US domestic army act to passes in Senate
Meagan Freeman | 25.03.2009 02:48 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Terror War | World
Following the news that the UK government wants to train 60 000 people to be able to carry out tasks such as "picking extremists out of a crowd", the US Senate is in the final stages of passing new legislation which could involve as many as 7 million people in a mandatory domestic army.
The act contains an amendment which will, at its passing, make it illegal to protest against it.
The act contains an amendment which will, at its passing, make it illegal to protest against it.
Later today the nonsensically titled GIVE 'Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act', will be ratified by the United States Senate. The intention of this new legislation is to literally draft 7 million people into various programmes carrying out 'criminal justice', environmental stewardship' and 'public safety', on a domestic basis within the United States. The GIVE Act is another in a long line of Strength Through Joy style 'initiatives' being foisted upon America, including the Service For All Ages Initiative, the Summer of Service Act, the Semester of Service Act, the Encore Service Act and the ACTION Act
An earlier version of the act stated that a commission would be set up to ascertain “Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed.” This particular piece of conscription style language has now been dropped, however, the GIVE act still contains such gems as the 'Youth Engagement Zone Programme', through which 'service learning' will become 'a mandatory part of the curriculum in all of the secondary schools served by the local educational agency'.
Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel stated in 2006 that he wishes to impose 'universal civil defence training' on the American population. In a New York Times article he stated that
'We’re going to have universal civil defense training, somewhere between the ages of 18 to 25 you will do three months of training….but there can be nothing wrong with all Americans having a joint similar experience of what we call civil defense training or civil service in service of the country, in preparation, which will give people a sense of what it means to be an American.
'It will be a common experience and we will be prepared, God forbid, God forbid that there is a chemical hit, another terrorist act or natural disaster becoming more frequent - there’ll be a body of citizens who are ready and capable and trained - that’s all you have to think about... We’re all here for you OK? It’s a circle of love.'
Nice.
Tucked into the 12th Amendment of the GIVE Act is this; 'Amendment to prohibit organizations from attempting to influence legislation; organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; and assist, promote, or deter union organizing'.
It is not clear whether this is intended to quash all protest, or just protest against the act itself. Either way, wide reaching, mandatory legislation which includes a clause to ensure that not only do you have to do what they say, but you can't even say that it's wrong, will perhaps be the final straw that breaks the illusion that Obama's alright because he's not Bush.
An earlier version of the act stated that a commission would be set up to ascertain “Whether a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people could be developed.” This particular piece of conscription style language has now been dropped, however, the GIVE act still contains such gems as the 'Youth Engagement Zone Programme', through which 'service learning' will become 'a mandatory part of the curriculum in all of the secondary schools served by the local educational agency'.
Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emmanuel stated in 2006 that he wishes to impose 'universal civil defence training' on the American population. In a New York Times article he stated that
'We’re going to have universal civil defense training, somewhere between the ages of 18 to 25 you will do three months of training….but there can be nothing wrong with all Americans having a joint similar experience of what we call civil defense training or civil service in service of the country, in preparation, which will give people a sense of what it means to be an American.
'It will be a common experience and we will be prepared, God forbid, God forbid that there is a chemical hit, another terrorist act or natural disaster becoming more frequent - there’ll be a body of citizens who are ready and capable and trained - that’s all you have to think about... We’re all here for you OK? It’s a circle of love.'
Nice.
Tucked into the 12th Amendment of the GIVE Act is this; 'Amendment to prohibit organizations from attempting to influence legislation; organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes; and assist, promote, or deter union organizing'.
It is not clear whether this is intended to quash all protest, or just protest against the act itself. Either way, wide reaching, mandatory legislation which includes a clause to ensure that not only do you have to do what they say, but you can't even say that it's wrong, will perhaps be the final straw that breaks the illusion that Obama's alright because he's not Bush.
Meagan Freeman
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