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By the way, I am not criticizing all unpaid labor as somehow being sinister. (If you re-read the post, you will see that I noted that federal appeals courts had rejected arguments that mandatory community service constitutes involuntary servitude in violation of the 13th Amendment).
But even assuming going to class in "unpaid labor," it stands on quite a different footing than mandatory community service, from a pragmatic vantage point. It gives the student marketable skills, and enhances the economy as a result (at least in the context of K-12 education, which has positive externalities).
By contrast, doing some community service make-work does not so effectively impart such skills, and the mandate of community service can be used to provide free labor for political causes whose worth is not sufficient to enable them to acquire such labor on their own merits -- essentially, a government subsidy.
Thomas Jefferson said it was sinful and tyrannical to force a man to pay money to causes he disagrees with. He might have felt the same way about forcing a man to perform unpaid labor for causes he opposes. (Of course, much of the labor supplied by a community service mandate is for causes the compelled parties are largely indifferent to, rather than hostile to, but even forcing a man to pay money to a group he is indifferent to would be regarded generally as a bad thing).
You think that going to class is socially benificial becuase it "enhances the economy". People who advocate mandatory community service believe it is socially benificial because it enhances civility. Enahcing civility is just as important, I would say more important, than churining out trained workers. "Enhancing the economy" by developing "marketable skills" is far less important than enhancing humanity by developing a sence of community. The fact that you characterize community service as "make work" says quite a bit.
If you were honest about your ideology, you would cut to the chase and simply advocate the shutting down of free, compulsary education all together. Jefferson, by the way, was one of the orginal advocates of a form of free public education in America. Truly a man ahead of his time, and one who would not fear community servce as somehow being contrary to our collective self-interests.
The last time I checked, community service was a punishment for breaking a law. What crime did the kids do? Go to school? You're going to see kids drop out in record numbers. This should be a choice like it is now, not a requirement.
Get out there and volunteer! It'll make a man out of you! Or at least a human being.
Where in a wheat field would you suggest I volunteer? Do I help a mouse climb a hill? Help the family dog dig a hole? Howl with the occasional coyote? (It's very cool to listen to them at night!) My small town isn't bitter. Everyone knows each other and are friendly people. We greet each other by name on the street. I know the families of most of my class mates. Can you say that, or do you live in a large, bitter city where murder is common?
Do you really approve of enslaving kids to the government? Involuntary servitude is illegal by the Constitution, but Obama doesn't agree with the Constitution. His swearing to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" in January will be a lie.
You've been brainwashed by Obama.
No I won't!
Don (not Dan!)
By the way, while the constitution does outlaw involuntary servitude, requiring community service as a condition for graduation is not involuntary servitude. You might have been lead astray by the article, which mentions "forced labor" in the title and frequently references "unpaid" labor. As Hans mentions in the article and made clear in his response to me, this requirement is not "a violation of the Thirteenth Amendment (an argument rejected by federal appeals courts)."
Now both Obama and Hans have Juris Doctorates from Harvard - (wonder if they were in the same class?). They both know their stuff and they seem to agree on this point. So where did you get your law degree, Don?
It is obvious to me now that you have hijacked this form from Hans. That's too bad. It could have been a good topic of conversation. If anyone is thinking about posting on this form, please go someplace else.
Goodbye,
Don