Dodd with Something Tangible
Submitted by Jerid on Sat, 06/23/2007 - 5:20pm.
Update: BSB and Mike Caulfied of Blue Hampshire weighed in on Dodd's speech, and a little bit on the primary. Here's audio of our conversation. For fairness sake, Mike was not speaking on behalf of BH as a whole (he's got plenty of other nice folks running that site with him).
Dodd delivered a powerful speech this afternoon in Nashua, NH - at the same spot JFK kicked off his 1960 campaign. Renewing the call for American service at home and abroad, the Senator once again tied his campaign into his earlier Peace Corps service in the Dominican Republic. Prior today I'd privately thought the Peace Corps emphasis was kind of hoky, but after Dodd's speech, and more importantly the policy that accompanies, I'm actually starting to like the service angle.
I thought the speech was so good that I'd prefer not to try and cut it up just to give you a few quotes. Instead, if you're able, download it throw it on the ipod, burn it to a CD, or whatever. Just take a listen here.
The speech was billed as a "Renewed American Commitment to Public Service." Accompanying the speech were five key policy blocks:
Through Executive Order, Dodd said that as President he would promote the Executive Director of the Corporation for National Service will be part of the Cabinet.
Second, he'd mandate School-Based Service as a Requirement for High School Graduation. Just like a required class or curriculum, high school student graduation would require 100 hours of community service.
Third, he'd double the size of the Peace Corps by 2011 and again by 2050.Fourth, Dodd would dramatically increase the number of AmeriCorps members to 1,000,000 and immediately raise the amount of the education award.
Finally, the plan calls for a rapid response reserve corps will mobilize national service program alumni, as well as retired military and National Guard personnel, to respond to national disaster.
As you can see, this stuff is more than just rhetoric. The more I think about these plans, the more I dig them. I'll have more about that up in a little while.
I've always hated forced civics
Submitted by Nifty Lawrence on Sun, 06/24/2007 - 12:34pm.
he'd mandate School-Based Service as a Requirement for High School Graduation. Just like a required class or curriculum, high school student graduation would require 100 hours of community service.
Otherwise known as indentured servitude. What exactly is the point? Students aren't going to appreciate public service by being forced to engage in it. Quite the opposite, I would bet.
And if it's such a great idea, why not mandate it for adults?Indentured Servitude
Submitted by Jerid on Sun, 06/24/2007 - 1:27pm.
And gym class is forced labor.
Get real.
Federal Program?
Submitted by Paul (not verified) on Sun, 06/24/2007 - 2:19pm.
While I like the idea in general (without seeing the specifics) how is this the responsibility of the Federal Government to do this?
Better idea
Submitted by Demgal on Sun, 06/24/2007 - 3:00pm.
Make it a requirement that kids take a special class and pass a test on their state and the US Constitution before they graduate. Licensed for Democracy.
i don't know if i'd make kids suffer through
Submitted by 2010 Buckeye on Sun, 06/24/2007 - 6:31pm.
the ohio constitution, but every high school graduate ought to be able to articulate the main points of the US constitution. I think Sen. Byrd has introduced a bill in the past that would require something to that effect.
Generation M
Jerid, I'm not sure I agree with it, but for a couple of years now, some academics and think tankers have been referring to the 18-28 or so year olds as Generation M, M standing for "missionary." You can read more about it in a book called God on the Quad, see here.
I'd take a guess that either Dodd is familiar with the author, the book, the EPPC or all of the above because what he's proposing appeals to that demographic.
Just a guess of course.