From HR 1388 to HR 1444 - Our freedoms are being threatened!

Recently, legislation passed under Harry Reid's fervent cloture - legislation by the name of HR 1388, otherwise known as The GIVE Act. It's purpose is to increase funding to AmeriCorps and promote volunteering under federal jurisdiction.

A sub-section of the legislation, however - Section 6104 I believe it was - was removed and renamed HR 1444. This section had alarming vocabulary consisting of the following:

5)The effect on the Nation, on those who serve, and on the families of those who serve, if all individuals in the United States were expected to perform national service or were required to perform a certain amount of national ... [Read Moreservice.]
(6) Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed, and how such a requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social fabric of the Nation and overcome civic challenges by bringing together people from diverse economic, ethnic, and educational backgrounds.

Very vague, is it not? And of course, what constitutes "fairness" and "reasonableness" will be dictated by the current administration. In other words, the democrats will set their political agenda through these federal funded volunteer programs.

Essentially, this is compulsory volunteering that's making its way through the committees right now. Oxymoron much, anyone? I believe so.

Small wonder this section was removed from HR 1388. The removal made HR 1388 very tame in appearances, and that's how it got through (not to mention the Senate and House are controlled by the democrats).

But now that HR 1444 is being shoved through the committees - well, it's look like they haven't given up yet. It didn't end with HR 1388. In fact, HR 1388 was just a precursor to give reason to push HR 1444 on through.

I've been bugging my senators and representatives about this. As for the orginal legislation, David Vitter voted 'Nay', whilst Mary Landrieu voted 'Yea'.

Contact the sell-out Landrieu here:

http://landrieu.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

...And be sure to give her a piece of your mind.

For further reference:

Rahm Emmanuel, Chief of Staff, on the issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtDSwyCPEsQ

My letter to Senator Landrieu:

I am extemely disapointed to see that you voted for the legislation HR 1388. Though the clause that made volunteering 'compulsory' was removed from the final draft of the legislation, you must know that HR 1388 is just a precursor of things to come. Do you know what happened to that clause they removed? Currently it's moving through the committees under the guise of 'HR 1444'.
As disappointed that I am that you voted for HR 1388, I will be even MORE enraged if you vote for or garner support for HR 1444 in any way, should it makes its way to the Senate.
The vocabulary in this bill flies in the face of Amendment XIII of the Constitution. I WILL NOT be forced to do community service, especially as mandated by the current administration! And what's this talk of standard issue uniforms?
Sounds like Hitler youth making an appearance once again, only this time it's being hidden by rose-colored wording and media hush-hush.
Doesn't 'compulsory volunteering' sound like a foolish oxymoron to you? That's because it is!
I demand that you DO NOT sell-out and vote this through if it ever crosses your desk.
HR 1444 is extremely dangerous and must be stopped at all costs. I'm not going to put up with this, and yes, there are plenty of individuals who feel the same way I do. Even if HR 1444 does get signed into law, enforcing it will be shockingly difficult, for we plan to raise awareness and resist it in every way possible.