John Kerry's Double-Standard
John Kerry, seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2004, has vowed that if he is elected, he will make some big changes. What will be his top priority?
John Kerry
"My aim," he says, "is nothing less than to make national service a way of life for each new generation of Americans."
Kerry has put forward a plan to make every high school student in America do unpaid work unless they drop out of school. As detailed elsewhere on this website, such forced, unpaid child labor hurts America's economy and steps on the dignity of every young person forced to participate.
Kerry says it is important for all teenagers to pitch in, to sweep streets and change bedpans and do other important "national service." He has a plan to involve retirees in this as well. His plan, though, treats the elderly differently than it treats youth. Kerry's plan would not force the elderly to work for free. Instead, John Kerry would offer the elderly cash payments to do this "national service," and he would give them the option not to participate. There would be no penalty for seniors who chose not to do this work.
Why the double-standard, John? Why not offer high schoolers money to do your "national service," and make their participation voluntary as you would for the elderly? Why treat every teenager in America like someone convicted of a crime, sentencing them to this community service?
We have a word for forced, unpaid labor: slavery. John Kerry's plan to impose this on the entire nation is the worst decision an American leader has made since the Supreme Court issued its Dred Scott decision.
As long as John Kerry offers this as his top campaign promise, Americans who believe in freedom and human dignity must work to insure that Kerry's campaign fails.
Contact John Kerry's campaign and let them know how you feel about this campaign "promise" (or should we call it a "threat"?). As always, try to be polite; but make it clear you will support Kerry's defeat if he does not change his plan. You can contact the Kerry campaign at info@johnkerry.com or through his website at http://www.johnkerry.net/contact/.
John Kerry, seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2004, has vowed that if he is elected, he will make some big changes. What will be his top priority?
John Kerry
"My aim," he says, "is nothing less than to make national service a way of life for each new generation of Americans."
Kerry has put forward a plan to make every high school student in America do unpaid work unless they drop out of school. As detailed elsewhere on this website, such forced, unpaid child labor hurts America's economy and steps on the dignity of every young person forced to participate.
Kerry says it is important for all teenagers to pitch in, to sweep streets and change bedpans and do other important "national service." He has a plan to involve retirees in this as well. His plan, though, treats the elderly differently than it treats youth. Kerry's plan would not force the elderly to work for free. Instead, John Kerry would offer the elderly cash payments to do this "national service," and he would give them the option not to participate. There would be no penalty for seniors who chose not to do this work.
Why the double-standard, John? Why not offer high schoolers money to do your "national service," and make their participation voluntary as you would for the elderly? Why treat every teenager in America like someone convicted of a crime, sentencing them to this community service?
We have a word for forced, unpaid labor: slavery. John Kerry's plan to impose this on the entire nation is the worst decision an American leader has made since the Supreme Court issued its Dred Scott decision.
As long as John Kerry offers this as his top campaign promise, Americans who believe in freedom and human dignity must work to insure that Kerry's campaign fails.
Contact John Kerry's campaign and let them know how you feel about this campaign "promise" (or should we call it a "threat"?). As always, try to be polite; but make it clear you will support Kerry's defeat if he does not change his plan. You can contact the Kerry campaign at info@johnkerry.com or through his website at http://www.johnkerry.net/contact/.
