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08.11.08, 03:48
Zadowolona ??? ,...
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Obama's chief of staff choice favors compulsory universal service
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J.D. Tuccille, Civil Liberties Examiner - November 6 2008
Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, President-Elect Barack Obama's choice
for chief of staff in his incoming administration, is co-author of a
book, The Plan: Big Ideas for America, that calls for, among other
things, compulsory service for all Americans ages 18 to 25. The
following excerpt is from pages 61-62 of the 2006 book:
It's time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all
of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young
American. Under this plan, All Americans between the ages of
eighteen and twenty-five will be asked to serve their country by
going through three months of basic training, civil defense
preparation and community service. ...
Here's how it would work. Young people will know that between the
ages of eighteen and twenty-five, the nation will enlist them for
three months of civilian service. They'll be asked to report for
three months of basic civil defense training in their state or
community, where they will learn what to do in the event of
biochemical, nuclear or conventional attack; how to assist others in
an evacuation; how to respond when a levee breaks or we're hit by a
natural disaster. These young people will be available to address
their communities' most pressing needs.
Emanuel and co-author Bruce Reed insist "this is not a draft," but
go on to write of young men and women, "the nation will enlist them
for three months of civilian service." They also warn, "[s]ome
Republicans will squeal about individual freedom," ruling out any
likelihood that they would let people opt out of universal citizen
service.
As chief of staff, Emanuel will not be in a position to directly
introduce public policy, but his enthusiasm for compulsory service,
combined with Barack Obama's own plan to require high school
students to perform 50 hours of government-approved service, suggest
an unfortunate direction for the new administration.