Buttigieg rolls out national service plan

[demmiblue]

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Wednesday rolled out a national service plan that would include 1 million members by 2026.

The plan, A New Call to Service, would give additional funds to programs like AmeriCorps and increase the number of their positions from 75,000 to 250,000, according to The Associated Press, which put a cost for the effort at $20 billion over 10 years.

Buttigieg also reportedly aims to create new organizations like a Climate Corps, Community Health Corps and Intergenerational Service Corps.

“National service can help us to form connections between very different kinds of Americans, as was my experience in the military,” said the South Bend, Ind., mayor in a statement, according to Reuters.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/451473-buttigieg-rolls-out-national-service-plan

Buttigieg said that if elected president, he would seek to fund existing federal and AmeriCorps organizations to immediately increase available service opportunities to 250,000 positions, especially targeting high school students and others aged 16 to 24.

He said that by 2026, he would also quadruple the number of service opportunities to a million high school graduates.

That would involve establishing new service corps, including a Climate Corps, Community Health Corps and Intergenerational Service Corps, all of which would be overseen by a new chief service officer who would be part of the White House National Security Council and Domestic Policy Council.

Aaron Williams, director of the Peace Corps under former Democratic President Barack Obama, said in a statement provided by the Buttigieg campaign: “Our nation is divided and we’re facing record-low trust in fellow Americans and American institutions. At the same time, our country and our communities are facing challenges with our climate, access to education, and so much more.”

Williams added: “A strong national service program is a win-win. National service can bridge divides by bringing young Americans together, while also investing in our communities by supporting the future corps of public servants to help combat some of the biggest issues we face as a country.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-buttigieg-service-idUSKCN1TY1DO?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_content=5d1c9a2d0ca7240001ca7072&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

[rampartc]

1. this is great

attach this to free tuition in selected majors and we've got a new deal

[MBS]

2. this is just the kind of forward-looking, unifying project we need

I am especially thrilled by the new themes of climate change, community health, and intergenerational service, in addition to Americorps. Just a terrific idea. (And, by the way, one that he's been talking about for a while, though not before in such detail. He's been talking a while about the need to make climate change solutions a national project).

[leftofcool]

3. Fabulous!

[BigOleDummy]

4. Excellent!

I've been saying we need something like this for YEARS now. Thank you Mr. Buttigieg! I'm a veteran and hold the very unpopular opinion that nearly everyone should do SOMETHING for our country. Either military service or in programs like Mr. Buttigieg is proposing/wanting to expand. We all share in the freedoms and opportunities our Nation provides us. Some much more than others of course. For way too long the more privileged among us have gotten a somewhat free ride when it comes to giving back. SOME kind of national service either in the Military (which I prefer for many reasons, not least of which is the chance to actually put everyone on an equal footing, something a huge chuck of our population has never had to do/be and to share the cost and burden of our military "adventures". If everyone rich, poor or middle class had to fight and die then we might see a reduction in warmongering by our elected officials) or in a national service such as Mr. Buttigieg is proposing. It should be mandatory for each and every citizen in my opinion. No exemptions for any reason. Everyone can do SOMETHING even if its just reading to the elderly or shut ins.

Sorry for the long ass post but this is something I REALLY believe in.

[Demsrule86]

12. That is called slavery. do we live in a free country or not...no one has the right to steal

time from our kids. I am against it completely.

[BigOleDummy]

24. I think for one

that you are belittling the word "slavery" and two getting bent out of shape over something that it appears to me you haven't given much thought to.

What is wrong with doing something for your country? What is wrong with sharing the burden of our freedoms and privileges? I certainly did not feel like a "slave" when I served 2 enlistments and cannot bring to mind anyone else who did either. By the way my FIRST enlistment started in 1971. You may remember that as one of the last years we had a active draft. In my time then in basic, in A.I.T., and in my permanent station I was surrounded by poor whites, poor blacks, poor Hispanics along with middle class and a few well to do young men. How many other things can you name that can give you the broadness of mind that comes from interacting with ALL the social classes we have? On the other hand my second enlistment started in 1976 which as you may remember was after the all volunteer Army/Services was a thing. THEN I was surrounded by poor whites, poor blacks, poor Hispanics period. A smattering of middle class but absolutely NO well to do's.

I applaud Mr. Buttigieg for this suggestion and opinion. We ALL, every single one of us, share in the bounty that our freedoms give us. As I mentioned in my main post some MUCH more than others but we all share at least some of the good things of America. Why is it such a terrible thing to you that we ALL should give something back?

No one wants to "steal time" from your kids or mine for that matter but is your (or mine) kids time so valuable that they have absolutely NONE left over for our Country? A great man once said “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Have we come so far that this has no meaning in todays America?

[JustThinking...]

27. Please Don't...

Don't even try to compare the violently forced total ownership of a person's body, will, labor and children by another to a voluntary service OPPORTUNITY that results in strong professional and personal benefits on anyone who CHOOSES it and is free to leave at any time.

Just. Don't.

[Scalded Nun]

5. This is exactly what this country needs (IMHO)

Instills a sense of ownership/civic pride, brings us all together and grows empathy.

[lovesfruit]

6. I'm curious about pay

This is a nice idea, but I am curious how these positions will pay and hope to see more information about this. People I know who did AmeriCorps regularly referred to it as "AmeriPoor." The positions are very low pay. My acquaintances who did it were heavily subsidized by their parents in order to work these positions, because they weren't paid a living wage.

[LanternWaste]

7. Most likely because it's a volunteer program rather than a for-profit corporation.

"People I know who did AmeriCorps regularly referred to it as "AmeriPoor." The positions are very low pay..."

Most likely because it's a volunteer program, rather than a for-profit corporation.

[JudyM]

8. Excellent. If he doesn't win the nom, whoever does should start it up with him at the helm.

[Demsrule86]

11. No...it would be awful

[nsd]

9. Is this really needed?

Would this help the people involved or the country as a whole? Really?

I sometimes think that people like Buttigieg -- people who have devoted their whole lives to politics and like to imagine that politics are the be all and end all -- think too much of their own professions and their own life choices and their own obsessions. Regular people (i.e., non-politicians) don't spend a lot of time thinking about "builidng community" and "shared national interests" and the "body politic" and whatnot. They have (non-political) careers to pursue, children and parents to care for, hobbies to enjoy. We want politicians who are conscientious and do the work, not necessarily "leaders." We don't really want to be led.

[Demsrule86]

10. No, do we live in a free country or not? I am against this sort of thing and always was. It is one

thing to have a draft in times of war but no one should be forced into any such program.

[JudyM]

15. If it were forced labor I'd agree. Is that what you're assuming? It's a service opportunity.

[Demsrule86]

17. It is my understanding that every young person would have to either enter the service of

or enroll in this program. I dislike this sort of thing. If it is voluntary fine.

[JudyM]

23. Ok, where are you getting that impression? If you had read something, please post it.

[Demsrule86]

21. I was under the impression, it was forced and I like Mayor Pete so I was

surprised.

[Turin_C3PO]

16. Unless I'm reading it wrong

his idea is VOLUNTARY service, not forced.

[Demsrule86]

18. Good to know because I thought it was forced. I would be against that...but

voluntary is fine.

[Turin_C3PO]

19. Yeah, forced would be horrible.

[Igel]

29. It's voluntary. So I have no objection to it.

Of course, it does provide a perk to those who participate in the government program, so there's that. So people who sign up are completely altruistic--it doesn't give you much in the way of income, but it's a great community-service blip on your resume/college application.

However, it seems to enroll about 1/3 million people (youth and seniors) per year. It's maxed out at that. It does a variety of projects, and yet, 350k or so/year.

Suddenly saying, "Here's an additional program, and it'll for sure get a few million per year to sign up" seems to ignore the track record of what exists and what the current programs do.

[demmiblue]

13. Lol.

[nsd]

14. Huh? I don't get the joke. /nt

[Celerity]

20. lololol

[wyldwolf]

22. this is the kind of policy proposal that plays well to the country

A damn siight better than making private insurance illegal or a defacto endorsement of federally court-mandated school busing.

[Laffy Kat]

26. This is a good idea. nt

[customerserviceguy]

28. Perhaps

one of the components would be for the government to pay off student loan debt over time spent in this program. It would give job experience to the person participating, and lessen their burden when they get a job in the private sector.