Senior Corps or similar group. Yep. Last year 2 staff members at the local Area Agency on Aging and 8 volunteers - all at least 70YO - saved Medicare beneficiaries in the New River Valley of Virginia over $470,000 by helping them find the Medicare drug plans that were most economical for them. This was my 15th or 16th year at it. Many seniors in SW Virginia not only don't have access to a computer. Others don't know how to work the system even if the have a computer.
Other than supplies like paper and stamps, we volunteers were free service for the Agency. How's that for a start?
I am 100% in favor. But the idea of “national sacrifice” of any kind was killed dead in my mind when we saw the reaction to Covid precautions across the US in 2020. Or the woeful Canadian truck protest. There is a contingent who will scream about their rights and have zero sense of any responsibilities to others, and it’s just sort of baked into our modern American DNA at this point. But I’ve long loved the idea of a 1- or 2-year mandatory stint in the military or Americorps for everyone in this country, male or female, rich or poor.
BasIcally I agree and support your view. But "goes without saying" is usually a substitute for something between "I can't believe you're so stupid you didn't realize that" and "yeah, I thought it was obvious but I was mistaken." The take-home message I was left with felt like "what we need to do is this vast all-encompassing, freedom-impinging program." On the one hand, yeah, you spent (at least) ten times longer composing than I did reading, but on the other hand, probably most readers are like me.
I like your idea, but it sounds a little simplistic. Seems like it would be best to introduce gradually, incorporating additional elements depending on how things are going.
Yep- been preaching this without much success for more than 50 years.My three years in the Army and Vietnam service were invaluable. We think too much in terms of rights and far too little in terms of obligations. Keep up the good work Joe. .
Were I to live out the Organge Nightmare's dream and become a dictator for a day I'd go even further and require a period (1 year, 18 months, 2 years, something) of national service for all Americans upon turning 18. And I'd require that the national service requirement be served a minimum of 200 miles from your home.
I'd also create some sort of universal baby bond program...say $10,000 or $20,000, invested in Treasuries. Allow parents to make pre-tax contributions to the account up to a certain amount. And when the kid completes their national service they'd be allowed to make tax free withdrawls from the account to pay for tuition at a (legitimate) higher education institution, make a downpayment on a home (with an FHA compliant mortgage), start a business or roll funds over into a tax advantaged retirement plan. Or you could piss it all away on a tricked out truck---and pay a hefty withdrawal tax.
While I was at it I'd ban partisan primaries, expand House terms from 2 to 4 years and cap the size of districts at 400,000 people, limit Senators to a single 10 year term and ban them from running for president.
Joe; this is an excellent idea! Thanks…
Senior Corps or similar group. Yep. Last year 2 staff members at the local Area Agency on Aging and 8 volunteers - all at least 70YO - saved Medicare beneficiaries in the New River Valley of Virginia over $470,000 by helping them find the Medicare drug plans that were most economical for them. This was my 15th or 16th year at it. Many seniors in SW Virginia not only don't have access to a computer. Others don't know how to work the system even if the have a computer.
Other than supplies like paper and stamps, we volunteers were free service for the Agency. How's that for a start?
I am 100% in favor. But the idea of “national sacrifice” of any kind was killed dead in my mind when we saw the reaction to Covid precautions across the US in 2020. Or the woeful Canadian truck protest. There is a contingent who will scream about their rights and have zero sense of any responsibilities to others, and it’s just sort of baked into our modern American DNA at this point. But I’ve long loved the idea of a 1- or 2-year mandatory stint in the military or Americorps for everyone in this country, male or female, rich or poor.
BasIcally I agree and support your view. But "goes without saying" is usually a substitute for something between "I can't believe you're so stupid you didn't realize that" and "yeah, I thought it was obvious but I was mistaken." The take-home message I was left with felt like "what we need to do is this vast all-encompassing, freedom-impinging program." On the one hand, yeah, you spent (at least) ten times longer composing than I did reading, but on the other hand, probably most readers are like me.
I like your idea, but it sounds a little simplistic. Seems like it would be best to introduce gradually, incorporating additional elements depending on how things are going.
Yep- been preaching this without much success for more than 50 years.My three years in the Army and Vietnam service were invaluable. We think too much in terms of rights and far too little in terms of obligations. Keep up the good work Joe. .
I couldn't agree more.
Were I to live out the Organge Nightmare's dream and become a dictator for a day I'd go even further and require a period (1 year, 18 months, 2 years, something) of national service for all Americans upon turning 18. And I'd require that the national service requirement be served a minimum of 200 miles from your home.
I'd also create some sort of universal baby bond program...say $10,000 or $20,000, invested in Treasuries. Allow parents to make pre-tax contributions to the account up to a certain amount. And when the kid completes their national service they'd be allowed to make tax free withdrawls from the account to pay for tuition at a (legitimate) higher education institution, make a downpayment on a home (with an FHA compliant mortgage), start a business or roll funds over into a tax advantaged retirement plan. Or you could piss it all away on a tricked out truck---and pay a hefty withdrawal tax.
While I was at it I'd ban partisan primaries, expand House terms from 2 to 4 years and cap the size of districts at 400,000 people, limit Senators to a single 10 year term and ban them from running for president.