CHECK IT OUT: www.change.gov

By the same token, one can consider military conscription 'slavery', yet few people would disagree with its necessity in time of war. It is your perception, of course, that there are many proposals which are 'foolish and unrealistic'. Many of them are clearly based on policies which are working in other parts of the world. The man won simply because those policies and his confidence in them appealed to many Americans, whereas the confidence of the other candidate in exactly what he was going to do, if elected, seemed to vary seriously from week to week. You ask "Where do we start?" Well, I suggest that you start by picking out the things with which you do agree and supporting them and looking critically at the ones that you think are silly to see how the desired effect could be achieved better. I notice that the site encourages you to submit your ideas. I hope that you have (or will) submit your own practical, realistic and sensible ideas (I presume that you are capable of them, though there is little evidence here) rather than making unspecific deprecatory remarks which do nothing to serve your country.

While I have been volunteering since my teenage years and definitely agree that we all should do our part for communites, charities and churches. I think that it should be just that volunteering and not required. I personally prefer to give and donate my time to organizations close to my home so that I can see the fruits of my labor first hand. I do volunteer for some national organizations with ties to my community. I do agree that some people in certain positions should be required to volunteer as sort of a offset of pay. This system is in place in many areas and has been for many years. Some of the systems include prisoners or people that are on probation or parole. Some students are required to volunteer in exchange for funding or support from certain organizations. There are also some government subsidized programs that require "volunteering". Funny thing is that these people don't find it a bad idea as there is usually a "swap" of some sort. For instance families that receive a house donation from Habitat for Humanity have no grips that they have to "volunteer" sweat equity because they get a house out of the deal. People on probation don't mind "volunteering" as the other option would be jail time. If you volunteer to clean up your neighborhood, who benefit? You or the government? If you volunteer to tutor young kids, is that slavery? My point is that in most "required volunteering" there is some benefit to the volunteeree.

I don't know Red, but compulsory community service in shools would go a long way to prevent some property crimes and instill good values in youths. How much is too much? I can't say. In Canada, at least in the Province of Ontario, all students are required to complete some hours of community service before they graduate. I don't know how much though but I know they can choose their field of interest. It has helped many to realize that their planned career choice is not a good idea for them or that they are on the right track with their decision. It has also helped many senior citizens. A friend of mine in her 80ties has this young fellow under the community service program who comes and rakes her leaves and hopefully shovels her snow. All she has to do sign a form confirming that he did the work. America has a long and proud tradition of community service. Many of your institutions were founded and run by volunteers. Thousands and thousands of volunteers make people's lives better, in hospitals, old age homes, recreation programs etc. So why would it be such a bad indea to instill the value of community service into young people?

Sorry but they are going to have to drag me kicking and screaming to get me anywhere near schools or colleges. I am the only person that can choose where I volunteer my well earned retirement time. Animal causes and nursing homes are already where I spend my time volunteering.

Well, people voted for him despite all of these things that he said during the campaign. Apparently the idea of forced government servitude appeals to the 0bama supporters, so what was the big deal with slavery?... Instead of being owned by individuals, these people are going to be owned by the government... slavery is still slavery, no matter who the master is.

Ok I looked up this site and the word require is NOT there. This is a voluntary program with a tax free credit towards education. See below. A[i]merica Serves "When you choose to serve -- whether it's your nation, your community or simply your neighborhood -- you are connected to that fundamental American ideal that we want life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness not just for ourselves, but for all Americans. That's why it's called the American dream." The Obama Administration will call on Americans to serve in order to meet the nation’s challenges. President-Elect Obama will expand national service programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps and will create a new Classroom Corps to help teachers in underserved schools, as well as a new Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, and Veterans Corps. Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by setting a goal that all middle school and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year and by developing a plan so that all college students who conduct 100 hours of community service receive a universal and fully refundable tax credit ensuring that the first $4,000 of their college education is completely free. Obama will encourage retiring Americans to serve by improving programs available for individuals over age 55, while at the same time promoting youth programs such as Youth Build and Head Start. [/i] There is nothing in this that forces anyone to do anything. If you want to go on doing nothing no one will do anything to punish you. SLAVERY is where you are owned by someone and they force you to do whatever THEY want. I find it odd that you people can read this document and get it completely wrong. I think the idea of offering people some free education for helping out to be a wonderful incentive to volunteer.

Where is the Obamites right now who ridiculed us for calling Obama a socialist. Actually Obama is not a socialist so they were right, he is a governmental slave master. Obama is going to require I do not think so. Blood is shooting out of my eyes right now reading this rubbish.

We already have a form of that in Ontario. Students have to complete 40 hours of volunteer hours in order to graduate high school. I don't think that's unreasonable, but, 50 hours every year is a little much.

I don't have a problem with volunteering and have done so myself on many occasions...I want to know how volunteering will help the economy grow. I am in a position right now where I must 'volunteer' my services and that of several people I know are being forced to 'volunteer' by our employer. The problem is that we are doing work in a position that was once a paid job and should be a paid job. Is it a great job...NO. Would it help pay bills ...yes. Too much volunteering is bad for the economy.

I think his REQUIRE hit people hard enough that he's had a change of heart. It's not a doable thing. He has changed the message and it now says "when you choose to serve". This is the new message: "Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by setting a goal that all middle school and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year and by developing a plan so that all college students who conduct 100 hours of community service receive a universal and fully refundable tax credit ensuring that the first $4,000 of their college education is completely free. Obama will encourage retiring Americans to serve by improving programs available for individuals over age 55, while at the same time promoting youth programs such as Youth Build and Head Start."

hi red...i think it's scary to think that he would think this and then actually put this out there for the public to see. obviously not being bothered by it or what others think.

They've been talking about this since before the election. Personally, I like it. Kids getting involved in the community is okay in my book!

50 hours? When you think about it, it's not *that* much. But like the other posters have said, it is forced slavery rather than voluteerism. When I volunteer at the local animal shelter and at children's events for at risk kids, it's because I want to, not because of my boss telling me to. I do a lot of work with at risk juveniles (I'm a juvenile intake officer) and as a result, I have been drafted a few times to volunteer at different events. I don't mind at all. Had I have been forced into doing it, I would have minded. In any event, this is only one of his foolish and insane stunts he's going to pull while he's leading the country. It's a shame so many people voted him in office.

50 hours in high school is nothing. At the most it's 2 hours a week. I have over 400 hours of community service from my freshman year up until now, and I'm still going strong. How can a little volunteering hurt? Read a book to an elderly lady, walk a dog for a neighbor who's physically incapable of getting their the dog the exercise they need. I think this change will benefit us all.

I say I don't understand people who object to a sensible idea. In Canada education is regulated by the provinces. The province of Ontario where I live has had a requirement for many years that high school students must accumulate x number of hours of voluntary work before they can graduate. Since Canada is made up of people from many nations and cultures where voluntarism is not a common practice I think this program is absolutely necessary to show the young people that there is a responsibility to give time to causes and people in order for those causes to thrive and help people. Those young people are not only exposed to needs of others, they have a chance to experience situations and get insights into jobs and careers. I bet you a great number of young people have chosen their career path after just such an experience. What is wrong with this?

I don't think it's silly to require service. I taught community service to eager, happy college students when I was a grad students. Tons of professors at my college require a few hours of service as part of their course work. Many schools like it on college applications. There are even community service scholarships now. I got one in undergrad. You can design your own internship and get collrge or high school credit for doing service. Some people like that better than listening to lectures all day; they feel it's more hands on and they are doing something positive. How is this bad again?

Although you had this same conversation during the campaign I can't help but respond again. It would be better to read the entire section on service rather than the single small blurb that you posted the link to. The "requirement" has a benefit. Job Training / Skills Training during High School and Middle School. Tax Credits at the College Level to provide opportunity to attend college. There isn't simply a one sided equation but a two sided equation, one that benefits the individual and the community.

Volunteering is not only beneficial to those who are on the receiving end. By participating in volunteer activities we can build our communities stronger and increase the quality of life for all citizens. When you take time to help out a cause that you care about you learn the importance of every American doing their part to make this nation the best it can be. At http://www.volunteermatch.org there are over 60,000 non-profit organizations nationwide that are looking for a hand. Every year millions of people visit the site to find a way to become involved, and in 2007, Time Magazine named it one of their "Top 10 Websites." Whatever your passion or amount of time you have to commit, there is an opportunity for you.

The only people being "required" to serve in that quote are students. Students are required to do all sorts of things in order to graduate, many of which they would prefer not to do. We were required in grade school to clean the erasers and the blackboard. Was that slavery? They could have paid the janitor to do it. The idea that students should have more control over what classes are required started in the 60's and was a bad idea then. I'm certain I would have learned more about life in required community service than I did in music class. But then some musicians might disagree. That's the point. An education includes all sorts of experiences that some of us will like and some of us won't. The question is whether or not that experience helps produce a well rounded and educated person. I think community service for students would contribute to that goal.