Why is the Right so dismissive of volunteering for your community?

Question

Would you rather have the individuals that are being helped turn to the government?

Answer 1

We are against compulsory service to get government benefits.  That is what Obama is proposing.

The right volunteers and donates more money than the atheist, agnostic and socialist left.  They want the tax dollars to do it.  Just look at how much Obama donated to charity in the years before he became a presidential candidate.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS COUNTRY IS THAT WE ARE FREE TO DO WITH OUR TIME AS WE SEE FIT.  REQUIRING COMMUNITY SERVICE OF CITIZENS IS ANTI-FREEDOM.

Answer 2

Some do volunteer for their community and give back. But the ones that tend to work for the poor that I know personally are liberal. I always like talking to them because I get a better sense of what is really going on and how hard it is for them and for the people directly affected. I think the left understands that far better than the right because the left is more compassionate. It seems the right just lumps everyone together. They are much more judgmental and quite often wrong. But you do find some very smart and intelligent people on the right that are empathetic but understand how the world works. They don't necessarily agree but they have their reasons. These are the ones that can understand the left's perspective. They don't attack. It's more of a thoughtful discussion with these types. Of course it all goes nowhere. We can talk and talk all day long but nothing changes.

I think everyone should be required to give back to the community. We all live here. No one should be working 100 hours a week. That's ridiculous. Talk about working your way to an early grave. I hardly believe that a person that works that many hours is a healthy person or even a productive person. The human body was not meant for that. I think you can be "working" or productive 100 hours a week or close to it but as long as you have time to work out, eat healthy, and work your mind in different ways.

Our culture suffers from greed and instant gratification. There isn't time to think of others, the community, and the future. It's to our own peril.

The right is more about helping yourself. They have taken on the American values of self-reliance and independence to the extreme. That's why they may seem more dismissive of volunteering for the betterment of the community. By volunteering for your community and really connecting with other people, you earn happiness and self-esteem. I am a volunteer. I love it. I want to do more.

edit: Volunteer work should be compulsory. We all live here and must take part. I don't get it. This is a good thing. But it's ok for the right wingers to tell women what they can do with their bodies. The right is nothing but hyper hypercritical.

Answer 3

Oh, but they do.

They go to church every Sunday to pray for the community.

And then the blinkers come on for another week.

Great answer Sahara.

I couldn't have said it any better.

Answer 4

Because no one can tell us anything else he has done.  

Answer 5

Republicans disparage working for your community because they'll say anything to try to criticize Obama, even if it doesn't make sense.  

Answer 6

For the same reason they attack the education system for being too liberal, but they're not taking up the call to get emergency certification and teach our children.

The GOP is about advancing the interests of the extremely wealthy and corporations while creating a rhetorical mask that the lower middle class and religious right have bought.

Answer 7

Because they are afraid that communities can get together, fight for their rights and become a counter force to the Right Wing Establishment, like ACORN, for example.

Answer 8

First, as soon as it becomes compulsory it is no longer volunteering.  That said, I think re-instituting the draft and giving a community service option such a Peace Corps or Americorps is a great idea.  One benefit how it exposes all members of society to a broader spectrum of America than they would normally meet.

My personal military experience taught me a few things.  At the time we still had a draft.  I entered the Navy.  While the Navy was a volunteer force, at lot of is were really draft refugees.  We'd rather enlist than wait for the draft.  Now I was an officer so my experience was a bit different than most, but I used to chuckle when I saw situations in which a college educated enlisted man was working for a Chief who had a GED!!!   Most everyone I met enjoyed the humor in doing things the 'Navy Way.  

This may be a bit tangential to your question.

As far as taking the question to Obama being a community organizer.  Here is my response to the right...Seems like Obama's job was finding jobs for community members.  Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?

Isn't it a good thing to have a president that knows to get people into jobs?

Answer 9

Only rich people are considered 'successful' by the right wing folks.

So they think anyone that would give up a huge salary at a top law firm to be a community organiser can't be 'trusted' to work for the rich, and therefore must be critisised.

Answer 10

The right seems to give more money and less time.  The thing is they already are look at the unemployment rate now.  That comes out of the pockets of the taxpayers and the rich pay the largest real dollar amounts.