Experts Praise Barack Obama's National Service Plan

[babylonsister]

Experts Praise Barack Obama's National Service Plan
Thu, 12/06/2007 - 13:58 — admin

Chicago, IL -- December 05, 2007 -- "In this call to action, Barack Obama points the way to a quantum leap in citizen service, at home and abroad, for Americans of all ages, from all walks of life. He has picked up the torch that John Kennedy lit -- and once again turned ‘Ask' into a strong, challenging verb. Through this plan we can again show the world -- and show to ourselves --the best of America." {Senator Harris Wofford, former Associate Director of the Peace Corps; former Special Assistant to the President Kennedy for Civil Rights; and former CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service}

"Across this country, Americans are faced with serious and mounting challenges - from struggling to pay the bills, to keeping their kids in school and building a better future for their families. Every day, social entrepreneurs are developing and implementing innovative solutions to meet these challenges, achieving greater results with fewer resources than many government programs. Just as public investment has supported major social initiatives in the past, a future president and administration can support social entrepreneurs and their effective solutions and, in doing so, affect measurable change. We're pleased that Senator Obama has recognized the critical work of social entrepreneurs, and has pledged to invest in these community based solutions that are moving the nation forward - one community at a time." {Vanessa Kirsch, President of New Profit, Inc.; Co-Chair of America Forward}

"Senator Obama's stirring call to public service is the strongest since John F. Kennedy's 1960 request that all Americans, especially young Americans, ask what they can do for their country." {Ted Sorenson, Special Counsel, Adviser, and Speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy}

"Barack Obama's national and community service plan is bold and creative. His plan builds on the best traditions of the past, from FDR to GWB, and adds important new ideas that can tap the service spirit in America. If his plan were implemented, millions of additional Americans would have new opportunities to serve their country and world and a culture of service, citizen and responsibility would have a rebirth." {John M. Bridgeland, President of Civic Enterprises; former Director of the USA Freedom Corps; and former member, White House Domestic Policy Council under President George W. Bush}

"Senator Obama has outlined a comprehensive agenda for making the government a catalyst for effective citizen engagement. His proposals on supporting R&D, capacity-building, and organizational effectiveness in the social sector underscore his understanding of the field of social entrepreneurship and how capital-market dynamics and incentives applied to the nonprofit sector can drive significant social good." {Dr. Cheryl L. Dorsey, President of Echoing Green}

more...

http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48738526_experts-praise-barack-obamas-national-service-plan

[Maven]

1. More pleasantries that amount to little of practical value.

Obama's specialty.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Obama's proposal to double the size of the Peace Corps is wonderful.

... and I'm sure will be applauded across the globe. That is America at its best.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/12/05/politics/p113738S72.DTL

[madrchsod]

4. my friend from ghana has high praise for the peace corp

his son is being taught about corn production by peace corp/students from wisconsin,california,and florida. my friend has nothing good to say about the russians because they were not very good instructors and they wore bad shoes...i`m not sure what he meant by that!

[AtomicKitten]

5. Life is too short for bad shoes ;)

[wyldwolf]

3. essentially the same plan was praised by experts when...

April 1986 -- Senator Chuck Robb introduces national service concept in Inaugural Address as Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) chairman.

February 1988 -- Senator Sam Nunn delivers speech and hosts panel on national service at DLC annual conference in Williamsburg, VA. Conference introduces national service concept to then-Governor Bill Clinton.

April 1988 -- DLC publishes the book Citizenship and National Service, written by Will Marshall, providing an analysis of the need for a national service and outlining a comprehensive national service proposal.

October 1988 -- DLC sponsors a two-week National Service tour, featuring Vice Presidential nominee Lloyd Bentsen, Senators Sam Nunn, Barbara Mikulski, and Bennett Johnston, Representative Mike Espy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, and Northwestern University's Charlie Moskos.

January 1989 -- DLC Chair Senator Sam Nunn and Representative Dave McCurdy (later a DLC chairman) introduce the DLC's National Service legislation.

November 1990 -- Congress passes National and Community Service Act, incorporating many elements of the Nunn-McCurdy proposal.

October 1991 -- Arkansas Governor (and former DLC chairman) Bill Clinton launches his presidential campaign with a Georgetown University speech where he calls for a "New Covenant" and the establishment of a voluntary system of national service.

December 1992 -- Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) publishes Mandate for Change, which outlines an agenda for the new Clinton administration, including a section on national service.

September 1993 -- Congress passes the National and Community Service Trust Act, based on President Clinton's proposal, establishing the Corporation for National Service and AmeriCorps.

July 1996 -- PPI and the Hudson Institute jointly host conference, "National and Community Service: A New Bargain?," reflecting the continuing effort to build bipartisan support for national service.

Spring 1999 -- DLC's policy journal, Blueprint, proposes new ideas to expand national service, building on President Clinton's proposals.

November 2001 -- DLC Chairman Senator Evan Bayh and Senator John McCain introduce the "Call to Service Act," which would dramatically expand the scope of national service.

February 2002 -- PPI and the Hudson Institute jointly host the conference "Taking National Service to Scale," helping build bipartisan support for a short-term "citizen soldier" enlistment program and an expansion of AmeriCorps tied to the new mission of homeland security.

November 2002 -- The Progressive Policy Institute launches the Center for Civic Enterprise, which is charged with developing the next generation of ideas on national service, citizen participation and civic activism.

December 2002 -- Congress passes the defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2003 that includes a short-term "citizen soldier" enlistment program based on the military segment of the Bayh-McCain national service bill. This "citizen soldier" option allows volunteers to serve their country in uniform without pursuing a military career.

Fall 2003 -- Presidential candidates Gen. Wesley Clark, Sen. John Kerry, and Sen. John Edwards make expanding national service a key element of their campaigns, elevating it for the first time to one of the major issues in the Democratic primary debate.