POST SCRIPTS

How is this different than Americorp and other similar "programs"?

Randall, if I'm reading you right, you nailed it!!! But remember...it will grow government which Hillary loves, it will cost the tax payers...OK by her, she's a woman of "wealth" now, and perhaps most important of all, it will buy some of the college age vote! Kids make great little pull toy voters.

Sounds to me like the first step to us having zampolits in our military. I guess the libs are feeling a little nostalgic for the good old USSR.

Tina, Randall, et al,

While I appreciate the publicity that you have brought to the U.S. Public Service Academy, I think you misunderstand the idea. I am one of the co-founders of the movement to build the Academy, and I think that you may find that it has a great deal of merit.

First of all, this idea extends far beyond Sen. Clinton or her campaign. She has co-sponsored the Senate legislation, but we have bipartisan support -- folks like Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rep. Tom Davis, as well as many military leaders (including the last three superintendents of West Point) are also behind the bill. They certainly are not interested in building a school to "clone Hillary," and neither are we.

This is not a Democratic idea, nor is it a Republican idea. It is an American idea. It promises to revitalize our public sector by developing stronger leadership. It is completely different from AmeriCorps, which is not a college at all but rather a one-year commitment to some form of service (usually in the private sector). We envision more of a "civilian West Point" that uses the military academies as models of how to build effective, character-driven leadership.

I encourage you and other readers to find out more about the movement to build the Public Service Academy by visiting:
http://www.uspublicserviceacademy.org.

Thanks,
Chris Myers Asch

Tonight I emailed the following letter to Chris Myers Asch. I thought you should be aware of my response and so decided to post it here:

Dear Chris

Thank you for responding to my post, “Cloning Hillary” on the blog Post Scripts. I appreciate your taking the time to tell us about your vision and giving us the opportunity to discover more about the Public Service Academy. I had no idea the Academy, or at least the promise of it, had been already been established.

My post was in response to an AP story by Page Ivey in which she said Senator Clinton “would create” a national academy. She then quoted the senator as saying, “I'm going to be asking a new generation to serve…I think just like our military academies, we need to give a totally all-paid education to young men and women who will serve their country in a public service position." This gave the impression that it was her own creation; an idea for a future project.

The title of my piece, as you no doubt realize, was an exaggeration meant to invite dialogue around Senator Clinton’s propensity to put all things, healthcare and education in particular, under government control or administration. From my point of view this is not an American idea at all but instead more closely resembles a socialist model. I support military academies because the Constitution calls on the federal government to provide for the defense of the nation. It has not likewise called on the federal government to be involved in education. I believe the private sector would accomplish a better result at a much lower cost and with less waste and therefore, if it were up to me, I would encourage reliance on the private sector to establish this Academy. The idea certainly has merit.

The American people should not be asked to pay more in taxes for special projects and programs. When we are asked to do so in order to further the ambitions of a career politician it becomes even more repugnant. I find it distressing also that many Americans are paying for higher educations for other people’s children, in the form of government grants, loans and subsidies, while they are unable to provide their own children a higher education. Bigger government (and the inevitable higher tax burden) is not what these families need.

Finally, Senate bill 690 acknowledges that young people are, on their own and in increasing numbers, volunteering time and energy to service through private charities and other service organizations. If they have not received adequate training for “service oriented” work it is a failing of both the secondary and higher educational institutions we now fund through government subsidy. This is not acceptable. An adequate well-rounded education should provide a degree of learning and strong character building that would support the student in almost any endeavor and would thus eliminate the need for a special academy.

In closing let me say I strongly agree that we need to build character and strong leadership qualities in our young people. It should be a big part of all educational experiences and at all levels of education. Sadly, in recent years, it has not. I do wish you well in your endeavors.

Sincerely,
Tina Grazier, Post Scripts

An excellent letter and I concur completely.

I received a pleasant response email from Chris Meyers Asch in which my concerns about layers of government and higher taxes were predictably ignored and the inevitable "promote the general welfare" was offered in defense.

I imagine this academy is a done deal if the good senator has anything to say (or do)about it. As Chris said, Hillary Clinton is "a go-getter."

For those interested Chris's email:

Thanks for your thoughtful response, Tina. I appreciate your taking the time to explain your views, though I may disagree.

The Constitution does not call on the federal government to be involved in education, but it does much more than just call for a military. The same Preamble clause that states that the government is created to "provide for the common defence" also outlines government's other duties: "establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty." The exact meaning of those injunctions are debatable, of course, but they surely include the kinds of fields in which Public Service Academy students would be placed: law enforcement, emergency management, health care, etc.

Sen. Clinton is indeed using this idea to advance her cause. She is a politician; she trades in political ideas. Was she the person I thought would become our champion? No. When I wrote the proposal, I thought John McCain would be the ideal champion, and I went to him right away. Unfortunately, I could not get through the thicket of his staff, and I don't believe Sen. McCain ever actually saw the proposal. Sen. Clinton, whatever you may think of her, is a go-getter. She read about our idea and took the initiative to call us up. I was not going to turn away a sitting U.S. senator.

America's colleges and universities are not doing the job of instilling a sense of civic obligation, despite many millions of federal tax dollars. Volunteering is not the same as public service -- it is important, but not sufficient. Our public institutions need a shot in the arm. Obviously, I think the Public Service Academy could provide it.

Take care,
Chris

Chris Myers Asch
U.S. Public Service Academy
1225 I Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
202-712-9121
Fax: 202-789-1116
http://www.uspublicserviceacademy.org
"Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has come."
Victor Hugo

That last quote is a nice touch but it does not say anything about government making sure a things 'time has come". I would add to Hugo's quote..there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come, implemented by individuals through creativity, promotion/work and enrollment.

Government is often called into play when an "idea" will not, or does not, sell on it's own merit. Our friendly leftists force many ideas through government for this very reason...and pay for it with our dimes.

I want to know what "public service" these people are going to provide. Is this just another way of dressing up public assistance? I was an enlisted man in the Navy, that means I didn't go to one of the academies and become an officer. I mention this because it bothers and insults me that Clinton insinuates, a free education is why people go to West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs or New London. Someone needs to tell that stupid #unt the education our officers and enlisted receive is repaid 10 fold.
Oh, and one more thing. You either have integrity or you don't. You either have character or you don't. You either have morals or you don't. No school in the world can give them to you. Bill Clinton is proof of that!

Toby I believe the idea here is to hone skills that create effective administrators and support personnel in organizations like FEMA or even in a senators office..."public" service positions. Like I've said, universities should be providing all students who would want to go into this type of work adequate education & training.

You either have integrity or you don't. You either have character or you don't. You either have morals or you don't. No school in the world can give them to you. Bill Clinton is proof of that!

It certainly demonstrates there are no guarantees! it isn't something you attach to yourself...like a bumper sticker.