Obama Q&a
This document was uploaded by user and they confirmed that they have the permission to share it. If you are author or own the copyright of this book, please report to us by using this DMCA report form. Report DMCA
Overview
Download & View Obama Q&a as PDF for free.
More details
- Words: 827
- Pages: 1
Q&A: Obama’s Service Agenda
“
”
I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States. This will not be a call issued in one speech or program; this will be a cause of my presidency. - President Barack Obama
This Q&A explains what Obama’s service agenda is all about and what it means for the American people.
Q: A:
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to promote civic engagement and service amongst the American people. Now that he’s in office, what sort of agenda has he put in place to fulfill this promise? Obama’s service agenda has three main parts. The first deals with strengthening the infrastructure that supports service in America by expanding existing programs and creating new ones. Specifically, the Obama administration plans to add 175,000 new slots to AmeriCorps, double the Peace Corps, and to create programs that engage more retirees and foreign language speakers in service. The second part of the agenda deals with promotion of service in the youth population. This includes a plan for the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which would require 100 hours of community service for college students in exchange for a $4,000 tax credit, and an energy-focused job program for disadvantaged youth. The final segment of the agenda focuses on strengthening the nonprofit sector through increased funding and creation of a social entrepreneurship agency.
Q: A:
Has the Obama Administration put this agenda into action? What have they achieved so far?
The administration has already put some of its service agenda into action, passing bills to support various initiatives and building a network for Americans interested in service. USAService.org, a Web site launched shortly before Obama took office, has quickly built a database of thousands of member-created events. On Feb. 17, 2009, Obama signed into law a bill to provide $201 million to fund the expansion of AmeriCorps. Some of the funding passed in the economic stimulus bill will also support the service agenda. Whether these initiatives will be successful in increasing service amongst Americans remains to be seen.
Q: A:
Other than the Web site, how is the Obama administration communicating with the American people about service initiatives? As in the presidential campaign, Obama is using a variety of avenues to communicate with and mobilize the American public in the area of service. The administration worked with The Advertising Council, the leading distributor of public service announcements, to place television and radio ads on stations across the country. The massive email list of Obama supporters built during the presidential campaign is also a valuable avenue for communication of service initiatives. Some success has already been seen in this venue, most notably with an email from Michelle Obama that played a role in attracting at least one million Americans to volunteer on a national day of service Jan. 19, 2009. Finally, the Obama administration is utilizing social networks like Facebook and databases established by existing organizations like The Peace Corps to communicate with prospective volunteers.
Q: A:
What is the basis of the controversy over the American Opportunity Tax Credit plan?
The issue causing controversy is the administration’s plan to make community service a requirement rather than a choice. Some believe that required community service promotes lifelong civic engagement and enhances the education and character of young people. Others think that forcing service upon students will result in a general distaste for volunteerism and a drop in the quality of service provided by volunteers. Scholars seem divided on this issue as well, and though there has been some study of this issue, no conclusive findings have resulted.
Q: A:
How will we know if the Obama administration achieves the goals set out by the service agenda?
Many parts of the agenda, such as the plan to double the Peace Corps, have timelines that extend into the final year of President Obama’s current term in office. It will therefore be difficult to evaluate the success of the agenda as a whole for at least four years. But just as the public and the media have evaluated Obama’s work on the economy and health care, they are likely to evaluate his progress towar the service agenda as his time in office continues. Data Sources: -Service Agenda Factsheet, WhiteHouse.gov. “Obama Unveils Ads and Web Site to Promote Community Service.” Chronicle of Philanthropy, Jan. 12, 2009. “International Service and the Obama Administration.” David L. Caprara. The Brookings Institute. Feb. 17, 2009. “Yes We Did: 2009 King Day of Service is Largest Ever.” States News Service. Jan. 23, 2009. “Obama suppresses information from own site.” Digital Journal. Nov. 8, 2008. “Call for Community Service is not Marxism.” Protein Wisdom. Nov. 13, 2008. ” ‘Obameter’ promises presidential accountability.” Ann McDowell. Mount Holyoke News. Feb. 3, 2009. “A Demonstration That School-Based Required Service Does Not Deter-But Heightens-Volunteerism”. Edward Metz, James Youniss. PS, Political Science & Politics. April 2003. Vol. 36, Iss. 2; pg. 281.
“
”
I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States. This will not be a call issued in one speech or program; this will be a cause of my presidency. - President Barack Obama
This Q&A explains what Obama’s service agenda is all about and what it means for the American people.
Q: A:
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised to promote civic engagement and service amongst the American people. Now that he’s in office, what sort of agenda has he put in place to fulfill this promise? Obama’s service agenda has three main parts. The first deals with strengthening the infrastructure that supports service in America by expanding existing programs and creating new ones. Specifically, the Obama administration plans to add 175,000 new slots to AmeriCorps, double the Peace Corps, and to create programs that engage more retirees and foreign language speakers in service. The second part of the agenda deals with promotion of service in the youth population. This includes a plan for the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which would require 100 hours of community service for college students in exchange for a $4,000 tax credit, and an energy-focused job program for disadvantaged youth. The final segment of the agenda focuses on strengthening the nonprofit sector through increased funding and creation of a social entrepreneurship agency.
Q: A:
Has the Obama Administration put this agenda into action? What have they achieved so far?
The administration has already put some of its service agenda into action, passing bills to support various initiatives and building a network for Americans interested in service. USAService.org, a Web site launched shortly before Obama took office, has quickly built a database of thousands of member-created events. On Feb. 17, 2009, Obama signed into law a bill to provide $201 million to fund the expansion of AmeriCorps. Some of the funding passed in the economic stimulus bill will also support the service agenda. Whether these initiatives will be successful in increasing service amongst Americans remains to be seen.
Q: A:
Other than the Web site, how is the Obama administration communicating with the American people about service initiatives? As in the presidential campaign, Obama is using a variety of avenues to communicate with and mobilize the American public in the area of service. The administration worked with The Advertising Council, the leading distributor of public service announcements, to place television and radio ads on stations across the country. The massive email list of Obama supporters built during the presidential campaign is also a valuable avenue for communication of service initiatives. Some success has already been seen in this venue, most notably with an email from Michelle Obama that played a role in attracting at least one million Americans to volunteer on a national day of service Jan. 19, 2009. Finally, the Obama administration is utilizing social networks like Facebook and databases established by existing organizations like The Peace Corps to communicate with prospective volunteers.
Q: A:
What is the basis of the controversy over the American Opportunity Tax Credit plan?
The issue causing controversy is the administration’s plan to make community service a requirement rather than a choice. Some believe that required community service promotes lifelong civic engagement and enhances the education and character of young people. Others think that forcing service upon students will result in a general distaste for volunteerism and a drop in the quality of service provided by volunteers. Scholars seem divided on this issue as well, and though there has been some study of this issue, no conclusive findings have resulted.
Q: A:
How will we know if the Obama administration achieves the goals set out by the service agenda?
Many parts of the agenda, such as the plan to double the Peace Corps, have timelines that extend into the final year of President Obama’s current term in office. It will therefore be difficult to evaluate the success of the agenda as a whole for at least four years. But just as the public and the media have evaluated Obama’s work on the economy and health care, they are likely to evaluate his progress towar the service agenda as his time in office continues. Data Sources: -Service Agenda Factsheet, WhiteHouse.gov. “Obama Unveils Ads and Web Site to Promote Community Service.” Chronicle of Philanthropy, Jan. 12, 2009. “International Service and the Obama Administration.” David L. Caprara. The Brookings Institute. Feb. 17, 2009. “Yes We Did: 2009 King Day of Service is Largest Ever.” States News Service. Jan. 23, 2009. “Obama suppresses information from own site.” Digital Journal. Nov. 8, 2008. “Call for Community Service is not Marxism.” Protein Wisdom. Nov. 13, 2008. ” ‘Obameter’ promises presidential accountability.” Ann McDowell. Mount Holyoke News. Feb. 3, 2009. “A Demonstration That School-Based Required Service Does Not Deter-But Heightens-Volunteerism”. Edward Metz, James Youniss. PS, Political Science & Politics. April 2003. Vol. 36, Iss. 2; pg. 281.
