Tag Archives: American World Service Corps

AWSCNS Proposal Summary

This is how a summary for the proposed American World Service Corps National Service (AWSCNS) Congressional Proposal  could potentially look.

 

 “Imagine how much stronger we’d all be if we had this well-stocked AWSC tool in our diplomatic and public policy pouch…Put that in your spinach pipe…”

 

The  fuller text, written for the layman to grasp , is at the link above  and below.  American World Service Corps National Service (AWSCNS) Congressional Proposal   – provides the opportunity for every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 74 to perform a 1-2-year period of peaceful, non-militarized, voluntary national service.

National service opportunities are provided through civilian service in a federal, state, or local government programs or with community-based agencies, 501-c-3s, or entities as outlined in the proposal who are engaged in meeting human, educational, environmental, public safety needs. and job and development goals at home and abroad.

Uses transferable educational, housing, health, tax credit, etc., incentives to build, over a seven-year period, the AWSCNS to one million volunteers per year.

Includes as part or all of its funding a nontraditional funding mechanism (NTFM) via a  social media, web-driven, publicly viewable  spreadsheet donation system to voluntarily inspire the Forbes 400, and other mega-rich groups and individuals, to voluntarily underwrite an investment in 21,000,000 Americans doing peaceful national service over a generation.

Proposes that this robust, peaceful national service program be used to inspire complementary national service programs by other nations; so that the world shifts the emphasis from relying on military solutions to vexing problems to peaceful development oriented solutions that national service armies can provide.  Requires each person, before induction, to be examined physically and mentally for classification for fitness to perform.

The Do-Gooders  platoons…

SONOMA DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE 2007

SONOMA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE RESOLUTION
SUPPORTING INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE OF THE CITIZEN-INITIATED AMERICAN WORLD SERVICE CORPS

WHEREAS:  The World Service Corps (WSC) cost-effectively involves more than a million skilled, can-do Americans aged 18-60+ in 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 worldwide needs;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee proclaims our support for the introduction and passage of the AWSC concepts into legislation, which 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 whatAmerica will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man;” and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee distribute copies of this resolution to Senators Feinstein and Boxer, members of the US House of Representatives, California Senate, and California Assembly representing Sonoma County, to such media outlets as the Public Relations Committee may deem appropriate; and to Democratic clubs in Sonoma County, and to all other California county Democratic central committees for consideration and support; and that the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee transmit such correspondence as may advance the principles of this resolution.

The Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee adds its support, as did the California State Democratic Party on January 28, 2006, to Peoples Lobby’s citizen-initiated American World Service Corps Congressional Proposals, 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.

Adapted from Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director, People’s Lobby
Distinguished Senior Consultant for Public Policy, OPS-Alaska

Marin Democratic Central Committee 2007

APPROVED FEBRUARY 1, 2007

WHEREAS the American World Service Corps (AWSC) 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 AWSC invests in America’s education, health, and economy through tuition, Medical Savings, or IRA Account investments, (which at approximately $17,000 is one-sixth or less of the recruitment bonus presently offered to military recruits) to those who complete AWSC 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 AWSC offers a, robust, peaceful volunteer civilian corps to augment out 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; and it does so cost-effectively by legislating the use of the following funding mechanisms: 1) Public web sites: Listing public education incentivized donations by the Forges Riches 400. 2)  Public education incentivized donations by corporations that have paid little or no taxes.  3) Miniscule import levee on those developed nations with which we have a significant trade deficit.  4) Foundation grants.  5) General tax revenues.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Marin Democratic Central Committee proclaims our support for the introduction and passage of the AWSC concepts into legislation, which 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 whatAmerica will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Marin Democratic Central Committee requests that during these critical times all our elected representatives support and congressional representatives introduce and pass Peoples Lobby’s citizen-initiated American World Service Corps Congressional Proposals as promptly as possible.

The Marin Democratic Central Committee adds its support, as did the California State Democratic Party on January 28, 2006, to Peoples Lobby’s citizen-initiated American World Service Corps Congressional Proposals, 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.

Author: Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director, People’s Lobby, 415-383-7880

Dwayne@dwaynehunn.biz; www.worldservicecorps.us; www.peopleslobby.us

General Paul Monroe on American World Service Corps Proposal

General Paul Monroe statement:

 The American World Service Corps (AWSC) strengthens our nation.  It not only encourages volunteerism in support of our fellow citizens, it also demonstrates to the world community that the United States is a participating member of that community. This service, by an estimated million Americans a year, will also strengthen the moral fiber of our nation,

Today, America depends on its military for its national security.  They bear the brunt of the “Global War on Terrorism”.  We need more.  The nation building stability of the American World Service Corps will reduce the pressure on our military, by creating robust teams of volunteers that reinforce American values here and abroad. These teams will significantly contribute to world security and stability.

America stands tall and strong on the shoulders of its military. They have served in peace and war, and kept us free of totalitarian powers, by fighting and winning our nation’s wars.  They explored our frontiers, built strong families, and contributed to our country’s values. We have been blessed with these national role models by generations, who have willingly served and given up the comforts of family, home, and career to serve our country.

America has always put its best citizens forward when the nation was threatened. That time has come again, and not just for our military, for every American.  We are fast becoming a global village. We have the world’s most reliable warriors, and the best military that history has ever known.  But now, we need to augment our courageous service members with a strong team of citizens, who will stand beside our military.  The humanitarian service these teams provide is just as vital to our security and world stability, as the military has been.

We can no longer wait for the world to evolve into a safer more stable society. We must move quickly to implement the AWSC program. The more rapid we implement this program, the better America, and the world, will be able to deal with international challenges, and become a safer global community.

Email of August 8, 2006

6th Assembly District Support 2006

RESOLUTION TO SUPORT INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE OF THE CITIZEN-INITIATED WORLD SERVICE CORPS (WSC) PROPOSED CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION IN THE109TH (2005-06) CONGRESSIONAL SESSION

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 out 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.

 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 6th Assembly District proclaim our support for the introduction and passage into legislation, which 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.”

The 6th AD supports the citizen-initiated World Service Corps proposals 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.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be provided to: members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation; the Democratic Caucus of the California Legislature; all members of the California Democratic Party Central Committee; leaders of member organizations in the California Democratic Council; Chairs of the Assembly District committees; local elected Democratic officials and County Registrars to be introduced and approved at the California Democratic Party Executive Board and the 2006 California Democratic Party Convention.

SUBMITTED BY: The California 6th Assembly District Committee to the Resolutions Committee of the California Democratic Party

Author: Dwayne Hunn, Executive Director, People’s Lobby, 415-383-7880

dwayne@dwaynehunn.biz; www.worldservicecorps.us; www.peopleslobby.us

 

How to prepare for disasters

Marin Independent Journal                             

MARIN VOICE                                September 23, 2005

Dwayne Hunn

Another Katrina will happen.  Another earthquake will.  With Mother Nature stuff happens, and you can’t always avoid it.  However, you can competently and humanely temper its aftermath.

Another Iraq and Vietnam may happen.  Another extremist act may.  With politics and policies, stuff happens.  However, you can avoid a lot of stupid policies from becoming bloody economic disasters.

Ø      How?  By making Americans and the world smarter.

Ø      How do we do that?  Give Americans a visionary program in which a significant number serve, share, understand, learn, and teach their young.  From that, America grows a super majority of smarter citizens.  That super majority then votes America away from stupid, costly mistakes that cost us dearly in blood and economy.

Ø      What is that vision?  It’s the citizen-initiated World Service Corps proposed in Congress.

If passed in Congress this year, the proposed laws would annually ramp up America’s best resource until by the sixth year one million Americans, or .6 of 1% of those aged 20 – 60-plus, would voluntarily serve in their choice of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, Head Start, Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross, International Rescue Committee, OxFam, State Conservation Corps, etc.

Why would Americans volunteer to do the WSC?  Because Americans enjoy serving, like playing on great teams, and prefer building over wrecking.  In addition, the proposed legislation would offer simple, cost effective federal financial incentives to volunteers.

Upon completing service, WSC members would receive two years of community plus two years of state college tuition, equivalent educational loan pay off, or equivalent investment in Medical or IRA Accounts, which would be transferable to family relatives.  This updated mini GI Educational Bill of Rights gives the do-good governmental and non-governmental organizations the mix of enthusiastic, experienced, can-do Americans, aged 18 – 60+, who make the world safer and better.

In less dangerous and testing times, John Kennedy wanted the Peace Corps to put a million PCVs into the world.  Then, he felt, it would become a significant force bettering the world and America.  Today, one ofAmerica’s best and most cost effective programs has only about 177,000 returning Peace Corps volunteers.  The World Service Corps proposals legislate a million of our most cost effective resources into dealing with and learning from world and domestic problems.  It does so at a total (stipend plus incentives) annual cost less than 1/10th what it costs to maintain each of our military personnel, which is soaring past $500,000 each when supplemental and off-budget costs are added.  What a huge, long run cost and blood savings bargain.

Sure, a million WSC members physically improve the world.  They do so by working shoulder-to-shoulder with the world that wants to idolize them.  Perhaps more importantly, they enlighten the world’s superpower, whose steps can improve or destroy chunks of the world, by directly exposing Americans to global village needs.

Only about 15% of Americans take out passports.  Many of them have corporate or Club Med world experiences.  The WSC exposes more Americans to the classroom of world needs, so that their voting decisions are based on real life experiences, rather than on forgettable TV designed for couch potatoes.

The WSC raises America’s political and policymaking IQ.  That, then, keeps American voters from stumbling into shortsighted, costly, or bloody policies that we could avoid by pursuing visionary, practical, cost-effective policies.

Imagine, if the WSC had been running for years.  Its incentives would have inspired more states to start Conservation Corps.  The day Katrina struck thousands of those new and expanded state Conservation Corps, plus thousands of Red Cross, Americorps, Habitat, Doctors Sans Borders, International Rescue Committee, etc., volunteers would have been moving into Mississippi and Louisiana, with or without a Federal Emergency Management Agency passport.

We need peaceful, productive Special Forces to handle today’s special needs, as well as to reduce terrorist recruitment.

The World Service Corps www.worldservicecorps.us needs your local and national support.  Before the next hurricane or earthquake, before the next terrorist act, citizens need to enlighten local, state, and federal politicians, so they will enact the WSC legislation to send a million can-do Americans into our and the world’s classroom of needs.

 

Dwayne Hunn of Mill Valley is executive director of People’s Lobby and sponsor of the World Service Corps proposals.  He served in the Peace Corps.

An army of volunteers for peace

Thursday, January 23, 2003

Marin Independent Journal – Marin Voice

Dwayne Hunn

Dwayne Hunn, IJ

Osama, Saddam and their followers are bad actors and will get what they deserve, probably mostly from our superb military.

In the meantime, it would be healthy to hear politicians, opinion leaders and parties lay out a  long-term solution to the terror these actors breed, before we get too deeply entwined in war’s bloody human and financial costs.  The solution lies in a Sargent’s quote:

If the Pentagon’s map is more urgent, the Peace Corp’s is, perhaps, in the long run the most important… What happens in India, Africa, and South America — whether the nations where the Peace Corps works succeed or not — may well determine the balance of peace.

In the 60’s and 70’s then New York Senator Jacob Javits proposed a peace army of a million young men. Labor leaders advocated an overseas service corps of 100,000. The Peace Corps’ first Deputy Director, Warren Wiggins, said a Peace Corps of 30,000 — 100,000 was needed.

The Peace Corps mean budget from 1965-69 was $108,000,000, with its mean number of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in the field numbering 13,947 with a mean cost per volunteer of $7,743.

On the other hand, for that same period the Vietnam War Budget was $16,260,000,000. The mean number of soldiers we kept in Viet Nam was 413,300. The MEAN cost per soldier was $39,370.

If just ten percent of the Vietnam War budget, $1,626,000,000, had been put into the Peace Corps budget to get Americans to work “the toughest job you’ll ever love that REALLY does good,” then an additional 209,996 mean Peace Corps volunteers could have served during that period.

Imagine if we had continued inspiring 55,000 American volunteers each year to serve in countries where clean water doesn’t run easily, chalk boards are luxuries, people house themselves in mud, clay and cow dung padded walls, education is treasured, health and food is too often wanting.

Instead, since its 1961 inception only slightly over 150,000 PCVs have served in over 130 nations.

Had our Army of over two million PCVs already served in the field, do you think international newspapers would be lambasting America on its pages?  Would readers buy it? Would Osama bin Laden and his cells have risen in such a world?

Maybe.  But having been a Peace Corps volunteer as well as a Global Village Habitat for Humanity homebuilder working near the struggling masses, I think not. Even most ivory towered policy wonks would probably agree.

Yet, where on the political hustings, on the forums provided for perceived leaders, do you hear even some of them planting visions of common sense, of marshalling good-doers to address the sufferings of the world.

The lines drawn between long suffering masses and terrorists and comfortable, arrogant Americans are short, and getting shorter.

The line eraser is not a stealth bomber or more technically armed Special Forces.  The eraser cleans when you build what an American Peace Army does – builds relationships, schools, sanitation systems, small farms and businesses.

Sarge Shriver was right, in the long run the Peace Corps map of the world is more important.  Today’s world reminds us how much more his words needed heeding.

Edwin Markham was one of John Kennedy’s favorite poets.  One of Kennedy’s favorite Markham poems was:

Why build these cities beautiful,

If man unbuilded goes.

In vain we build the world,

Unless the builder also grows.

Some brother-in-laws think alike.  Their vision of a vastly expanded Peace Corps is what today’s unbuilded global village needs.  Building a life for one’s loved ones forges a sense of pride, and that builds villages and cities beautiful.

It’s what two visionary leaders preached.  It’s what isn’t pushed enough today.

 

Mill Valley resident, Dwayne Hunn, is field director for the National Initiative for Democracy Campaign, a proposed process to empower all Americans with law making capabilities. Hunn served in the Peace Corps Mumbai, India.