Comments on: AmeriCorps Vindicated in Baltimore Sun http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/ Author James Bovard Mon, 21 May 2012 17:25:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: PB http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/#comment-120694 PB Wed, 27 May 2009 06:27:28 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=898#comment-120694 If something is worth doing well, it's worth building a bureaucracy that consumes 70% of the operating budget to get it done. This way, more people can enjoy the act of getting things done and if we're really lucky, we can reach Mandatory Full Employment Volunteerism. Any commercial realtor in Washington knows that, stupid. If something is worth doing well, it’s worth building a bureaucracy that consumes 70% of the operating budget to get it done. This way, more people can enjoy the act of getting things done and if we’re really lucky, we can reach Mandatory Full Employment Volunteerism. Any commercial realtor in Washington knows that, stupid.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/#comment-120680 Jim Mon, 18 May 2009 12:39:21 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=898#comment-120680 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/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/#comment-120679 Will Morriset Mon, 18 May 2009 01:58:49 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=898#comment-120679 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. 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: Dirk W. Sabin http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/#comment-120669 Dirk W. Sabin Mon, 11 May 2009 14:39:56 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=898#comment-120669 Ahhhh yes....the "intense training"...something always required whence attempting good deeds. Intense training requires a proper venue and videos and catering and lecturers and handouts in binders and janitors and press releases and , for the top echelon, a resort retreat every now and then so the leadership can practice "team building" . I know this is a difficult concept for some folks to "wrap their head around"...but the point is not whether anyone disdains the notion of "community service", "charity" or passing out winter coats but when the Federal Government gets involved with anything, those winter coats are the least of their worries no matter how much they might sing stirring songs about them beause the Federal Government has a single task in mind :Glorifying the Federal Government as a cover for handing neat stacks of freshly minted bills to whatever charlatan seems to be working the racket most effectively. Don't get me wrong, all government is not bad, this would be a childish notion...it's just that this government is not only bad, its ALL BAD.......no matter how much good is intended. It can't help itself, it's like a defrocked priest, eyeballing the kiddies as they go by from his gutter perch, drinking Father Cribari wine in the manner of that fine Tom Waits song."Alter Boy". Ahhhh yes….the “intense training”…something always required whence attempting good deeds. Intense training requires a proper venue and videos and catering and lecturers and handouts in binders and janitors and press releases and , for the top echelon, a resort retreat every now and then so the leadership can practice “team building” .

I know this is a difficult concept for some folks to “wrap their head around”…but the point is not whether anyone disdains the notion of “community service”, “charity” or passing out winter coats but when the Federal Government gets involved with anything, those winter coats are the least of their worries no matter how much they might sing stirring songs about them beause the Federal Government has a single task in mind :Glorifying the Federal Government as a cover for handing neat stacks of freshly minted bills to whatever charlatan seems to be working the racket most effectively.

Don’t get me wrong, all government is not bad, this would be a childish notion…it’s just that this government is not only bad, its ALL BAD…….no matter how much good is intended. It can’t help itself, it’s like a defrocked priest, eyeballing the kiddies as they go by from his gutter perch, drinking Father Cribari wine in the manner of that fine Tom Waits song.”Alter Boy”.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/#comment-120668 Jim Mon, 11 May 2009 14:17:36 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=898#comment-120668 Christy - what is your definition of "service to your country"? AmeriCorps portrays practically any good deed (at least any deed done under federal auspices) as service to the nation. I have never been able to understand that core notion... Christy - what is your definition of “service to your country”?

AmeriCorps portrays practically any good deed (at least any deed done under federal auspices) as service to the nation.

I have never been able to understand that core notion…

]]> By: alpowolf http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/#comment-120667 alpowolf Mon, 11 May 2009 14:12:42 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=898#comment-120667 "Many talented individuals are eager to serve their country and community." If they are so eager to serve, then government intervention is not necessary. Americorps is based on the ludicrous premise that community does not exist without government. “Many talented individuals are eager to serve their country and community.”

If they are so eager to serve, then government intervention is not necessary. Americorps is based on the ludicrous premise that community does not exist without government.

]]> By: Christy http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/#comment-120666 Christy Mon, 11 May 2009 13:58:38 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=898#comment-120666 They are professional because they receive intense training. And what's wrong with winter coat drives or Christmas baskets? Is that not revolutionary enough for you? It's evident that you haven't spent much time in communities where something as simple as having breakfast before school or owning a warm winter coat is a luxury. Indeed, AmeriCorps members do much more than simply collect coats - they work towards building the guidelines, knowledge and experience to implement sustainable, community-led change. Sometimes, that takes years to achieve and it's often difficult to measure. But then again, it doesn't surprise me that you can't wrap your head around how it works. In fact, I bet it's safe to assume that you've done relatively little in service to your country. They are professional because they receive intense training. And what’s wrong with winter coat drives or Christmas baskets? Is that not revolutionary enough for you? It’s evident that you haven’t spent much time in communities where something as simple as having breakfast before school or owning a warm winter coat is a luxury. Indeed, AmeriCorps members do much more than simply collect coats - they work towards building the guidelines, knowledge and experience to implement sustainable, community-led change. Sometimes, that takes years to achieve and it’s often difficult to measure. But then again, it doesn’t surprise me that you can’t wrap your head around how it works. In fact, I bet it’s safe to assume that you’ve done relatively little in service to your country.

]]> By: Dirk W. Sabin http://jimbovard.com/blog/2009/05/08/americorps-vindicated-in-baltimore-sun/#comment-120654 Dirk W. Sabin Fri, 08 May 2009 17:45:54 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/?p=898#comment-120654 If something is worth doing well, it's worth building a bureaucracy that consumes 70% of the operating budget to get it done. This way, more people can enjoy the act of getting things done and if we're really lucky, we can reach Mandatory Full Employment Volunteerism. Any commercial realtor in Washington knows that, stupid. If something is worth doing well, it’s worth building a bureaucracy that consumes 70% of the operating budget to get it done. This way, more people can enjoy the act of getting things done and if we’re really lucky, we can reach Mandatory Full Employment Volunteerism. Any commercial realtor in Washington knows that, stupid.

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