tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505835644257098137.post2467541775391685825..comments2009-02-05T21:06:13.772-05:00Chris Connellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12463300790544833437noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505835644257098137.post-1073007608530551732009-02-05T21:06:00.000-05:002009-02-05T21:06:00.000-05:00Great - A bigger government. Europe certainly proves that bigger government works. Permanent unemployment at 10% HERE WE COME!!!! I'm all for that change. *snickers*<BR/><BR/>How about rendition. Nice pickup on that one. Obama removes Gitmo but allows the practice of rendition to remain. Now that's some change we can believe in.<BR/><BR/>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4425135/Barack-Obama-to-allow-anti-terror-rendition-to-continue.htmlMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09963805235373190659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505835644257098137.post-15316971849154598412009-02-04T11:40:00.000-05:002009-02-04T11:40:00.000-05:00I do realize that, and of the objections I listed, this is probably lowest on my list, as it is in part related to providing employment. <BR/><BR/>As I understand it, this money is an expansion of the AmeriCorps program. It has also swelled to $200 million in the Senate. <BR/><BR/>The money is <A HREF="http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/statements_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1215" REL="nofollow">allocated as such:</A><BR/><BR/>* $65 million for AmeriCorps State and National grants<BR/>* $65 million for AmeriCorps VISTA<BR/>* $13 million for research related to volunteer service<BR/>* $10 million for AmeriCorps NCCC<BR/>* $6 million for upgrades to information technology<BR/>* $1 million for State Commissions<BR/><BR/>* $40 million for the National Service Trust<BR/><BR/>I don't know what the National Service Trust is or what it does. I also don't know what is meant by "state and national grants," which comprises the same amount of money that is directed into the VISTA program, and six and a half times the amount directed into NCCC - both of which, per my understanding, are the actual volunteer wings of AmeriCorps.<BR/><BR/>While I do think there are very valid reasons to expand AmeriCorps, I'm not sure that I agree that it should be done in the context of this stimulus package - especially if it is creating partisan strife over how the money is allocated. Creating 16,000 "paid internships" or volunteer positions isn't the same thing as building permanent, long-lasting jobs. Can you contend that these internships ultimately impact the overall economy? Yes, you can. But is it the immediate jolt that we need, which is ultimately the purpose of this legislation? I don't know.<BR/><BR/>I reiterate that this is probably the point that the GOP raises that I agree with the least. I'd be curious to learn more about how AmeriCorps believes these finances will impact their operations, and how they feel it will help to boost the economy.Chris Connellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12463300790544833437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7505835644257098137.post-6739966561066813302009-02-04T11:11:00.000-05:002009-02-04T11:11:00.000-05:00• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.<BR/><BR/>I hope you realize that this is essentially $160 for full time entry level job creation? <BR/><BR/>This isn't just paying volunteers at the local community center for their time. This program is paying for full time social service workers... who will be sorely needed in these times. <BR/><BR/>There are thousands of people who are graduating from college with out jobs. These positions are essentially paid internships.Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185994748057150412noreply@blogger.com