Service Nation Summit Video Summary
Posted on September 22nd, 2008 by bile Tags: Alan Khazei, America, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Carnegie Corporation, Case Foundation, democracy, Department of Homeland Security, George H. W. Bush, Green Party, Iraq, John McCain, Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Bloomberg, Michael Mullen, New York, republic, Richard Stengel, Ron Paul, Serve America Act, Service Nation, Service Nation Coalition, Service Nation Summit, Vartan GregorianSept. 11th, 2008:
- John McCain’s interview: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
- Says outright he’s against compulsory service.
- Advocates growing the military several times.
- Claims private industry provides services better, wishes to create partnerships with business instead of having the government take on those roles.
- Points to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security as bipartisan cooperation that is needed to gain trust and support of the public.
- “It’s not about the individual, it’s about the cause we serve.”
- “I think the all voluntary force is having difficulty recruiting and retaining because we are too small and we need to expand the size of our military and we need to do it as rapidly as possible. And we got to perhaps offer additional incentives.”
- Apparently, without knowing what the Serve America Act does, McCain says he would sign the bill as president.
- Would rather have the private sphere perform the voluntarism and only have the government provide incentives.
- Barack Obama’s interview: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
- “Each and everyone of us are going to have, are going to make commitments in terms of improving fuel efficiency in our cars and homes. And the government is going to be in partnership with citizens to make that happen.”
- “America is the greatest country on earth but it didn’t just happen on its own. It’s not a gift only. Although it is a great blessing we’ve received. It’s a responsibility. And part of what makes America work is the fact that we believe in individual responsibility and self reliance but we also believe in mutual responsibility, in neighborliness, in a sense that we are committed to something larger than ourselves.”
- Speaks of growing the military. Getting those in urban areas to be equally represented in the military.
- Wants more people in the military and non-military service regardless of whether there is a war.
- Interviewed a City Year ‘volunteer’ but my questions and pins on my book bag (”Taxation is theft”, “Ron Paul 2008″) scared them off. The Service Nation handler asked me to turn off the camera, that he didn’t want any problems, that it was a positive event. The City Year ‘volunteer’ said he couldn’t speak on the topic as a representative of City Year.
Sept. 12th, 2008:
- I spoke with a fellow blogger regarding my reason for being at the summit. She was there on behalf of the Case Foundation which is a Service Nation Coalition member.
- Richard Stengel, managing editor of TIME, effectively asks “why not have compulsory service?” during presidential forum. The tone of the questions and the fact it’s brought up more than once indicates to me he is in favor of mandatory service. In his own brief speech he talks of the most known part of the Declaration of Independence but casually bypasses arguably the most important line. Focusing on “consent of the governed” instead of “that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Implying, IMO, he prefers a positive law democracy vs natural law republics.
- Jon Bon Jovi speaks on his private charities. Many examples of service and voluntarism given were in fact actual privately performed.
- Vartan Gregorian, President, Carnegie Corporation of New York tells us [Part 2]: “We’re not here as Democrats or Republicans or as libertarians, socialists, Green party members, or members of other organizations. We are here today first and primarily as Americans.” Claims being a citizen is the highest achievement.
- Admiral Michael Mullen [Part 2]: “the soldiers in Iraq are protecting our democracy at home. They are there because of what happened on 9/11.” I thought Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. How is it that our invasion of Iraq is protecting us? “There is no greater reward than working for something greater than yourself.” “Keep singing (God Bless America), keep waving (flags), and keep serving!” Yay nationalism/fascism!
- Michael Bloomberg [Part 2]: “We are the beneficiaries of those who give their lives to defend us.” “Service should be asked of everyone and should be open to everyone. So we are creating new programs.”
- University president’s [Part 2]: Speak of giving out grants to those who volunteer at school. Making voluntarism mandatory parts of the education process.
- Alan Khazei: Misuses/misrepresents the Emancipation Proclamation. Need a new role for government. Funding public/private mix of service. “Getting government to do what works.” Speaks of Gandhi, abolitionists, and others. All of who worked against government.
- George H. W. Bush
- Bill Clinton
- Town Hall [Part 2,3,4,5,6]
These are all the videos I’m going to upload… at least for the time being.
Sorry about the last few not having notes. Too lazy to watch them. You can find some notes I took during the event here.
