Has anyone heard about this bill now in congress?

Well, I tried to read the entire 62,000+ word bill before I answered (pretty confident nobody read the bill, only the title summary), but it keeps freezing my computer. That said, I am amused (and a little scared) at the mentality of so many people. I am a big history buff, and have read a great deal about the Nazi and their rise to power. While references to fascism and Nazism and communism get a rise when bandied about, it is clear that it is a sophistical application, devoid of any understanding.

I am 46 and have had conversations over the years with my father about there needing to be a form of national service, in order to invest our youth with ownership in this great nation. He has always been a proponent of such service, as part of securing the freedoms we all enjoy and to pay back the sacrifices of those who came before us.

Despite years of this belief and promoting it, because he has, like so many people, latched on to a blind (and baseless) loathing of President Obama, that by the mere fact that President Obama is promoting the idea, he (my father) must now be adamantly against it! It is absurd.

I have three teenage daughters. I think they should give back in some capacity. I like the idea that all youth would serve. Whether it be in the military, or helping provide healthcare to the elderly, being tutors in schools, helping clean up polluted areas, whatever, I think it would be a character-building experience. I don't think anyone would disagree with that. In concept.

The rub comes because of the distrust of President Obama. I do understand this (not the distrust of the President, but the skeptism of the idea because of where it is coming from). I had a VERY strong distrust of President Bush and VP Cheney. My distrust was borne out, but that is beside the point. Had they proposed the program, I would have believed it to be part of a plan to aggrandize power to the Executive Branch, in keeping with positions taken by Bush and Cheney during their years in power, even though I agree with the concept of national service for ALL youth.

So, where does that leave us? Again, since I haven't read the entire bill, including amendments, I can't speak to the specifics (sorry Sandylynn, I really tried...), but in concept, how can you be opposed? If national service, be in in the military or civilian arena, can help keep this country great, then we should proceed. If you are concerned that AmeriCorps participants are going to be turned into the criminal thugs that comprised the Nazi Brownshirts, then participate in the creation of the programs and ensure that is not the case.

But frankly, associating this program with the Nazi Brownshirts sounds like the product of a twisted mind...

You know this bill is just another way to help fund the already free stuff we got going on. Now they want to pay people for volunteering - well isn't that nice. If these were such great causes you would not have to pay people to help with them.

I want you to look at the budget. DEBT is number one followed by military followed by hmmm - could it be hand outs that is under that so called column health and human resources. It very well could be while education has about the same budget as everything else. No wonder people are home schooling. I agree with military spending because we have to be safe and we were in a war - which is why its high for now. But school - should we not be training our young minds to do bigger and better things to help us get out of debt and not paying them a little bit to help out with fundraisers. Honestly I was so ready to vote some common sense in the White House but the government will not tolerate common sense. It will not be tolerated. Lets build some programs for people who don't make a high income can help each other out by a trade system of sorts and quit just handing out money unless they are unable to work for legitimate reasons not cause they like laying on the couch and making babies.

Is Obama the New Stalin or Hitler? It sure looks like what happened in Germany 1932-1940! Very Interesting! I against this in the Strongest Ways! This is NOT American! Obama Is WRONG FOR AMERICA!

We NEED Common Sense - Honesty - Accountability! Lacking Now!

Peace To All and God Bless! Jane.

The Obama administration just never runs out of ways to spend taxpayer money. The problem with the volunteerism this administration promotes is that they want it donated to specific places. There is alot of volunteerism going on in this country that they do not acknowledge. Look at any hospital and you will see many volunteers.

Gma is very nasty.

Authority and power are two different things: power is the force by means of which you can oblige others to obey you. Authority is the right to direct and command, to be listened to or obeyed by others. Authority requests power. Power without authority is tyranny

But remember, when the people once part with power, they can seldom or never resume it but by force. Many instances can be produced in which the people have voluntarily increased the powers of their rulers; but few, if any, in which rulers have willingly abridged their authority. This is a sufficient reason to induce you to be careful, in the first instance, how you deposit the powers of government.

The death-knell of the republic had rung as soon as the active power became lodged in the hands of those who sought, not to do justice to all citizens, rich and poor alike, but to stand for one special class and for its interests as opposed to the interests of others.

-Theodore Roosevelt,

The GIVE Act? Yeah, basically it's: "If you want gov't aid for education, you have to work for it."

Of course, half of the answerers here are gullible, and fell for the "mandatory" and "Obama Youth" BS the pundits spewed. How does it feel to kno you've been lied to? Want proof? READ THE ACT YOURSELF!!

The invoice wouldn't have any earmarks in any respect. the people who voted no pick applauded no longer condemned. all of them pick to help yet attempt to guard us on an analogous time. because it relatively is been reported so frequently "the wording" desires perfected.

Yep, just like the Hitler Youth Program!

I can't wait till my kids can join up!

I basically think that it will be used as a deterrent to the military in case of civil war. Obama's administration knows that if the country suddenly imploded and war broke out, 90% of the military would turn against him. Could you imagine trying to get a US soldier to massacre people in his own home town? Personally, I would've refused such orders. With the Obama youth programs and the volunteer services, he knows he's got a brainwashed group of citizen soldiers in hiw hip pocket ready for any "heresy against the fuhrer."

That's just my take on it.

Its an expansion of the AmeriCorps program. I'd like to see some stats on the efficacy of the program. Assuming the program is meeting its goals, I don't object to expanding it.

Here's the summary from your link:

"The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act would dramatically increase funding for AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs, including those for seniors and veterans. It also establishes a goal of expanding from 75,000 government-supported volunteers to 250,000, and would increase education funding and establish a summer service program for students, paying $500 (which would be applied to college costs) to high-school and middle-school student who participate.

In its current form, the legislation does not include a mandate requiring service."

Havent heard of it until now.I am not surprised though. He isnt quite the "messiah" everyone thought he was....is he.