While our government is spending at an astonishing rate, who should be surprised that we have to have the Federal government spend more money to expand volunteering.  Sen. Kennedy and our own Sen. Hatch have pushed throught a bill to spend $5.7 Billion to expand or create national service programs.

Is there really a lack of service opportunities?  If you talk to your local church or synogoge, the Boys and Girls Club, local homeless shelters, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the local Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, Exchange or other club, you will find a host of opportunities to serve.  Moreover, I cannot think of a single charity, local or national, that will not have things you can help with.

So why do we need the Federal Government to spend $5.7 Billion it does not have.  Look at the number of "service" jobs the bill creates (ie. adding 175,000 to AmeriCorps).  Those are pretty expensive "volunteer" positions.  Maybe we should volunteer to help our communities, not because the Government is paying for us to do so.