quote:

ORIGINAL: campbe33

I don't see why people are trying to make this out to be a bad thing. Isn't volunteering something God would want us to do. If everyone gave a darn and volunteered maybe this country wouldn't be in as bad shape as it is. If everyone in the U.S. gave just one dollar a month no would go hungry and people might not be homeless. Unfortunately, us humans are as greedy with our time as our money.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dancre

It's not that we are greedy for our time and money, it's more of what are these programs? Will you volunteer in an abortion clinic? Not me!!! Sorry!! Will you volunteer in a program in which folks who don't want to work and want to get a check instead, help them find stuff to do to keep them occupied? Sorry, not me!!! It's sort of like being in church and pastor and the members make you feel guilty b/c you're not volunteering in the nursery.

quote:

ORIGINAL: campbe33

I don't see why people are trying to make this out to be a bad thing. Isn't volunteering something God would want us to do. If everyone gave a darn and volunteered maybe this country wouldn't be in as bad shape as it is. If everyone in the U.S. gave just one dollar a month no would go hungry and people might not be homeless. Unfortunately, us humans are as greedy with our time as our money.

quote:

ORIGINAL: StephK

quote:

ORIGINAL: campbe33

I don't see why people are trying to make this out to be a bad thing. Isn't volunteering something God would want us to do. If everyone gave a darn and volunteered maybe this country wouldn't be in as bad shape as it is. If everyone in the U.S. gave just one dollar a month no would go hungry and people might not be homeless. Unfortunately, us humans are as greedy with our time as our money.

Nothing is wrong with volunteering. I do it and I believe more should do it but it should not be required and forced, especially with young kids. That is the parents job. I do believe if you receive government assistance then you should be doing some kind of community service in return.

quote:

ORIGINAL: henny

In Steph's defense it seems the website might have changed.

A little e-sleuthing on my own part revealed that 7 hours ago the words "to require" were present, as evident in the google cache of it:

http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:f_Q-RMW-DJoJ:www.change.gov/americaserves/+http://change.gov/americaserves/&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Currently they have been replaced with "by setting a goal":

http://change.gov/americaserves/

Perhaps it was bad wording. Or perhaps they realized that "requiring" anything of middle schoolers would be an awful idea?

I actually agree with the OP that the "requirement" option would be dumb and impractical and would defeat the entire purpose of volunteering.

But I do think that the "setting a goal" route, as long as it is not mandatory, would not be a bad thing. Any initiative that would encourage young people to volunteer would be a good thing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: henny

quote:

ORIGINAL: StephK
That bit of information was NOT on the original link. The link in the original post had nothing about tax credits for any service. NONE. I posted as much as possible on the article without breaking the TOS.

Once again everyone completely ignores henny!

Anyways, you are correct.

The article does seem to have changed since you originally posted it.

See post 19.

quote:

ORIGINAL: StephK

quote:

ORIGINAL: campbe33

I don't see why people are trying to make this out to be a bad thing. Isn't volunteering something God would want us to do. If everyone gave a darn and volunteered maybe this country wouldn't be in as bad shape as it is. If everyone in the U.S. gave just one dollar a month no would go hungry and people might not be homeless. Unfortunately, us humans are as greedy with our time as our money.

Nothing is wrong with volunteering. I do it and I believe more should do it but it should not be required and forced, especially with young kids. That is the parents job. I do believe if you receive government assistance then you should be doing some kind of community service in return.

quote:

ORIGINAL: henny

quote:

ORIGINAL: StephK
That bit of information was NOT on the original link. The link in the original post had nothing about tax credits for any service. NONE. I posted as much as possible on the article without breaking the TOS.

Once again everyone completely ignores henny!

Anyways, you are correct.

The article does seem to have changed since you originally posted it.

See post 19.

quote:

ORIGINAL: StephK

quote:

ORIGINAL: henny

In Steph's defense it seems the website might have changed.

A little e-sleuthing on my own part revealed that 7 hours ago the words "to require" were present, as evident in the google cache of it:

http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:f_Q-RMW-DJoJ:www.change.gov/americaserves/+http://change.gov/americaserves/&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Currently they have been replaced with "by setting a goal":

http://change.gov/americaserves/

Perhaps it was bad wording. Or perhaps they realized that "requiring" anything of middle schoolers would be an awful idea?

I actually agree with the OP that the "requirement" option would be dumb and impractical and would defeat the entire purpose of volunteering.

But I do think that the "setting a goal" route, as long as it is not mandatory, would not be a bad thing. Any initiative that would encourage young people to volunteer would be a good thing.

Thanks!

Again, I have absolutely no problem with volunteering. I used to work for Volunteers of America. Volunteers were a vital part of the work we did. I also volunteer with my church's food bank ministry. I just have a big problem with mandatory service.

quote:


ORIGINAL: campbe33

It's obviously voluntary. The hours he is suggesting are just a minimum of what he would like people to volunteer if they're going to volunteer.

quote:

ORIGINAL: campbe33

I don't see why people are trying to make this out to be a bad thing. Isn't volunteering something God would want us to do.

quote:

ORIGINAL: 1970rodney

In Tennesse if my son wants to be eligible for the hope scholarship fund he must complete 40 hours of community service in order to receive the scholarship funds. That's just one of the "requirments". That's not voluntary it is mandatory. When you tell someone if you want four thousand dollars to help with your education you're going to have to complete X amount of community service that's not volunteering it is mandatory. There's nothing wrong with helping but a lot of college students will be working jobs trying to pay for school and go to school at the same time. Where are they going to find the time to volunteer. Also when you say X amount of community service sounds like you're trying to get a shorter jail term. Last line is a joke don't anyone blow a fuse.

quote:

ORIGINAL: campbe33

quote:

ORIGINAL: 1970rodney

In Tennesse if my son wants to be eligible for the hope scholarship fund he must complete 40 hours of community service in order to receive the scholarship funds. That's just one of the "requirments". That's not voluntary it is mandatory. When you tell someone if you want four thousand dollars to help with your education you're going to have to complete X amount of community service that's not volunteering it is mandatory. There's nothing wrong with helping but a lot of college students will be working jobs trying to pay for school and go to school at the same time. Where are they going to find the time to volunteer. Also when you say X amount of community service sounds like you're trying to get a shorter jail term. Last line is a joke don't anyone blow a fuse.

It is voluntary, no one is forcing them to sign up for this program. You expect them to get something for nothing? This program is a program that will teach kids responsibility. Most kids these days are selfish, spoiled brats, who expect things to just be given to them. Too bad they're actually going to have get up off their rumps for a change. Really 100 hours a year is nothing, about half and hour a day. Most kids waste hours a day playing video games. This program will get kids up and out of the house and involved with their community. Wah, Wah, Wah, my heart is breaking for these overburdened and overworked kids.

quote:

ORIGINAL: campbe33

It is voluntary, no one is forcing them to sign up for this program. You expect them to get something for nothing? This program is a program that will teach kids responsibility. Most kids these days are selfish, spoiled brats, who expect things to just be given to them. Too bad they're actually going to have get up off their rumps for a change. Really 100 hours a year is nothing, about half and hour a day. Most kids waste hours a day playing video games. This program will get kids up and out of the house and involved with their community. Wah, Wah, Wah, my heart is breaking for these overburdened and overworked kids.

quote:

ORIGINAL: 1970rodney

The original question was is it a requirment as his site said at first. As much as he jumps from side to side on any issue it is no wonder his site has already changed the wording. I believe it will be a requirment and not just for the tax credit either. So I just thought we were still a free society of some sort but maybe not so much so.

We are still a free society, we haven't been enslaved. If you don't want the tax credit don't participate in the program. I can't remember when we didn't have a President that didn't jump back an forth on issue's. It's not just an Obama thing. Being he's only been the President-Elect for 2 days it would appear some things are being rushed out to the public before they have been refined. If you expect him to move mountains in this short time period, you'll be waiting a long time.

It is voluntary, no one is forcing them to sign up for this program. You expect these kids to get something for nothing? This program is a program that will teach kids responsibility. Most kids these days are selfish, spoiled brats, who expect things to just be given to them. Too bad they're actually going to have get up off their rumps for a change. Really 100 hours a year is nothing, about half and hour a day. Most kids waste hours a day playing video games. This program will get kids up and out of the house and involved with their community. Wah, Wah, Wah, my heart is breaking for these overburdened and overworked kids.

quote:


ORIGINAL: campbe33

I can't remember when we didn't have a President that didn't jump back an forth on issue's. It's not just an Obama thing.

quote:


Being he's only been the President-Elect for 2 days it would appear some things are being rushed out to the public before they have been refined.

quote:

If you expect him to move mountains in this short time period, you'll be waiting a long time.

quote:

Obama's 'Service in College' Program at Change.gov Promises $40 an Hour

Talk about "change." The latest version of president-elect Barack Obama's ever-evolving ideas for "community service" promises to pass out quite a bit of it to America's college students.

The "America Serves" (link is to Google cache) and "Service" sections of Team Obama's Change.gov site have, uh, changed quite a bit over the past day or so after many, including Kerry Picket of Newsbusters, noted that the "service" proposals require youth conscription, i.e., a non-military draft.

As of 8 AM this morning, Team Obama's cleanup operation is nearly complete, with almost all coercive language purged.

But one item noted last night by Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs remains in the "Service" section (a copy for future reference is here if/when the existing link changes), with a stunning quantitative modification:

$4,000 in value for 100 hours is $40 an hour, tax-free. For most students, because they pay no federal income tax, this will amount to an annual handout of $4,000 less the value of the service they provide (bravely assuming that it's productive), which would be at most the private-sector equivalent of about $12 an hour with benefits, or $1,200.

quote:

ORIGINAL: relady

quote:

to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school

This is already a requirement in Missouri so nothin new here. It's a good thing and I think adding 100 hours to college is a good idea. Sounds to me like this is the only thing that will be mandatory. I'm sure everything is still in the infancy of planning stages and will be fleshed out after he takes office. I have absolutely no problem with volunteering as long as it is truly voluntary, except in the case of community service for students.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pat-rebel_lady

quote:

ORIGINAL: relady

quote:

to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school

This is already a requirement in Missouri so nothin new here. It's a good thing and I think adding 100 hours to college is a good idea. Sounds to me like this is the only thing that will be mandatory. I'm sure everything is still in the infancy of planning stages and will be fleshed out after he takes office. I have absolutely no problem with volunteering as long as it is truly voluntary, except in the case of community service for students.

Well I don't know about Missouri , but we have this requirement here --- don't meet the requirement of hours to community service no diploma. The problem with this is, for credit, it has to be done at recognized community organizations (replacing what would otherwise be the place of a paid employee), thereby saving local or state gov. money.
They can not help individuals in their community --- such as the handicap or elderly, say rake their lawn and other outside work, paint inside or outside, wash widows and etc. --- no credit for this type of serve. So I do have a huge problem with volunteering especially in the case of community service for students. It's a sham!!!