Join the Discussion: Service

Paul Schmitz from the Transition's Innovation and Civil Society Team responds to the thousands of comments we received about national service. Learn more at http://www.change.gov/service

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• service
• obama
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[radstorm]

If we all work together to fix this, does that mean as soon as we do, our Government will just break it again? :(

[onef8th]

What strikes me is seeing the lgbt community holding signs like "tolerance" or "Stop the Hate" but I have a video of an nice old lady how came out to peacefully pray for your community because she doesn't agree with gay marriage as I don't. They took her cross, threw it on the ground and stamped all over it. Now you are upset because BHO chose Rick Warren to Lead Prayer at the Inauguration. You don't want equal rights, you want special rights. Don't get your way you have a tantrum.

[freesk8]

Forced national civil service is a DRAFT.

I wonder if Obama would have favored such a plan while he was young?

I doubt it.

[sibzianna]

I love this! I want to be involved in the changes that will hopefully be taking place. I live in Cedar Rapids, IA where much of our hope was taken in the disastrous floods last summer. I have ideas that involves meaningful community interactions that will service everyone from the youth to the elderly. I hope that ideas that are fresh and unique like mine are finally taken seriously.

[mamaluigi3]

Dear Paul Schmitz,

From the United States Constitution:

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

Please explain to me how a national service program is legal under the constitution?

[LutherLeek]

Compulsory service is slavery.

[ausj02]

right now in america theres a lot of work to be done...the president of the united states of america needs to be concerned with....america. they're taking into account the world too but to take care of the world we have to take care of ourselves first.

[phillysauce]

obama is a joke

[scipio2009]

I don't know about you, but I don't see anything wrong with Obama trying to make sure the US is strong before worrying about the world, and you shouldn't either.

Helping the world is all well and good, but not in the face of all the problems confronting the US right now.

Let him fix most of the big problems here, before he fixes the problems with the rest of the world

[scipio2009]

100 hours, in exchange for benefits, like increased student aid, and you're upset?

Counting on 8 hour shifts, that's roughly 2 weeks of work!

So, you'd refuse to volunteer in your community, for 2 weeks, if it'd lead to some additional assistance funding your education?

Get over yourself.

[LAdude83]

is this a grassroots effort, or is it a highly centralized, top-down operation with legions of "grassroots" supporters?