"Youth will decide the issue of the entire struggle." - Vladimir Lenin

Someone has said that a revolution needs two things: a financial crisis and the youth of the middle class. On April 21, 2009 President Barack Obama signed into law the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism Act, known as the GIVE act. But some opponents are strongly criticizing the legislation, calling it expensive indoctrination and forced advocacy. Some call it nothing less than forced conscription of our children into service for the government.

The signing of the landmark legislation, which Obama seeks to make mandatory, would require 50-100 hours from all able-bodied middle to high school aged young people. The amendment

"prohibits organizations from attempting to influence legislation; organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; and assist, promote, or deter union organization."

In other words, my high school aged son would be effectively stripped of his right to protest, affect legislation, or even utilize his right to free speech if it conflicted with government policy.

Why did no one hear about this in the main-stream media? Are they scared, or are they being purposely silenced?

Let's not allow the law to be used as a blunt instrument to force on us the will of the cultural elite.

Let's not "go along to get along." Let's pay attention to the laws that are being passed, and let our voices be heard when we have concerns.

In the words of Frederic Vastia, "We will either eliminate justice or let justice ring."

The following link is for President Obama's proposed national health care plan:

http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/AAHCA09001xml.pdf

Health Care Debate

Anyone who isn't confused doesn't really understand the situation. - Edward R. Murrow

The Obama administration's push for passage of a new national health care plan before the upcoming congressional recess has hit a bit of a roadblock in recent weeks. What once seemed to be a no-brainer (After all, what could be wrong with quality, affordable health care for all?), now is no longer regarded as a shoe-in.

The vast, grass roots network of supporters and volunteers that materialized in such great numbers before the last presidential election has failed to turn out with the same support for Obama's national health proposal. Why is that?

What has fueled the fiery opposition of protesters during the recent town hall meetings held for the purpose of quelling public fear of the bill?

Well, one reason is concern over the cost of the health plan. As Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah put

it, "I don't follow why we've got to spend around $1.5 to $2 trillion on top of the $2.5 trillion we are already spending....and yet still have 33 million people without health insurance."

Of course, under Obama's plan there would be no one without health insurance. Under his proposal, if someone did not already have a private insurance policy, he or she would be required to buy into the government plan.

The second reason for public dissent over the bill is mistrust toward a government system that would have the power to be judge and jury over who qualifies for care. While I do not necessarily agree with former governor Sarah Palin's fear of "death panels", as a fellow mother of a son with Downs Syndrome, I sympathize with her concern for the quality of her son's future health care under this proposed plan. Even with a budget of over $1 trillion, there will always be constraints and priorities put on policy holders. That means that the disenfranchised, i.e., the mentally challenged, the medically fragile, and the elderly would be at the greatest risk for budget cuts.

A third reason for people's lack of support for the proposed national health plan is that no one understands it. Delivered to the Senators' desks as a one thousand page tome, even their aides admit to not having read the whole thing. Do we want our congressional representatives to rush through and vote on something this critically important without understanding it thoroughly or even having read it through?

I say, let cooler heads prevail. Let's all sit back, take a deep breath, and give this plan the time and study it requires. Our nation's health depends on it.