Comments on: How Volunteerism Became Un-American http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/ Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:40:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: k http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-56298 k Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:27:43 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-56298 to crusader coyote: the Girl Scouts are ditching that nauseating Studio2B crap. Is that what you were referring to? They are replacing it with another program that I have not yet seen. The gal I spoke with at the council office said Studio2B bombed because it was "too urban" for the families who want to do scouting. In our troop, we emphasize the old-fashioned aspects of scouting -- that's the leader slant in our heartland culture. Most of the scouting experience/culture depends on the individual leaders -- that's why I'll be a leader, or at least a very involved volunteer, so long as any of my children are doing scouting. Keeping it safe and keeping it the right culture for my kids to grow up with, and all the other kids are welcome to come along for a wholesome ride. God bless America. to crusader coyote: the Girl Scouts are ditching that nauseating Studio2B crap. Is that what you were referring to? They are replacing it with another program that I have not yet seen. The gal I spoke with at the council office said Studio2B bombed because it was “too urban” for the families who want to do scouting. In our troop, we emphasize the old-fashioned aspects of scouting — that’s the leader slant in our heartland culture. Most of the scouting experience/culture depends on the individual leaders — that’s why I’ll be a leader, or at least a very involved volunteer, so long as any of my children are doing scouting. Keeping it safe and keeping it the right culture for my kids to grow up with, and all the other kids are welcome to come along for a wholesome ride. God bless America.

]]> By: Mason http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-55627 Mason Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:18:42 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-55627 Charity starts at home so why are we giving billion to countries that are now richer than the US? Charity starts at home so why are we giving billion to countries that are now richer than the US?

]]> By: agnana http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-55133 agnana Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:46:43 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-55133 I wonder how much of this is related to the decline of a traditional view of original sin.As a Christian I believe that human beings are inherently flawed- so that absent significant effort things will fall apart. The default state is a downward trend, not an upward one. The thing about this view is that it helps prevent the "I did all this work and it didn't fix things!" attitude that too often leads to cynicism and burnout. And it helps not to expect instant gratification. Over the years I've been part of volunteer organizations whose missions ranged from community choirs, to prison ministry to science education. And all of them have enriched me through the relationships developed there. I wonder how much of this is related to the decline of a traditional view of original sin.As
a Christian I believe that human beings are inherently flawed- so that absent significant effort things will fall apart. The default state is a downward trend, not an upward one. The
thing about this view is that it helps prevent
the “I did all this work and it didn’t fix
things!” attitude that too often leads to cynicism and burnout. And it helps not to
expect instant gratification. Over the years
I’ve been part of volunteer organizations
whose missions ranged from community choirs,
to prison ministry to science education.
And all of them have enriched me through the
relationships developed there.

]]> By: Amphipolis http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-54844 Amphipolis Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:20:39 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-54844 I have friends who are involved with both he boy and girl scouts. According to them, the girl scouts are having a much harder time than the boy scouts finding volunteers. I have friends who are involved with both he boy and girl scouts. According to them, the girl scouts are having a much harder time than the boy scouts finding volunteers.

]]> By: Pat http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-54180 Pat Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:56:40 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-54180 Pam, I do a lot of volunteering at my local community theatre, but it's all either backstage (lights, sound, props, set construction, ASM) or as an actor. But I will never, ever serve on the Board of Directors. I know people who are on the Board, and I could never stand the kind of petty politics, empire building, and turf wars that they have to deal with. I volunteer at the theatre because I enjoy it, and I would HATE being a board member. (Not that anyone has asked me -- and I hope they never do.) Pam, I do a lot of volunteering at my local community theatre, but it’s all either backstage (lights, sound, props, set construction, ASM) or as an actor. But I will never, ever serve on the Board of Directors. I know people who are on the Board, and I could never stand the kind of petty politics, empire building, and turf wars that they have to deal with. I volunteer at the theatre because I enjoy it, and I would HATE being a board member. (Not that anyone has asked me — and I hope they never do.)

]]> By: Dani http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-54089 Dani Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:35:28 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-54089 Volunteerism is a primarily American phenomenom anyway, and strongly tied to religiosity, which would explain its being uniquely American, and probably ties in with charity giving, as mentioned above. We do know that red staters donate a greater percentage of their income than blue staters. Of course, this could be because blue staters are taxed at a higher rate and expect the goverment to do more for its citizens. But even with these variations it is very safe to say that volunteerism is alive and well and one of the few remaining American values that is shared across all of the socioeconomic and political spectrums. High schools both private and public often require volunteer hours as part of the curriculum. It's simply expected that people who can, will. So is there really a problem with volunteering? Or is it that there are so many organizations vying for the time of of a volunteer that there simply aren't enough to go around? Without a real study showing a decline in volunteer hours, I'm inclined to believe that is the problem. And what a great problem to have. For example, Habitat For Humanity has been so successful and grown so much (except for a drop in funding around 9/11) that one of its stated "problems" is revenue outstripping volunteer capacity. Is this bad? Or do we just have more people who can donate "treasure" instead of "time"? Volunteerism is a primarily American phenomenom anyway, and strongly tied to religiosity, which would explain its being uniquely American, and probably ties in with charity giving, as mentioned above. We do know that red staters donate a greater percentage of their income than blue staters. Of course, this could be because blue staters are taxed at a higher rate and expect the goverment to do more for its citizens. But even with these variations it is very safe to say that volunteerism is alive and well and one of the few remaining American values that is shared across all of the socioeconomic and political spectrums. High schools both private and public often require volunteer hours as part of the curriculum. It’s simply expected that people who can, will.

So is there really a problem with volunteering? Or is it that there are so many organizations vying for the time of of a volunteer that there simply aren’t enough to go around? Without a real study showing a decline in volunteer hours, I’m inclined to believe that is the problem. And what a great problem to have.

For example, Habitat For Humanity has been so successful and grown so much (except for a drop in funding around 9/11) that one of its stated “problems” is revenue outstripping volunteer capacity. Is this bad? Or do we just have more people who can donate “treasure” instead of “time”?

]]> By: Sean http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-53958 Sean Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:19:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-53958 If I actually had much time, energy or money left after the government has stolen from me for their "charities," I might volunteer and give more. Unfortunately, the socialist/fascist government has decided that they are better at deciding where my charity should go than I am. If I actually had much time, energy or money left after the government has stolen from me for their “charities,” I might volunteer and give more. Unfortunately, the socialist/fascist government has decided that they are better at deciding where my charity should go than I am.

]]> By: AnnieB http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-53780 AnnieB Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:31:30 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-53780 Americans support the vast majority of the worlds charities. How much more do you WANT? Besides which, the majority of the 'big charities' that tend to get counted are actually a small ( and corrupt! ) fraction of the actual HELP that goes form person to person. Most of us are finding we can do more good by acting AND thinking locally - and NOT giving anything to the politiliberal rip-offs that are the mainstream 'charities' these days. Americans support the vast majority of the worlds charities. How much more do you WANT?

Besides which, the majority of the ‘big charities’ that tend to get counted are actually a small ( and corrupt! ) fraction of the actual HELP that goes form person to person. Most of us are finding we can do more good by acting AND thinking locally – and NOT giving anything to the politiliberal rip-offs that are the mainstream ‘charities’ these days.

]]> By: Don http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-53738 Don Thu, 05 Jun 2008 05:09:10 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-53738 I voluntered with my daughters swim team and was accused of looking sexually at the girls during swim meets by another woman on the team.I am male and my wife works out of state.Rumours flew around that I was a pervert and was told by my daughters friend that this was going on.I quit asap and will never volunteer again.It scared me to death that I would lose everything I had due to these allegations.This woman was a liberal that I had heated discussions with and she conjured this crap up to nail me.I was so scared of what might happen to me if I had confronted her that I just quit. I voluntered with my daughters swim team and was accused of looking sexually at the girls during swim meets by another woman on the team.I am male and my wife works out of state.Rumours flew around that I was a pervert and was told by my daughters friend that this was going on.I quit asap and will never volunteer again.It scared me to death that I would lose everything I had due to these allegations.This woman was a liberal that I had heated discussions with and she conjured this crap up to nail me.I was so scared of what might happen to me if I had confronted her that I just quit.

]]> By: AJ http://pjmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-53529 AJ Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:29:39 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/how-volunteerism-became-un-american/#comment-53529 Great piece. Simple answers: 1. America is still more selfless than any nation on earth. We all need to remember this from time to time when castigating our own. 2. This is all different depending upon where you are in the US. As someone who has lived in rural and urban communities, it's clear to me that the rich and/or the urban, either by virtue of narcissim or selfishness or graft from the gov't trough, are not volunteering. The poor, religious, small town folks raised with values DO volunteer. Is this over-simplifying? Perhaps, but overall, very true. Michael Moore, for example, gives nothing to chairty, yet takes and takes and lies and lies. Remember this fascinating John Stossel piece a few years back? http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2006/12/06/who_gives_to_charity Great piece. Simple answers:

1. America is still more selfless than any nation on earth. We all need to remember this from time to time when castigating our own.

2. This is all different depending upon where you are in the US. As someone who has lived in rural and urban communities, it’s clear to me that the rich and/or the urban, either by virtue of narcissim or selfishness or graft from the gov’t trough, are not volunteering. The poor, religious, small town folks raised with values DO volunteer. Is this over-simplifying? Perhaps, but overall, very true. Michael Moore, for example, gives nothing to chairty, yet takes and takes and lies and lies.

Remember this fascinating John Stossel piece a few years back?

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JohnStossel/2006/12/06/who_gives_to_charity

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