Supporting Introduction And Passage Of The Citizen-Initiated American World
Service Corps
WHEREAS:
The World Service Corps (WSC) cost-effectively involves more than a
million skilled, can-do Americans aged 18-60+ in working on world and domestic
problems, and thereby gives them a deeper understanding, concern for and
ability to practically address domestic and international policy needs, while
raising America's political IQ; and
WHEREAS:
The WSC invests in America's education, health and economy through
tuition, medical savings or IRA account investments, (which at $15,000 is
one-sixth of the recruitment bonus presently offered to military recruits) to
those who complete WSC service and thereby helps strengthen our knowledge of
world and domestic needs, educational and economic competitiveness and our
citizenry's understanding of and voting on public policy needs at home and in
the world; and
WHEREAS:
A one-million strong WSC offers a cost-effective, robust, peaceful army
to augment our courageous 1.4 million military personnel; and thereby
productively answers the increasingly alarming and costly spread of the
critically dangerous "Ugly American" image, terrorist recruitment,
poverty, environmental degradation and misunderstandings that inspire hatred,
by involving many more of America's best assets, its concerned, patriotic
citizens, in addressing worldwide needs;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sonoma County Democratic
Central Committee proclaims our support for the introduction and passage of the
AWSC concepts into legislation, which encompasses the goal espoused by
President Kennedy’s words: “And so, my
fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do
for your country. My fellow citizens of
the world: ask not what
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sonoma County Democratic
Central Committee distribute copies of this resolution to Senators Feinstein and Boxer, members of the
US House of Representatives, California Senate, and California Assembly
representing Sonoma County, to such media outlets as the Public
Relations Committee may deem appropriate; and to Democratic clubs in Sonoma
County, and to all other California county Democratic central committees for
consideration and support; and that the Sonoma County Democratic Central
Committee transmit such correspondence as may advance the principles of this
resolution.
The Sonoma
County Democratic Central Committee adds its support, as did the California
State Democratic Party on January 28, 2006, to Peoples Lobby’s
citizen-initiated American World Service Corps Congressional Proposals, which
by the seventh year after its enactment will add one million additional
American volunteers into serving country and world through such organizations
as the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, Doctors
Without Borders, Red Cross, International Rescue Committee, OxFam, Mercy Corps,
and State Conservation Corps.
Adapted
from Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director, People’s Lobby
Distinguished Senior Consultant for Public Policy, OPS-Alaska