Expanded Americorps Features Authoritarian Feel

From an editorial in the DC Examiner comes this tidbit, which snuck into legislation while people were distracted with the circus of the AIG bonuses…

With almost no public attention, both chambers of Congress in the past week advanced an alarming expansion of the Americorps national service plan, with the number of federally funded community service job increasing from 75,000 to 250,000 at a cost of $5.7 billion.

…OK, we’ll waste another $5.7 billion on yet another unproductive government program on top of the trillions being spent now, but it gets worse…

To begin with, the legislation threatens the voluntary nature of Americorps by calling for consideration of “a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people.†It anticipates the possibility of requiring “all individuals in the United States†to perform such service – including elementary school students.  The bill also summons up unsettling memories of World War II-era paramilitary groups by saying  the new program should “combine the best practices of civilian service with the best aspects of military service,†while establishing “campuses†that serve as “operational headquarters,†complete with “superintendents†and “uniforms†for all participants. It allows for the elimination of all age restrictions in order to involve Americans at all stages of life. And it calls for creation of “a permanent cadre†in a “National Community Civilian Corps.â€

…This doesn’t sound good if you enjoy liberty and justice for all.  Usually, you find programs like this in countries like communist China where they go by monikers like Young Pioneers or Communist Youth League.