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Obama's Call to Service Meets the Economic Meltdown
On Monday afternoon I got a blast email from the Obama campaign. I immediately wondered what I was going to be asked to do: Donate to the Franken campaign? Make calls for Jim Martin down in Georgia?
It turned out to be neither. The campaign was letting me know that barackobama.com was directing visitors to volunteer for -- or donate to -- relief efforts to aid the victims of the Southern California fires.
"Throughout the campaign," said the email, "we saw time and again that when ordinary people act together, they can make a huge difference."
Obama's high-tech outreach has been instrumental in getting people across the country to donate millions of dollars and contribute millions of hours working on the campaign. Will it now become a hub for civic action?
Obama has always said that a call to service would be "a central cause" of his presidency. "We will ask Americans to serve," he said in a signature speech in July. "We will create new opportunities for Americans to serve. And we will direct that service to our most pressing challenges."
Clearly, those challenges have never been more pressing in our lifetime. As unemployment hits a 14 year high -- and heading higher -- layoffs mount, foreclosures stack up, and local governments throughout America gird themselves for a coming wave of service cutbacks and hospital closures, we have metaphorical fires burning all across the country. Fires that threaten to turn into a social conflagration.
In the past, Americans could look to the safety net of social programs put in place by FDR during the Great Depression to mitigate the effects of an economic downturn. But, as Steven Greenhouse documented in Sunday's New York Times, the U.S. has become a "far different place" since the recession of the early '80s: unemployment insurance is less generous, welfare has been scaled back, as have job training and housing programs.
These holes in the social safety net make a commitment to service even more urgent. This is a moment where it isn't enough to look to the government; it's a moment where we need to look to each other -- and to ourselves.
Obama clearly understands this. "In America," he has said, "each of us is free to seek our own dreams, but we must also serve a common purpose, a higher purpose... Because, when it comes to the challenges we face, the American people are not the problem -- they are the answer."
This statement speaks volumes about Obama's belief that "government depends not just on the consent of the governed, but on the service of citizens."
We've seen the American people rise to the call of service time and again in times of national tragedy -- witness the outpouring of money and volunteerism in the wake of disasters like Hurricane Katrina or the 9/11 attacks. After 9/11, Americans showed they were eager to work for the common good, to be called to that higher purpose. It was the best of times amidst the worst of times.
And people's willingness to be "the answer" has been on display again in the torrent of volunteers stepping forward in response to the Southern California fires.
"I'm not super-heroic," volunteer Paul Prunty told the Los Angeles Times. "But I know it's not up to anybody else to make the world a better place; it's up to me." "We are them," a Red Cross volunteer said of the fire's victims. "And they are us."
So Obama doesn't need to convince the American people of the value of service; his challenge is finding a way to direct that national impulse into an ongoing effort to deal with the dark days that unquestionably lie ahead.
This will take more than soaring rhetoric and online calls to action. Every president pays lip service to service. Even President Bush, in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, declared: "We have much to do, and much to ask of the American people." A month later he echoed the theme, saying simply: "America is sacrifice." Of course, the sum total of that sacrifice turned out to be shopping, going to Disney World, and offering tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans.
Obama must turn his words into action and follow through on his promise to emulate FDR's Civilian Conservation Corps, JFK's Peace Corps, and LBJ's Vista.
The president-elect plainly has the right vision for the role that service can -- and must -- play in addressing the urgent needs our country faces. Especially among the nation's young people who were so galvanized by his campaign, but who will now find it increasingly hard to get a job or to be able to afford to stay in school.
There are, of course, some on the political fringes already mounting their pushback, as Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia did, comparing Obama's call for national service to "what Hitler did in Nazi Germany" and "what the Soviet Union did." Jonah Goldberg likened it to "slavery" (of course, Goldberg's latest advice on dealing with the financial meltdown is for Obama to do nothing).
Perhaps one good thing that will come out of the hard times will be a collective willingness to ignore such bleating -- and to do what so clearly needs to be done to ameliorate the human suffering those hard times have brought.
A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.
And the consequences of the crisis are not just economic -- they're also psychological. In his latest column, David Brooks paints a gloomy picture of the coming psychic toll he predicts will envelop what he calls the "formerly middle class." It's a toll that would be greatly lessened if those heading for "a perilous psychological spiral" would look outside themselves and, at the same time they are trying to improve their diminished circumstances, find ways to serve others even less fortunate -- bringing both perspective and meaning to their lives.
"The ultimate measure of a man or woman," said Martin Luther King, "is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
By reminding us that "our destiny as Americans is tied up with one another," Obama has the chance to do more than put out the economic fires burning all around us. He has the chance to help reconnect us to the ideals of America's founding.
From the beginning, America has been dedicated to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." But, for our founders, the happiness that was to be pursued was not the buzz of a shopping-spree high. It was the happiness of the Book of Proverbs: "Happy is he that has mercy on the poor." It was the happiness that comes from feeling good by doing good.
If Obama can inspire us to include service to others on our to-do list and, in the process, redefine the way Americans view the pursuit of happiness, his will truly be a transformational presidency.
If you are going to be in the St. Louis area, I will be speaking at Maryville University on Tuesday, November 25th.
Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff
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Ms. Huffington,
Thank you very much for writing this article, as always you are spot-on! One exciting initiative that would answer the desperate call to service our country needs is the United States Public Service Academy. This organization has identical bills before the House and Senate to establish a four-year federally funded public service academy, much like a military academy, that would require its graduates to dedicate five years of service. This would infuse our public sector at the local, state, and federal level with highly-trained, skilled public servants prepared to meet the new challenges of the twenty-first century. Not only do would Academy students receive a well-rounded liberal arts education, they would also receive on-the-job training in internships in emergency response, non-profit, and the military.
It is imperative that these bills pass immediately in the first 100 days of the new Congress. Please check out more information at www.uspublicserviceacademy.org and get behind the movement! If established, the Academy would welcome its first group of freshmen in the Fall of 2009!
I hope you are right, but I get the impression that the people have already been called to service too deeply in their lost savings and home values.
People have too many babies that they cannot afford, increasing the population. More people need to = more jobs. Jobs are determined by business. Business is created by the economy. The economy is set in motion with money from employed Americans. No employment = no $$ = no spending = business failure = job losses. Another cause for unemployment in the category of employable Americans are the number of people ages 16-19 who are taking jobs and working hard. One could argue we should give their jobs to employable people who have to earn money to pay their bills to live. Hmmm...... Words from a SWF, entrepreneur with no children, 2 dogs and is frustrated with Bush and this economy like everyone else. Hopefully Obama will save the day.
Americans have always been generous givers.....the problem is that the people who
collect the donations don't always do what they should with the money that is donated.
Sometimes people in charge of getting the money for any disaster, seem to think that
they deserve a large salary (out of the amounts collected) for themselves.
As to the economy.....the government pays out a huge amount of money for benefits to people
who are able to work.....they need a work program so these people can earn what they
collect from the government. This doesn't mean elderly or disabled....just those who
have lived off government money for a long time.
This country is so far behind emerging well to do countries, that we need to start building
transportation systems that work for mass transit....
There is so much work and repair that needs to be done in America, that the government
could put some of the bail-out money and welfare money and other benefit money to work for
the good of all.
Via the email from the Obama campaign I found out that the Sylmar Neighborhood Council needed volunteers to organize the donations made for victims of the Sylmar fire. On my way to the relief staging area I drove past part of the burn area, including the destroyed trailer park (where some families were sorting through the rubble of what was once their home). The televised images were horrible, but this was worse.
The volunteer work was easy -- I helped move a tent for shade, then went to work sorting shoes, while others did the same with clothes, kitchen essentials, toiletries. Although there were a fair number of others 30 and older, the majority of we volunteers were college students (a great number from UCLA) ... and kids under 18 were well represented too!
One thing I learned today: when you donate shoes, tie the pairs together (but NOT with duct tape, especially on a nice pair of suede boots). Trying to find a pair amongst a thousand shoes can be done, but doing so is not really an efficient use of time when there's so much to be done.
I don't understand why some of the posters here are saying the Obama campaign was somehow wrong to make it easier for people like myself who feel a responsibility to walk the talk.
Via the email
We need an American Peoples Plan it’s not just the homeowners who are stressed, it’s all American’s.
I say give all American people who have filed a tax return or hold a legal social security card $5,000 dollars a year for the next four years tax free and lower the interest rate to 4% and we will get the economy moving again and restored confidence and hope.
To use an election slogan (IT’S THE CONSUMER, STUPID!) we're giving steaks and filet mignon to Wall Street, the banks and other institutions and peanuts to Main Street.
Main Street didn’t create this mess Congress is spending AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS for all these bailouts they should get their priorities straight.
It doesn't matter how much prices drop American consumers are not going to be able to buy!!!
That's because Americans have no real money in their pockets We don’t need more credit cards or loans we need real money in our wallets and fair paying jobs. Otherwise we are doomed to fail.
Enough is Enough. Decade after decade were always bailing out the wrong institutions and the wrong people! I have seen this same story played over and over again since Nixon.
Why aren't American's taking to the streets for immediate economic action (like the Gays are against Prop 8)? If ever there was a time for massive demonstrations, this is it!
Barack Obama is working as hard as possible to get a transition team in place. And he's doing it faster than any President-elect in history. Its time for American citizens to help him NOW by demanding Bush enact Obama's strategies.
If you want to stop Bush before he causes more damage, TELL him what to do - don't wait for the idiot to act on his own. Demand that he listens to Obama not Cheney and Paulson.
I know Americans don't like the French, but there is something to be learned from their "social activism" through civil disobedience to keep their government in line.
Massive demonstrations in America ORDERING Bush to "listen" to Obama is the only way to prevent economic disaster.
Despite being a couple of "marbles" short of "intelligent", Bush may want to do something for his legacy.
The world is on your side. Copy the Europeans and "march in masses" before its too late. Ordinary citizens brought down the iron curtain. Americans have the same power to bring change now.
By the time Obama takes office, you could be in a depression that even Obama can't fix. After all, he's only human - not a Messiah. By helping him and taking to the streets, you'll be helping yourselves!!!
Your generalization that Americans do not like the French people is misinformed. There is a reputation of snootiness that Americans accuse the French people of possessing, but that's because American travelers largely enter any foreign land with a sense of superiority and entitlement. Some are traveling for the first time (I read somewhere that less than fifteen percent of all Americans have a passport, whereas the ratio for Europeans eclipses seventy percent). Some of this faux-animosity is perpetuated by a hang-over from WWII, with the likes of Howard Stern labeling the French "lambs" and "surrender monkeys," which completely ignores the noble work of the French underground, as well as the ecstatic reception American G.I.s received in Paris.
In my experience if you enter another country with the idea that you are a guest of that country, thinks go much more amicably. For example, even if you speak horrible French, if you give it a try and struggle through the locals will admire your efforts and see you in a different and accurate light of showing them respect; then THEY will turn the conversation into English, which nearly every French person speaks.
Despite the foreign policy horrors of the past eight years, I was never looked upon with animosity. Europeans love Americans by and large; they made it very clear that it was our Bush & Co. government that they vehemently disagreed with, not our people. I never had to pretend to be Canadian.
For years Americans mistreated other Americans. For years some of the people here were fed the propaganda we are superior of the human race, we are a super power , we are upper class we set the rules for the rest.
That attitude will have to change because we voted our major manufacturing jobs to china,
They are in control, they loan us money with interest. If it takes years to pay off a credit card debt, owing almost $3 trillion to other countries, it will take the next 50 generations with the low wage jobs most Americans have and will have for years to come.
The stores have so many self check-out stalls. These self Ck-out stalls don't make the foods or other products and cheaper, only put people out of work and young people without a future job.
We stop buying American made products for years and wonder why their children are turning to gangs to beat up 0ld people and women.
Well said. Those who mock the French as "surrender monkeys," have no idea how fortunate the US was to have the Atlantic Ocean between it and Nazi Germany in 1940. Our soldiers were training with wooden sticks for "guns."
If the British had not had the good fortune to have invented radar in the nick of time, the Battle of Britain might have gone to the Germans, and Nazi occupation would have surely followed. As you noted, the French underground were very brave soldiers in the battle against Hitler.
That the French did not completely disown us during the childish and embarrassing "freedom fries" stupidity, shows a maturity far above some of our fellow citizens.
I'd like to call on George Bush, Cheney, the entire Republican party to serve. GOB's have money and power. Where are they? In our family we lead by example, not by directive.
Simply, folks are hurting and need help. While the government can do some, it can't and shouldn't be expected to do it all. We have to help each other. Many non-profits are broke and need volunteers to pick up the slack. So, those of you that are doing that, bless you. Those of you that are spending your hours only blogging about it, get out of your chairs and give some of your time and talent to make life a little bit easier for someone else. No need to wait as there are many opportunities in your communities. You'll be making a real difference and will feel great doing it. Some day, it could be you that needs a hand.
The thing that give me heart about the Obama group all ready is they identfiy the problem and then go into action to cure it. They do not try to hide it like the Bush adminstration has done for the last eight years. It is freshing to have someone in office that says we have a problem but here is how we (we meaning the citizens of the United States) can cure it by taking these actions. I would like to give fair warning to the Republican who wnat to stand in the way of progress they have lost two elections and may never win another if that don't get postive or get out of the way.
respectfully, if he keeps filling his cabinet posts with clintonistas and foreign policy 'hawks', i'm not donating another dime to anything! it's like he wants to keep the iraq 'gig' going, or something, with the gates/clinton/jones national security team. BAD BAD BAD news! VERY DISAPPOINTED! should have been hagel/richardson/clark. wth is he thinking? this is BAD!!!!!! and i never donated to any other campaign since carter! i even donated to the red cross for the first time,because i was inspired by barack. and i donated to tinklenberg, even! wth was i thinking? over $400 down the drain gettin' 'hoodwinked'.
Did it ever, EVER, ever occur to any negative thinking person about PE Obama he know we are in two wars and during this transition with troops in a war zone not to remove the Defense Sec. during this time. The other people such as hagel or clark may have turn down that job because they may want to do something else.
Sitting miles aways from the action of this major importance, feeling hoodwinked, when giving from the heart should be the inspiration if you could afford to share and provide much needed support.
PE Obama are electing people who does have knowledge to start on day on January 20th, 2009. We the people have been driven over the cliff into a very deep hole. We are so deep, it spread world wide.
Just part of the presidents jobs is the United States being fixed, but we have to also work with other countries so they will trust us again. If not we can go deeper because they can call in their bonds for money immediate. The stock markets has crashed so many time, we don't turn to look at the wreckage any more to look for the bodies.
"Obama has always said that a call to service would be "a central cause" of his presidency." and we have to hope that will prove to be the case. These are hard times and there will be some more. As the "Big 3" are forced to admit that if it takes the top 20 execs combined salary at Toyota to match the salary of the CEO of GM and your company is forced to pay workers "not to work", you have a serious disadvantage in the market place.
For it to work, he has to bring Republicans, Democrats and those in the middle together. People need to admit, the election is over, stop the constant hate mongering toward Republicans and Bush. People will not work long beside other people that spew constant anger and hate.
Time to focus on what needs to be accomplished, how best to accomplish it and then get as many people as possible to volunteer. Obama will have to establish clear goals, clear time lines and organizations that are positive in nature, encourging and supportive of the volunteers.
You guys aren't going to have that excuse of the bad old Bush thing to fall back on for long. No, wait--today I saw someone say it would last "generations." Well, that ought to give you all the wiggle room you need. And, by the way, all the laid off people trying to scratch up freelance anc contracting work aren't impressed by a call for people to work for free.
There's a difference between "working for free" and doing volunteer work for one's community. But then I wouldn't expect conservatives to be able to distinguish between the two, since community is an alien concept to you.
A ridiculous post. If you perform any sort of OBJECTIVE analysis, you will discover that conservatives as a whole donate far more $$ to charity than liberals and contribute far more time than you realize..
It's funny how things "change" after winning an election on false promises.
The core of the Obama campaign was to begin immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
That was going to fund the "Health Care For Everyone."
Not a word. . . . just "oh what a mess he's inheriting."
And meanwhile, loading his cabinet with lobbyist and Clinton retreads.
But, you folks pulled it off. I've got to hand it to you there.
With which "lobbyists" has Obama "loaded his cabinet", care to expound? It was McCain who peopled his campaign with the many lobbyists he has known and loved for his 26 years of being on the take. The Clinton years were the last time this country was blessed with prosperity and peace, why not use Clinton era expertise? Most Americans would welcome a return to those times.
Yes, Obama has inherited a mess, thanks to Bush & Co.. The total meltdown of the economy is going to have to put health care on the back burner
When the Shrub asked for "Faith-Based Initiatives" and for Americans to "volunteer" it was because he was about to cut education, health-care and Social Security in favor of giving big business corporate welfare (in other words suckers, you are all on your own). Obama is dealing with the worst economic crisis in over 70 years, asking for us to pitch-in in this time of crisis, is not onerous, considering the present circumstances.
ummmm,craig?
i have t o regretfully agree.
Some people are scared of the hope and possibility that something positive might happen in this country now they want to criticise about someone doing something positive. How about spending some of that energy helping get us out of this ditch.
ummm... one small problem with the crap you're spewing, brodon. Obama is not president until January 20th.
yup yup he coulda started withdrawin' them troops already and he ain't so i kin yell at them america-hatin' liberals about it!
What a joke.
how old are you?
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