Topic: Politics
Being a Hero Representative Charles Rangel's Generosityby smither
(Libertarian)
Monday, March 24, 2008
You, know, I really like the many Carnegie libraries around the country. Using his own money, Andrew Carnegie funded public and university libraries, earning him the nickname "Patron Saint of Libraries." By 1919, almost half of the public libraries in the United States were paid for by Carnegie, and few towns that applied were turned down. Most did not bear his name, but instead he had "Let there be light" inscribed over the entrances.
Now comes Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) to fill Andrew Carnegie's shoes. He has obtained a $2,000,000 earmark to fund a Library, a Center for Public Service, and a Conference Center at the City College of New York, all named after one Charles Rangel. Oh, there will also be a "well-furnished office" for the lawmaker.
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) gave the Senate an opportunity to do the right thing by offering an amendment stripping this egrecious earmark, but the Senate rejected his amendment 61 to 34 (Senator McCain did not bother to vote).
I suppose the most popular class in the new Charles Rangel Center for Public Service will be "How to Spend Other People's Money and Get Honored For It."
How does Rangel sleep at night?
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2008 smither, all rights reserved.
Published: Monday, March 24, 2008
Last modified: Monday, March 24, 2008
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Rangel's Universal Service Act H.R. 393 would in fact recreate involuntary servitude in the U.S. It would draft everyone between the ages of 18 and 42, male and female, except those who have previously served in the military. That amounts to about 1/3 of the nation's population. That is far more than the military needs so the majority would be put into civilian service. The bill leaves it to the president to determine the types of civilian service that may be performed in order for a person to satisfy the person's national service obligation. Also left to the president are the standards for satisfactory performance of civilian service and the penalties for failure to perform civilian service satisfactorily. I don't know what penalties the president might impose, but I note that the current president is fond of torture.
So far there are only two co-sponsors for this bill, so it isn't likely to pass, but god help us if it ever does.
Not that anyone pays any attention to it, but we are supposed to be protected from such forced civilian service. 13th Amendment:
Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
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2008 smither, all rights reserved.