The Kennedy Public Service Bill
By lilwonders
@lilwonders456 (8214)
United States
February 25, 2009 1:10pm CST
Well I figured everyone would be talking about it today. But I do not see a lot of posts about it. Obama said last night in his speech that he wanted this bill pushed through for him to sign. It would cost about 5 billion dollars over a five year period. Why are we spending billions on volunteers? Obama can simply come out in a speech and say "hey people please volunteer in your community". That would save 5 billion dollars and get the word out about it. What do you think? Should the gov. being spending this kind of money on volunteering especially with the current economic crisis. Our gov is broke. I am sure that money could be used for better things or not spent at all. Tell me what you think. Is this a good way to spend money?
3 people like this
7 responses
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
26 Feb 09
This is going to sound crazy but all things considered $5 billion over five years isn't that much relatively speaking. I'd need to read the details about it to pass judgment as to whether it would be money well spent or not but it has bipartisan support with Orrin Hatch being cosponsor with Kennedy and John McCain, who always says how he hates wasting money, also supporting it. I know there are lots of people who, believe it or not, would like to volunteer their services but they don't know where they're needed or how to go about it.
Annie
@grammasnook (1871)
• United States
27 Feb 09
First off I am going to take a jab here because I also did not watch the speech. If I look at this from the outside looking in. 5 dollars in mass would not even come close to minimum wage so it could not be considered a job here. If enough people volunteer then they can learn new skills. Will it be written in as "training?" It opens doors for people to realize they want to get into another field and perhaps go back to college. This can be very eye opening for many many people. If the jobs are gone they will not come back overnight, they are shrinking day by day. If people volunteer it means that they themselves are stimulated and not becoming lazy. Just kind of looking from the outside of the box.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
26 Feb 09
Then the local charity and out reach programs need to step up to ask people to volunteer. But we do not need to spend 5 billion dollars to ask people to volunteer. It can be done for free. There is a website you can go to and find charities and such in your area. Obama actually set it up (at our tax payer exspense). Let him make a couple of speechs about the site telling people if they want to volunteer they can go to that site. Job done.....5 Billion saved.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
27 Feb 09
That is for people to decide to do on their own and our gov. should not be paying 5 billion dollars for it. Volunteering is just volunteering.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
26 Feb 09
Why are we even thinking about paying volunteers. Then it is not volunteering, it is a job.
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
25 Feb 09
Well before Obama took down the Obama.gov website Obama spoke about forcing school children to volunteer. Then when Obama started facing heat for this, Obama started offering scholarships. If anyone was smart enough to put pen to paper the money for the forced volunteering came out to 5 dollars an hour. I really could careless about volunteering. If someone wants to then find, but I get irritated when I hear people receiving praise all because they volunteered. If volunteering is so great then go to work for free. Once again we have government doing something that is not their job in the first place.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
25 Feb 09
I agree. Let people do it if they want. But not for pay. Also the gov. should not be getting involved with this. but when has that ever stopped them.
1 person likes this
@rodney850 (2145)
• United States
25 Feb 09
Lilwonders,
First, IMO, our government should be tightening it's belt in some places and not spending any extra in others. To say government and fiscal responsibility in the same paragraph is an oxymoron so I should know better, right?
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
25 Feb 09
I know he talked about all of us having to tighten our belts. He even mentioned Congress tightening it belt...then he turns around and say he wants to spend 5 BILLION dollars on encouraging people to volunteer. It is just shocking.
@MysticTomatoes (1053)
• United States
25 Feb 09
The government should be concentrating on more pressing issues like fixing it to where if you make less than a certain amount of money, you can NOT qualify for a million dollar loan on a home. I know what my income is. I know what my husband brings home to the table. Housing prices in the bay area are horrendous and at most, all we'd be able to afford is a 2 bedroom piece of crap home, so we are still renting.
When you force someone to volunteer, that becomes a type of slavery.
When you bribe someone to volunteer, that becomes a paid job.
Volunteering is just that: voluntary. I know between my job, my home and my daughter, I don't have time. I can't work at a job and NOT get paid. We'd get evicted for not paying our rent.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
26 Feb 09
When you force someone to volunteer, that becomes a type of slavery.
When you bribe someone to volunteer, that becomes a paid job.
I agree completely.
@deejean06 (1952)
• United States
25 Feb 09
I didn't watch the speech - I just couldn't. However I find it odd that the community organizer just can't organize a community - he has to throw money at everyone instead? Is that what is going on here?
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
25 Feb 09
I am not sure. But he definatly loves to spend our money.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
22 Aug 09
You're right...even JFK knew this when he said "ask not what your country can do..."
This is not so much about volunteering for the betterment of the communities in America. It's about indoctrinating young people with Obama's agenda for America.
No...I don't think money should be spent on this for that reason.
As for our country being broke...Obama knows the Fed can just print up some more currency and we're good to go. NOT
