This is scary!

The following was taken from http://change.gov/americaserves/

America 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 developing a plan to require 50 hours of community service in middle school and high school and 100 hours of community service in college every year. 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.



How is forcing people to work for free the American Dream?! I am also predicting that you will not be able to choose where you work, but you will have to work at a government approved "volunteer" site. I would not be surprised to see Christians required to do community "service" at abortion clinics. I am all for community service and volunteer work, but if it is not on your own terms its not volunteer or service. Since when did the American dream mean that the Government forced states, individuals, and schools to work for free? Last I checked the American dream entailed being able to come to America work your ass off for a better life for you and your family and if you're lucky you might have some left over to leave your kids. The American dream is not working for free so that other people can benefit from your time and talents. I have the right to pursue happiness, that is what the American dream is. It is not a duty to make sure other people have a chance.

I am not against helping people. I think being generous with time and talents is a very important part of life, especially the Christian's life. Once this 50-100 hours of required community service starts where will it end? These things always progress into something worse.

Maybe I will be able to organize my thoughts better later. Everything about this plan from Obama strikes me as oppression by the government.