Thoughts about Democracy in America
There’s a place in de Tocqueville where he talks about America’s civic strength coming from the way we organize: those voluntary organizations which come together to solve a problem as a community. He pointed out that what we got from that was not merely that particular problem solved, but a sense of community and a willingness to solve problems without the heavy hand of government.
I am tremendously inspired by stories like “Daughter of slave votes for Obama.” [link to http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/10/27/1027jones.html no longer works] There’s real progress for our country, within the course of a lifetime.
I’ve watched as a number of my friends have gone all out for Obama, some traveling on their own dime to knock on doors in states less blue than their own. I’m glad to see that level of enthusiasm: a politics of petty attacks is very likely to lose tomorrow, where a McCain who had been “the McCain of 2000” might well have won.
I worry about Obama’s views on national service [link to http://www.barackobama.com/issues/service/ no longer works], including his goal of 50 hours of community service from every middle and high school student, and his goal of federalizing non-profits. I think that the value of non-profits comes from their volunteer nature, and from their diverse goals. Federal dollars will be alluring for their sheer scale. They will also be distracting for many non-profits, forced, like many churches to strangely bifurcate their activity to allow for federal dollars to flow in. As de Tocqueville understood, much of the value of volunteerism — including volunteering for a political candidate — is that it brings us together as a civic society.
As I watch the outpouring of enthusiasm and of hope, I am hopeful that Obama is smart enough to understand that the real strength of our nation is not in Washington, and it’s not in directives from Washington. It’s from hundreds of millions of people pursuing their hopes and dreams. America is a diverse set of people with different hopes and different dreams, and the value of our democracy is that is has embraced and promoted the freedom of each of us to pursue our own dreams, chaotic though that may be.
From that link to Obama’s site: “Require 100 Hours of Service in College: Obama and Biden will establish a new American Opportunity Tax Credit that is worth $4,000 a year in exchange for 100 hours of public service a year.”
Keyword: Require. Public College, Private College. No matter. No distinction. No exemptions listed. This from a “Constitutional Lawyer.” Where is that in the delegated powers?
“I am hopeful that Obama is smart enough to understand that the real strength of our nation is not in Washington,”
And what, pray tell, about his background suggests that there is anything to hang that hope on? Becasue I can not find it.
What I see is:
Combine that with Obama and Biden’s tax records that show they are far more willing to spend other people’s money on ‘helping the poor’ than to reach into their own pockets and I think we have a good idea what his approach to this will be.
So I’ll leave you with this quote from Congressman Crockett, someone who understood that “America is a diverse set of people with different hopes and different dreams, and the value of our democracy is that is has embraced and promoted the freedom of each of us to pursue our own dreams, chaotic though that may be.”
“We have not the semblance of authority to appropriate it as a charity. Mr. Speaker, I have said we have the right to give as much of our own money as we please. I am the poorest man on this floor. I cannot vote for this bill, but I will give one week’s pay to the object, and if every member of Congress will do the same, it will amount to more than the bill asks.”
@ Hawke
“What I see is: * a “Washington knows best” mentality. * “Send me the money, and I’ll give it to people that I think need it the most.” * “Some people are too successful, and need to be forced to help others.”
Sounds like it is time for a new pair of glasses. Either that or you need to pull your head out…
Crockett’s words are in all likelihood a crock:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davy_Crockett
“The authenticity of this speech is questioned; however, since the Register of Debates and the Congressional Globe do not contain transcripts of speeches made on the house floor, there is no way to know whether the speech is authentic.”
This quote, however, is authentic:
“I told the people of my district that I would serve them as faithfully as I had done; but if not … you may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.”
Nothing like telling people who don’t vote for you that they should go to hell. Now that’s a man who respects diversity of opinion.
C’mon Hawke, did you not even read what you posted? The students are required to perform the 100 hours of service in order to get the American Opportunity Tax Credit of $4,000. He’s not saying that each and every college student will have to do 100 hours of service… Good grief.
If you doubt me break out Google and do some searching.
It’s funny. I don’t think McCain ever held a job in the private sector in his life. Not to denigrate him unduly, but what does he know, really, about the labor market? After all, he honestly felt that $50.00/hr would not get Americans to do agricultural field work, and that the middle class is those making up to $5 million a year.
Say what you want about Obama, but he is much more aware of empirical reality than McCain seems to be.
I’m glad to be out of college before this thing came down the pike, although I worry for my kids.
Here’s a thought experiment: the government announces that it will give 1 million dollars to be applied towards college, to everyone that agrees to give 200 hours of labor to the government every year, starting now and for the rest of their lives.
The first thing you would see is that Harvard would go from $40,000 a year to $1,040,000 a year. Other colleges would follow suit. And people would submit; after all, You Have To Go To College.
The upper-class will do the same thing they do already and just pay. The middle-class will have to commit in order to compete in the rat race. The lower-class will find it even harder to struggle to go to a college that they probably don’t need, except for the fact that they will be discriminated against for the rest of their lives. Completing college is largely a signal that you grew up middle- or upper-class, which is why it is so valuable to employers.
Your analysis, Dan, assumes there is no competitive market in “college educations”. That assumption is false. In equilibrium, an institution cannot charge more for an education than its cost of production, which will not vary according to whether a government subsidy is provided to consumers.
If the government is paying the first $1,000,000 for college, consumers won’t care about whether a school costs $200,000 or $800,000 or $900,000. It’s not their money.
@Dave,
I did read it. It’s verbatim off the Obama website w/ no editing. The website does not say ‘optional’ Tax Credit. It says ‘required.’ I didn’t write it, I just copied it over.
As I read Obama’s site, the 100 hours would be required. Obviously you would have to file to get the (refundable) Tax Credit.
If you don’t like what it says, I suggest that you take it up w/ Obama’s webmaster.
@Dove,
I see you also left out the next line in the Wikipedia article: “Crockett is on record opposing a similar bill and offering personal support to the family of a General Brown in April 1828.”
Also, while Wikipedia notes that the speech is in question, it does not list by whom it is questioned. It’s unattributed speculation that someone, somewhere may question it based, evidently, on the fact that speeches of that type were not recorded.
huh?
One more thing.
Congrats on the win last night. Well played.
And I sincerely hope that you guys are right and that my concerns are ill-founded. Guess we’ll know shortly.
Regards,