Comments on: Saluting AmeriCorps in IBD http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/04/28/saluting-americorps-in-ibd/ Author James Bovard Mon, 21 May 2012 17:23:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/04/28/saluting-americorps-in-ibd/#comment-120681 Jim Mon, 18 May 2009 12:39:54 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=877#comment-120681 I saw a Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps project when I visited Mississippi in '99. The HH projects seem to be above average for what AmeriCorps projects, and I did not make any criticisms of that Miss. project in the articles I did back then. I think the vast increase in the size of AmeriCorps will prove to be an utter nightmare as far as oversight and quality standards. Habitat for Humanity projects, in contrast to most AmeriCorps efforts, involve real work and measurable outputs. Habitat for Humanity existed long before AmeriCorps was created, and Habitat thrived without federal assistance. It can do so again. (There are also questions about the effect on Habitat of becoming at least somewhat dependent on federally-provided labor). Another issue - the nation has a glut of housing at this point, and producing even more low-cost homes will likely not help a revival in the housing market. I saw a Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps project when I visited Mississippi in ‘99. The HH projects seem to be above average for what AmeriCorps projects, and I did not make any criticisms of that Miss. project in the articles I did back then.

I think the vast increase in the size of AmeriCorps will prove to be an utter nightmare as far as oversight and quality standards. Habitat for Humanity projects, in contrast to most AmeriCorps efforts, involve real work and measurable outputs.

Habitat for Humanity existed long before AmeriCorps was created, and Habitat thrived without federal assistance. It can do so again. (There are also questions about the effect on Habitat of becoming at least somewhat dependent on federally-provided labor). Another issue - the nation has a glut of housing at this point, and producing even more low-cost homes will likely not help a revival in the housing market.

]]> By: Will Morriset http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/04/28/saluting-americorps-in-ibd/#comment-120678 Will Morriset Mon, 18 May 2009 01:55:35 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=877#comment-120678 Your editorial in IBD today really stung. I worked for Knoxville Habitat for Humanity from Aug 2006- Aug 2007 as a carpenter during the week and a crew leader on the weekends. Following college, I chose not to take the highest paying job I could find or move to a beach town and chase girls. I took a job that paid $11,500 plus the worst health coverage that I've ever received, for what? I worked 40 - 60 hours a week building houses for/with the working poor. I finished every day tired, sweaty, callused, and happy with what work I had accomplished. To be blunt - I worked my fucking ass off. My point is, I am disappointed with your one sided portrayal of AmeriCorps programs. To me, it cheapens the hard work that many people have done. It was already cheap enough - I think I got less than minimum wage all told. I know people who worked in the worthless programs you discussed but to give no credit the the tangible and useful work done is irresponsible. I helped construct 28 new homes, renovate 3, maintain our relatively large construction warehouse, and went to Mississippi to help with 2 homes for Katrina victims and taught countless people carpentry, roofing, siding, electrical, wood trim work, and masonry. Put that in your next article where you list the useful things that Americorps can do. **** I would like to make an additional point: I couldn't agree more on the poor choice of 'branding' Americorps as volunteers. It never made sense to me. I made sacrifices and provided a needed service but I was paid. It's a poor title. I do feel strongly that the service and sacrifice need to be fairly recognized both by Americorps leadership and the media as a whole. Your editorial in IBD today really stung. I worked for Knoxville Habitat for Humanity from Aug 2006- Aug 2007 as a carpenter during the week and a crew leader on the weekends. Following college, I chose not to take the highest paying job I could find or move to a beach town and chase girls. I took a job that paid $11,500 plus the worst health coverage that I’ve ever received, for what? I worked 40 - 60 hours a week building houses for/with the working poor. I finished every day tired, sweaty, callused, and happy with what work I had accomplished. To be blunt - I worked my fucking ass off.

My point is, I am disappointed with your one sided portrayal of AmeriCorps programs. To me, it cheapens the hard work that many people have done. It was already cheap enough - I think I got less than minimum wage all told. I know people who worked in the worthless programs you discussed but to give no credit the the tangible and useful work done is irresponsible.

I helped construct 28 new homes, renovate 3, maintain our relatively large construction warehouse, and went to Mississippi to help with 2 homes for Katrina victims and taught countless people carpentry, roofing, siding, electrical, wood trim work, and masonry.

Put that in your next article where you list the useful things that Americorps can do.
****
I would like to make an additional point: I couldn’t agree more on the poor choice of ‘branding’ Americorps as volunteers. It never made sense to me. I made sacrifices and provided a needed service but I was paid. It’s a poor title. I do feel strongly that the service and sacrifice need to be fairly recognized both by Americorps leadership and the media as a whole.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/04/28/saluting-americorps-in-ibd/#comment-120622 Jim Fri, 01 May 2009 19:42:00 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=877#comment-120622 I suspect that Vice President Biden would summon the bomb squad if people started hugging each other at such a perilous time. I suspect that Vice President Biden would summon the bomb squad if people started hugging each other at such a perilous time.

]]> By: Dirk W. Sabin http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/04/28/saluting-americorps-in-ibd/#comment-120621 Dirk W. Sabin Fri, 01 May 2009 17:45:57 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=877#comment-120621 Perhaps some of these new Americorps paid -volunteers (something only invented in Washington) can be put to work dispensing hugs to everyone as inflation starts to ratchet up to breathtaking levels not too far down the road. Let us not forget the poetry reading...Poetry and Hugs.. an Inflation Safety Net . Hugs for the blasted peasantry, let them eat tofu cake. Perhaps some of these new Americorps paid -volunteers (something only invented in Washington) can be put to work dispensing hugs to everyone as inflation starts to ratchet up to breathtaking levels not too far down the road. Let us not forget the poetry reading…Poetry and Hugs.. an Inflation Safety Net . Hugs for the blasted peasantry, let them eat tofu cake.

]]> By: Tory II http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/04/28/saluting-americorps-in-ibd/#comment-120620 Tory II Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:14:48 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=877#comment-120620 The dems have Americorps and Acorn, the repubs have faith-based initiatives (and a few other doubtful organizations.) Both sides are destroying the country. "In Amerika, democratic elections are about determining who the next dictators will be. The winners get to bully the losers." The dems have Americorps and Acorn, the repubs have faith-based initiatives (and a few other doubtful organizations.)

Both sides are destroying the country.

“In Amerika, democratic elections are about determining who the next dictators will be. The winners get to bully the losers.”

]]> By: Marc http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/04/28/saluting-americorps-in-ibd/#comment-120617 Marc Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:00:21 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=877#comment-120617 Has it ever occurred to the morons advocating an expansion of AmeriCorps that the best way to help Americans would be to simply reduce taxes, regulations, and the relentless debasement of the currency? Oh, I forgot - there is nothing in that solution to enhance their political careers. Creating legions of young tax feeders does a much better in that regard. Has it ever occurred to the morons advocating an expansion of AmeriCorps that the best way to help Americans would be to simply reduce taxes, regulations, and the relentless debasement of the currency? Oh, I forgot - there is nothing in that solution to enhance their political careers. Creating legions of young tax feeders does a much better in that regard.

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