recompense, their whole philosophy and world view will self-destruct. When faced with this kind of cognitive dissonance, they are reduced to gibbering gobs of goo.

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The only "hard work" the rightwingers do is playing kissyface with Wall $treet and running the country into the ground as well as playing cuckoo on the culture war front ! I've seen the way people are used to trashing true hard work when I used to live in the rurals. The Rethugs will always play partisan politics given their desperation. Then again, most pols in Washington hardly understand community service and true volunteerism. Hell, they refuse to reward non-monied innovators and inventors but instead reward big corporations who chew them up. And it's the same with rewarding profit-care over non-profit care.

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ugh, if only we could ship you - perpetually paranoid, delusional 'new world order' conspiracy lunatics - off to some remote island where you could finally be free from the tyranny of realism; then the rest of us might then be able to get on with more important stuff in life, like WORKING toward making our world a better place for everyone, without having to tolerate the incessant blatherings of the Alex Jones assholes fanclub.

honestly, some of you bobbleheads make me sick, with your ridiculous conspiracy tales and doomsday scenarios. you're unable to see anything but government take-overs, fascism, darkness & despair around every corner. many of you can't even be bothered to look beyond you own noses for fucksake, and wouldn't know the 'truth' if it came up and bit you on the arse. you seem to take a perverse pleasure in poisoning everything that might otherwise be good. you wallow like swine in the shit & muck of your miserable conspiracy theories.

don't you idiots have any idea how GOOD you've got it?? you live in the richest country in the world and have access to boundless opportunities - whereas, much of the rest of the world's population actually IS impoverished and practically enslaved. YOU people have it EASY! but you're too goddamn stupid and self-absorbed to have any clue. typical American bullshit. it's no wonder much of the world HATES you now. you've earned our disdain with your self-righteous arrogance.

so why not just STFU and do something USEFUL with your otherwise pathetic lives, instead of *constantly* whining and going on about some mythical new world order and other inane crap??

in other words... GET A FUCKING LIFE!!!

oh and btw, judging by much of the shit i've read on this site, some of you might actually benefit from *mandatory* "re-education camps," because clearly, some of you need to grab a clue.

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This is an absolutely terrible idea.

I (we) fought the military draft in the 1970's for exactly the right reasons. It is an immoral taking of every young person's life and time.

These programs have to be voluntary, in order to be morally defensible.

Any young person who refuses to participate should be allowed to do so.

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in order to be re-educated?

Looks like the southerners have nothing to be worried about, lol!

;)

#@!

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So, 1999 I graduated high school and feeling like I was in no way ready to continue my academic ordeal at that point I started to consider options. My first choice was to freeload off my mother for a few months, playing video games and smoking pot... Needless to say that lifestyle was glorious for about a month or so until I had this internal nagging to go and do something constructive especially since I was waiting to go back to school. The push also came from my mother who was never one to beat around the bush...
I decided reluctantly to get a job but when I went to the employment centre I discovered Katimavik, Canada's national youth volunteer corps. This program gives young adults the opportunity to travel across Canada and live in three different communities while performing full time volunteer work in said communities. The government covers the cost of travel, housing, utilities, food, entertainment (concerts and such), as well as giving a modest daily stipend of spending cash. In exchange the volunteers choose work projects and do full time volunteer work over the three months in each community. The program also taught sustainable living through recycling, use of public services (transit etc) and through making your own food of the variety that is traditionally pre-packaged: bread, pasta, pies and cakes etc. During my 10ish months with the program I worked as a labourer at an old theme park in NS, I headed a school beautification program in QC and in ON I scripted, designed, and performed a multimedia production with Queens university students to educate about epilepsy. this production was brought to every elementary school in the greater Kingston area and was one of the most fulfilling times in my life.

This program gave me confidence in my abilities, knowledge in self sufficiency, and an opportunity to "take it easy" while still achieving something worthwhile. It is also a very equal opportunity program as the government pays almost the entire cost (with the sole exception of the need to buy your own work boots before you go) allowing people of all economic backgrounds to participate. If the program doesn't work for you, the government flies you home. When I came out I was not only ready to go back to school but to do so with experience in managing household finances, eating very well on a budget, and with a plethora of work experience (in addition to a letter of recommendation from the federal government). Youth volunteer programs can be a great way to motivate young people who are still unsure about jumping into the crucible of an academic career right after high school.

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Go to townhall.com and read what right-wingers believe. 1) Obama's volunteer program is involuntary servitude, a form of slavery to avenge his race. 2) Obama's suggestion that we might save energy by reversing suburban sprawl means that he wants to herd people close together so he can control them; this is the beginning of concentration camps. 3) Obama is mentally ill (various diagnoses are offered). 4) Obama is gay. 5) Obama favors early childhood education the better to provide political indoctrination to children. 6) Obama has already raised taxes so high that he has forced Americans into penury. 7) Obama has already established gulags where the elderly are being sent to die without medical care. 8) This last is courtesy of Rush Limbaugh one day last week, I think Thursday: the pirates were just helpless kids trying to get home and scared of all those big ships---and then Obama had them shot in cold blood. 8a) Actually Obama just dilly-dallied because he is weak and indecisive; it wasn't until the Seals took matters into their own hands and acted without command that the pirates were killed, and then Obama hogged credit. 9) If you play an Obama speech backwards you can hear him talking to the Devil. 10) Obama is the anti-Christ.

Townhall.com, brought to you by The Heritage Foundation: the best free entertainment in town.

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They are really grasping at straws. In addition, they are in total denial about their own ideological bankruptcy, ignorance and being out of touch with the American People. Their tactics are frighteningly close to fascism.

In the first place the tea parties are bullshit! The GOP is trying to frighten Democratic Party elected representitives from fully supporting the Obama Budget and stimulus plan by creating the false but powerful impression of a spontaneous and popular revolt against deficits, spending and big federal government. The hope is that the prospect of being unseated in 2010 will be enough to force about dozens of House and Senate Democrats to back away from Obama's health care proposals, stimulus enactment and other spending that they ceaselessly oppose. Reactionaries hate government spending to prop up the economy because it is less profitable than allowing the economy to go into a free fall. Deflation allows the rich to concentrate the economy at firesale prices as asset values plummet while the one thing that they have a lot of, money, grows in value. They fear a reflation of the economy that will prevent this upward redistribution of wealth and income and most of all they don't want to be taxed. The rich also fear tight labor markets caused by public investment that will raise wages and lower profits. Furthermore, the very rich fear that the success of a New Deal program will legitimate Keynesian economic policies and forever marginalize current free market dogmas. This, not deficits, is the real basis of their opposition to the Obama budget.

The far right also seeks to use "moral" wedge issues to appeal to their conservative base which accounts for about 20% of the electorate. The anti-gay firestorm is being whipped up as more states consider and pass gay marriage laws. The far right hopes to succeed in frightening people back into the fold.

The Iraq War made it harder to whip up patriotic fanaticism and hysteria. But more threats will be dreamed up as the economy tanks. War is good for patriotic conservatism and the military-industrial complex which provides increasingly less stimulus to the US economy.

Finally, the fascist hysteria over a clearly bipartisan bill like the Kennedy-Hatch Serve America Act which passed the 111th Congress by sweeping majorities (nearly 80% in the US Senate) and which has the support of such conservatives as Orrin Hatch of Utah. Stoking fears of reducation camps and other hysterical but popular right wing imagery is just more evidence of the GOP's intellectual bankruptcy and political desparation.

The problems of the American People are far too pressing and serious for the GOP's nonsense. The Dems need to fight them hard and not be afraid to plead their own case to the American People.

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Beck, Malkin, Limbaugh, et al, are mouthpieces of a discredited movement trying to use anxiety and fear to retain and keep their power, like they did with the 9/11 tragedy and the War on Terror. They have no arguements except scare stories and lies. We'll stand up to them and keep them on the run!

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Mandatory Volunteerism....mmmmmmmmmmm. You can't be against this slave act without being on the RIGHT? Hitler would have loved writers like this. And remember this mandatory service act will never be expanded. If Obama isn't given a blank check you probably are a right wing racist. Right?

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It is just common sense to be careful implimenting programs. People also have to want to be helped and helping can be intimidative. We help lots of people around the world and sometimes there are stings attached. We were helping Iraq according to some but that might not have been the real intention and it hasn't been the result. So I'm not saying no but I am saying we should be careful how we go about helping. We also have been helping crops with pesticides and fertilizers, helping Indian farmers with genetically modified crops and causing a water shortage and farmer suicides...

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According to the bill, educational programs funded under the bill will be designed to: "promote a better understanding of (A) the principles of the Constitution, the heroes of American history (including military heroes), and the meaning of the oath of allegiance; (B) how the nation's government functions; (C) the importance of service in the nation's character."

Well since Obama wants to take away our 2nd Admendment Bill of Rights, I think Obama needs to read the Consitution again and again and again. Plus Obama is placing his services for Israel, not the American people. The oath of Allegiance something Obama forgot too.



White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has repeatedly expressed a desire to create "universal civil defense training" and a mandatory national-service requirement. He appears to have been a little too impressed by his Gulf War adventure in the all-draft Israeli military. As he explained to the New York Daily News in 2006, "We're going to have universal civil defense training. Somewhere between the ages of 18 to 25, you will do three months of training."

Rahm Emanuel forgot he has never served in USA Military,and he was born in USA. He has served in Israel Military. Rahm Emanuel shouldn't be dictating to the american people and our children about serving in military training. Wouldnt it be logical enough for him to serve as well? or be placed in Prison for being a traitor.



"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation.One is by the sword. The other is by debt." - John Adams

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