RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE OF THE CITIZEN-INITIATED WORLD SERVICE CORPS (WSC) PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION IN THE U.S. CONGRESS

 WHEREAS the WSC teaches through its practical, real world work that that the well-being and safety of anyone concerns all of us and,

WHEREAS the WSC confronts global problems, such as misunderstanding, ignorance, poverty, disease, and consequent war, civil conflict, crimes against humanity, environmental degradation and,

WHEREAS the peaceful, productive work of the WSC builds the physical, economic, and human understanding and knowledge infrastructure that allows people to establish and enforce their own just and workable laws and,

WHEREAS the WSC cost-effectively involves a million more skilled, can-do Americans aged 18-60+ into 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 needs.

WHEREAS THE WSC 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 America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

WHEREAS such international cooperation and service increases understanding between the world’s people and the respect for law.

 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic World Federation proclaims our support for the introduction and passage of the citizen-initiated World Service Corps Proposals into legislation, 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.