The Proper Role Of Government

The first 60 days of the Obama Administration has led to one interesting consequence (unintended no doubt). There has been much discussion about the role of government in every day life. Whether it be on the national level or the state and local level, people are talking about where government belongs in the equation of our daily lives. The latest source of the discussion is the "GIVE" Act. Both Michelle Malkin and Ed Morrissey have posts up discussing what is and is not in the bill. Moe Lane (HT Ed) however, takes a look at something that is in the bill that should make a lot of people on both sides of the aisle sit up and take notice.

SEC. 1304. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.

Section 125 (42 U.S.C. 12575) is amended to read as follows:

‘SEC. 125. PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES AND INELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS.

‘(a) Prohibited Activities- A participant in an approved national service position under this subtitle may not engage in the following activities:

‘(1) Attempting to influence legislation.

‘(2) Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes.

‘(3) Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing.

‘(4) Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements.

‘(5) Engaging in partisan political activities, or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office.

‘(6) Participating in, or endorsing, events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials.

‘(7) Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, constructing or operating facilities devoted to religious instruction or worship, maintaining facilities primarily or inherently devoted to religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization.

Emphasis in the original. Before those of you on the right start cheering about how this can and will prohibit ACORN and the SEIU from getting these dollars, realize that this also effects pro-life (and pro-choice) organizations, prochial schools, churches, food banks (that are operated by religious groups) and many others. Groups like Teen Challenge - who use the gospel to help addicts get free from their drug and alcohol addictions, would be ineligible for GIVE Act dollars. Churches that sponsor food banks and soup kitchens and who rely heavily on volunteers are left out as are any group that engages in political advocacy like the NRA or the Sierra Club.

I mentioned the 1st Amendment in a prior post and it fits here as well. The GIVE Act as it is currently written will force these legitimate organizations to make the ultimate harsh choice - the choice between mission statement and much needed funding.

Michelle notes that this bill has bi-partisan support. What it really needs is some bi-partisan opposition. There is too much in this bill that just does not fit into the proper role of government - especially in the proper role of the American government as laid out by the Constitution. It should not be dictating to these organizations what they can and can not do. It should also not be funding volunteer activity to this level. There are much better ways to encourage volunteerism. We need to get back to the model that was shown to us by the Founding Fathers - one of shared sacrifice based on our talents and our time. Those who have the money and not the time should provide the funding and those who have the time and not the money should be helping do the heavy lifting and those of us blessed with both (expendable income and time) should be helping in both areas. When we stand shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors to help those who are in need - we give more than any check from the government could ever give - we give the love and respect that are just as important (to those in need) as cold, impersonal cash can be.