Obama Calls For National Civilian Stasi

What I didn't understand from the speech is what Obama says from 20:00-22:00 when he talks about strengthening American education.

He talks about engaging students to become more proud and respective of their citizenship, and he proposes a campaign promise to make all American Middle & High School students perform 50 hours of "service" a year. (Is he talking about community service or civil service?)

He goes on to pledge to have college students given a $4,000 tax credit if they perform 100 hours of "service", he says 2 hours a week for 17 weeks, and then he claims that is how he is committed to helping students out with tuition prices.

Well, I'm sorry, but that still doesn't do anything to reduce tuition prices and it requires that students spend more time outside of their studies to help pay for their tuition. It's a good idea for students who are able to do that, but it doesn't help all the other students who are not - either because of their course load or because their rotating shift at McDonald's doesn't allow them any schedule flexibility.

 

Keeping an eye on it, but not about to overreact...

 

We are in a recession, fast tracking into a depression - which hasn't happened since the year 1929... And Bush was making a speech in a press conference just this week still under the belief that our economic growth is steadily rising. How dense and in denile does the guy have to be to see that nothing on earth is further from the truth...

 

obama sure is all about it being your duty to serve the motherland,,err your country aint he??
see its things like this that lead me to believe that he does intend to set up his own little secret police force formed from the ranks of colleges all over america,his own legion of stormtroopers loyal to him and the motherland,,err,,america..
it really is already being done,from what ive read it seems homeland security is a major recruiter on college campuses..i guess he just wants to take it to the next level...

 

Thanks for the link Lode. It's nice to read things in some context?? I am in the process of actually finding the total transcript. Just reading the spin and bits and pieces it get's one to wondering what the spinmeisters would make out of JFK's Ask Not Speech.

I for one I am happy not to rely on the US militiary or their supporting industries solely for our national security. We were relying on them 09/11/2001. During the Anthrax attacks, the Atlanta Olympics bombings, etc. And we've shopped our way into a recession. Something needs to change.

 

Funny how none of you quote this speech:

http://www.barackobama.com/2008/05/23/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_68.php

 

Or this part of the same speech:

 

Jeeze took me forever to find the total transcript. Everyone should read it.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/07/02/obamas-remarks-on-service/

And that's just a small portion of what detractors leave out. You need to read or hear the speeches firsthand before you respond to soundbites folks. He isn't calling for an SS or Hiltler's youth corps, his calling for us to support and think about taking military action. to remember those that do after they are injured and sent home.

It's unacceptable that you are up in arms without actually being aware of what was actually said.

READ IT!

 

I hope you spotted my sarcasm.

It gets very boring when anything occurs in America, and somebody relates it back to Hitler and his associated groups. Infact IMO it is imbecilic. If you wanted to make a comparison why not use the Boy Scouts, or say, the Army cadets? Why pick the Hitler Youth? IMO for the simple fact you wanted the more extreme elements of the Hitler Youth and what could be being considered here, to be entwined. Sorry, I find your comparison borderline offensive.

 

I did read it, Gardener, and I found that the statement about a national security force was removed from the transcript. Obviously when you talk about such a force that is as big and well-funded as the US military, it would suggest to most people that he is speaking of something far more than simply the Peace Corps, which was never a "security force."

At the very least, Obama makes it clear that he's looking for more cannon fodder to join the miltary while creating some sort of domestic force at home, whether it's out of the Peace Corps or not. When he talks about recruiting so many people "out of work," it only cements in my mind the idea of an American stasi patrolling US citizens once the economy finally implodes and most people are out of work and struggling just to feed themselves.

So it's not that I am misinterpreting it or anything like that, Gardener. It's just that I know what Orwellian doublespeak and newspeak is. I can read between the lines and make connections where many people cannot, because I understand how these people use language to mislead and deceive.

 

What's wrong with that? I don't think he's looking for canon fodder, what he is looking for is people that are actively involved. Which Rat time and time again you've said you are not.

 

Under a fascist government that's clamping down on individual freedoms, I see a lot wrong with it, especially if it's something that's mandated. I can see how it sounds good at face value to some people, but to me it calls to mind any communist or fascist dictatorship throughout modern history where the civilians are used to police the people. Sounds very Hitlerian to me.

 

My dad during the depression found work, the only work he could at that time through the CCC. He was thankful to serve his national lands and receive a stipend. He learned valuable skills and was able to send money home. At a time when there was little available for a teenager to do. Would you rather they vegged with their Wiis and XBoxes? Thing is when their folks can't pay the power bill they won't be able to play their games anyway.

Should our children be above any civic responsibility, will that generate individuals capable of supporting a civilized society or will it create children that feel entitled without personal responsibility.

When I was twelve I got a work permit and worked the prune, walnut and almond harvests. That was before we relied on illegal labor to perform the work. I value the land and the farmers that bring food to our tables through the labor I performed at that time. I wasn't forced and neither was my father. For me a request was made at the school I attended that farmers needed help. We were given two weeks off to bring in the harvest. Prior to that I'd been a city kid, I had had no exposure to ag life. It was a good experience.

I continued to work the harvests until I was in my twenties, at which time the farmers had all the illegal labor they needed, unless we could speak Spanish they no longer wanted us.,

 

Any form of compulsory service, whether it's the military or domestic, needs to be questioned. Yes, children should be above civic responsibilty when that civic responsibility is being dictated by a totalitarian government that creates its own problems to justify its own solutions. It's not up to the state to tell anyone what to do, as that is a complete contradiction to freedom and free will. This is the type of stuff that is the hallmark of any communist or fascist society. Haven't you studied your history? It's all coming back around again before your eyes!

 

No where does he call for civilians to police anyone, he calls for service to a common goal. Spin it how you will.

 

I don't see any mention of compulsory service.

 

I will spin it how I will because I can see through the rhetoric and I know precisely what he is talking about. No, that may not be what he is openly calling for, though that is certainly what is is implying when he refers to a "national security force" that's as big and well funded as the US military to "achieve national security objectives."

 

How is that so different from JFK's question? I guess you would rather we just shopped and continued consuming.

 

It's hard work to make somebody see something more rationally isn't it.

 

How does Obama magically plan to increase the size of the Americorps from 75,000 to 250,000? I bet he's planning on a lot of people being out of work before that time, who will be "asked to serve."

And once again...

Why was Obama's remark about a "national security force" removed from the transcript of the speech? There has to be a reason.