US National Service Act of 2007

[mfqr]

I don't find that odd, myself. And it's important that everyone realize the idea behind "national service" is much more broad than mandatory conscription into the armed forces. It could mean service as a park ranger. Service for the U.S. Coast Guard or the Army Corps of Engineers. Service for some other area that supports national security or defense or aids the country. Service through AmeriCorps (sort of like our domestic version of the Peace Corps). Even service in teaching programs.

I think it's an idea whose time has come, and I'd love to be among the first people to do one of those jobs, at least if they wouldn't deem me too old.

And once they find a stupid reason to attack Iran, it won't be about being a park ranger anymore...

[RamblerGambler]

I could be mistaken, but wasn't the purpose of this to even out the draft? Making everyone, especially the wealthy, eligible seems like a decent idea to me. Then again, in this society some people are created more equal than others.

[Zcomp]

I have a better idea, Lets take every illegal immigrant and require them to complete a tour in order to gain citizenship.
This would solve two bird with one stone.

[fishman3811]

good idea zcomp let all the illegal poor immigrants fight your illegal wars so they can become citizens of your wonderfull country.

[Zcomp]

"poor"??? define poor?? I'm poorer than most illegal immigrants! And its because of them.
Hi my name is Zach and I install ceramic tile for a living. Sounds like I should be braking the bank right?? NO, because 3 illegals(living in the same room albeit) will do it for less than half what I charge. Not because I charge high, because there living 20 to a house and sharing equipment to run an effective 4-5 separate crews out of a 3-4 bedroom house with one set of tools.

So if I sound crude to my illegal friends, too bad. I have legal immigrant friends who agree with me here, They are just as mad at these border jumpers. I just think that a draft of illegals would give them some pathway to dignity.

And let us not forget, Its our "poor" legal immigrants and citizens that ARE fighting this illegal war.

[fishman3811]

well zcomp im truly sorry about your situation it sucks.You guys do have a serious illegal immigrant situation that i wouldnt want to have thats for sure.We dont get too mAny Mexicans wanting to come live up here in Canada mainly because its just too fucking cold and other reasons.But hey if u get desperate enough Alberta is screaming for trades people because of the oil boom there so if you dont mind winter 7-8 months out of the year come to the great white north.Youll be working so much up here that you wont even feel the cold bro.

[Zcomp]

As much as I dream of moving to Canada (I'm really serious too), I just don't think I could handle the cold. I used to live in Conway,NH on the border of Maine and maybe an hour from Canada, I remember every day of the 6-8 month winter being the worst.
My goal now is to go off to Ireland or Holland, Where I can enjoy a little actual freedom. Instead of this pretend "freedom".
Sorry if I came off sharp there, But my dad made a good living installing tile, In only the last 20yrs I've watched my family trade go from "a standing career" all the way down to "you'll need government assistance to survive".
I mean that sincerely too, I'm on foodstamps right now. I have a 2-1/2 yr old daughter who has no idea how far we've fallen. And now I look around and people are concerned about the illegals, There ILLEGALS!! would we protest on behalf of the rapist and molesters??? Its all the same to me. I've been getting raped and molested(spiritually & Financially) by these border jumpers for over a decade now.
There I go on a rant again, Sorry.

[fishman3811]

Zcomp you know what man the cold isnt all that bad you get use to it and besides you can always dress warm.But im telling you zcomp you will work 20 hours a day in Alberta if u want to.there is a huge housing shortage there due to the oil boom and there is a 2 year waiting list just to buy a house in many parts of Alberta.There is a shortage of workers to build the houses neccassary and a shortage of tradesmen to finish the houses.You should look into it.Plus Alberta has generally mild winters and the summers there are beutifull.I hear you on the pretend freedom you have in your country i think your country is one big police state with very little freedom but hey im just a dumb socialist who loves Canada so what do i know...Ive heard nothing but good things about Ireland too so i hope you find your place in this world.peace and good luck

[Mississippi Steve]

As much as I dream of moving to Canada (I'm really serious too), I just don't think I could handle the cold. I used to live in Conway,NH on the border of Maine and maybe an hour from Canada, I remember every day of the 6-8 month winter being the worst.
My goal now is to go off to Ireland or Holland, Where I can enjoy a little actual freedom. Instead of this pretend "freedom".
Sorry if I came off sharp there, But my dad made a good living installing tile, In only the last 20yrs I've watched my family trade go from "a standing career" all the way down to "you'll need government assistance to survive".
I mean that sincerely too, I'm on foodstamps right now. I have a 2-1/2 yr old daughter who has no idea how far we've fallen. And now I look around and people are concerned about the illegals, There ILLEGALS!! would we protest on behalf of the rapist and molesters??? Its all the same to me. I've been getting raped and molested(spiritually & Financially) by these border jumpers for over a decade now.
There I go on a rant again, Sorry.

Don't sweat the rant..... I was where you are now in 2004, then I wised up, and quit trying to underbid everybody else to get work, went back to school for business courses, learned the business of running a business. In the process, I learned to charge what I am worth, do the very best work, not necessarely the fastest, just the best. Folks that wan the best know who to call, folks that just want "cheap" call everybody. Use the fact tha most of the other contractors are hiring illegals to do their work to your advantage.
I don't know what you use for your net margins, or what kind of pricing schedule you have, but as an HVAC contractor, when I went from T&M to Flat Rate, my gross reciepts doubled, and my NET PROFIT increased by a factor of 10!! My price book only has the word "LABOR" in it twice. Labor is a bad word...
OTOH, when I show them in the book how much its going to cost, they ask..."how much is the labor?" to which I now reply..."I'm sorry, we don't charge labor". I get less than 10% of the install jobs that I quote, but the folks that have me install a new comfort system for them are my best advertisement.

You can make it, just take the high road, and offer premium services. You can be the lowest bidder, all the time and go broke really quick.... or you can charge what *YOU* are worth, and to hell with the bottom feeders.....let them scrape the bottom of the barrel. Just remember, that part of being the best is looking the part, *ALWAYS* being professional, drive a vehicle that is always clean....waxed is good too, and do the very best quality work with the very best quality materials.

I wish you a very profitable year :thumbsup:

[yokinazu]

From a California school teacher - - -

"As you listen to the news about the student protests over illegal immigration, there are some things that you should be aware of:

I am in charge of the English-as-a-second-language department at a large southern California high school which is designated a Title 1 school, meaning that its students average lower socioeconomic and income levels.

Most of the schools you are hearing about, South Gate High, Bell Gardens , Huntington Park , etc., where these students are protesting, are also Title 1 schools.

Title 1 schools are on the free breakfast and free lunch program. When I say free breakfast, I'm not talking a glass of milk and roll -- but a full breakfast and cereal bar with fruits and juices that would make a Marriott proud. The waste of this food is monumental, with trays and trays of it being dumped in the trash uneaten. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I estimate that well over 50% of these students are obese or at least moderately overweight. About 75% or more DO have cell phones. The school also provides day care centers for the unwed teenage pregnant girls (some as young as 13) so they can attend class without the inconvenience of having to arrange for babysitters or having family watch their kids. (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I was ordered to spend $700,000 on my department or risk losing
funding for the upcoming year even though there was little need for anything; my budget was already substantial. I ended up buying new computers for the computer learning center, half of which, one month later, have been carved with graffiti by the appreciative students who obviously feel humbled and grateful to have a free education in America . (OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK)

I have had to intervene several times for young and substitute teachers whose classes consist of many illegal immigrant students here in the country less then 3 months who raised so much hell with the female teachers, calling them "Putas" whores and throwing things that the teachers were in tears.

Free medical, free education, free food, day care, etc., etc, etc. Is it any wonder they feel entitled to not only be in this country but to demand rights, privileges and entitlements?

To those who want to point out how much these illegal immigrants contribute to our society because they LIKE their gardener and housekeeper and they like to pay less for tomatoes: spend some time in the real world of illegal immigration and see the TRUE costs.

Higher insurance, medical facilities closing, higher medical costs, more crime, lower standards of education in our schools, overcrowding, new diseases etc., etc, etc. For me, I'll pay more for tomatoes.

We need to wake up. The guest worker program will be a disaster because we won't have the guts to enforce it. Does anyone in their right mind really think they will voluntarily leave and return?

It does, however, have everything to do with culture: A third-world culture that does not value education, that accepts children getting pregnant and dropping out of school by 15 and that refuses to assimilate, and an American culture that has become so weak and worried about "political correctness" that we don't have the will to do anything about it.

If this makes your blood boil, as it did mine, forward this to everyone you know.

CHEAP LABOR? Isn't that what the whole immigration issue is about?

Business doesn't want to pay a decent wage.

Consumers don't want expensive produce.

Government will tell you Americans don't want the jobs.

But the bottom line is cheap labor. The phrase "cheap labor" is a myth, a farce, and a lie. There is no such thing as "cheap labor."

Take, for example, an illegal alien with a wife and five children. He takes a job for $5.00 or 6.00/hour. At that wage, with six dependents, he pays no income tax, yet at the end of the year, if he files an Income Tax Return, he gets an "earned income credit" of up to $3,200 free.

He qualifies for Section 8 housing and subsidized rent.

He qualifies for food stamps.

He qualifies for free (no deductible, no co-pay) health care.

His children get free breakfasts and lunches at school.

He requires bilingual teachers and books.

He qualifies for relief from high energy bills.

If they are or become, aged, blind or disabled, they qualify for SSI. Once qualified for SSI they can qualify for Medicare. All of this is at (our) taxpayer's expense.

He doesn't worry about car insurance, life insurance, or homeowners insurance.

Taxpayers provide Spanish language signs, bulletins and printed material.

He and his family receive the equivalent of $20.00 to $30.00/hour in benefits.

Working Americans are lucky to have $5.00 or $6.00/hour left after paying their bills and his.

The American taxpayers also pay for increased crime, graffiti and trash clean-up.

Cheap labor? YEAH RIGHT! Wake up people!