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[whatinthehell]

This is the first year I have ever allowed myself to become completely engrossed in the elections. And perhaps that old cliche about ignorance being bliss is a cliche for a reason. The more I read, and the more I watch the debates, the more disenchanted, disgrunted, and about a dozen other words starting with "dis" I become

Comments

[thedexter]

From Kerry's 2004 Platform, available here (PDF): "Teaching good citizenship and good values. We must remain committed to the moral and civic dimensions of education. Education requires the engagement of the whole community in order to teach the whole child. Students should learn responsibility in our schools, and students who are irresponsible-using drugs or bringing violence into schools-must face strict discipline. We should support character education in our elementary and secondary schools and community service as a condition of graduation from high schools. We should also give back to those who give to America, in the tradition of the G.I. Bill and AmeriCorps."

(That's the only instance of "AmeriCorps" in the document.)

From johnkerry.com: John Kerry and John Edwards are calling on all of America's young people to serve, especially meeting education challenges. The Kerry-Edwards plan would engage 500,000 more Americans in national service each year within a decade, compared to 75,000 in AmeriCorps this year. (more here, specifically)

Finally, Kerry signed a letter from 43 Senators to the President.

To: President George W. Bush

Dear President Bush:

We write to express our strong support for AmeriCorps and recognize the leadership you have shown on this issue over the years. We know you agree that AmeriCorps is an outstanding program which has proven successful in addressing our homeland security needs, leveraging volunteers, and improving the quality of services available to a broad range of Americans.

Unfortunately, as you know, the Corporation for National Service officially announced yesterday unprecedented and drastic funding cuts, from 50 to 95 percent in every state. These cuts mean that under the State Competitive funding stream the Corporation will only fund 2,036 volunteers, compared with 11,236 last year. Many states will see their volunteer allocations under the competitive stream drop by as much as 90 percent and 16 states are shut out completely.

In your 2002 State of the Union address, you called for every American to dedicate 4,000 hours to community service throughout their lives. In your 2004 budget request, you proposed increasing the number of AmeriCorps volunteers from 50,000 to 75,000. Unfortunately, due to serious errors made by the Corporation, fewer than half this number of Americans will be allowed to serve their country through service.

We should support, not oppose, efforts to encourage more Americans to enter public service. We should do everything in our power to reward the American men and women who have chosen to serve the country and their communities in the hope of meeting the nation's critical education, safety, health, and homeland security needs.

We urge you to request additional funding in the supplemental appropriations bill to ensure that AmeriCorps remains a strong and vital program today and in the future.

I guess I'd have solidarity with you re. NCLB. But, Kerry at least wants to throw more money at it so that maybe it could be done more effectively. Less of teaching 38 students to take a test and more of teaching 20-30 students about history, math, etc.

[whatinthehell]

My dad told me that Kerry wanted to cut funds from national service programs. I guess he was wrong. I need to look into that more to see how he got that idea.