My Beliefs on Volunteerism in America

Some time ago, I read something that was published by Erma Bombeck, and I would think most of you have read her writings from time to time. I would like to take a moment to read you part of what she wrote:

"I had a dream the other night that every volunteer in this land had set sail for another country. I stood smiling on the pier, shouting, 'Goodbye phone committees. Goodbye disease-of-the-mouth. No more getting out the vote. No more playground duty, bake sales, and three hour meetings."

"As the boat got smaller, I reflected: "Serves them right, that bunch of "YES" people. All they had to do was to put their tongues firmly against the roofs of their mouths and make an 'O' sound--No. It would certainly have spared them a lot of grief. Oh, well, who needs them."

"The hospital was quiet as I passed it. The reception desk was vacant. Rooms were devoid of books, flowers and voices. The children's wing held no clowns, no laughter."

"The home for the aged was like a tomb. The blind listened for a voice that never came. The infirm were imprisoned on wheel-chairs that never moved. Food grew cold on trays that would never reach the hungry."

"The social agencies had closed their doors--unable to implement their programs of scouting, recreation, drug control, un-able to help the disabled, crippled, lonely, and abandoned. Health agencies had signs in their windows: "Cures for cancer, birth defects, multiple sclerosis, heart diseases, etc. have been canceled because of lack of interest."

"The schools were strangely quiet, with no field trips and no volunteer classroom aides. Symphony hall and the museums that had been built and stocked by volunteers were dark and would remain that way."

"The flowers on church alters withered and died. Children in day nurseries lifted their arms, but there was no one to hold them in love. Alcoholics cried out in despair, but no one answered. The poor had no recourse for health care or legal aid."

"I fought in my sleep to regain a glimpse of the ship of volunteers just one more time. It was to be my last glimpse of civilization...As we were meant to be."

For over 250 years, Americans of all ages, all conditions, all dispositions, have constantly formed associations by the thousands-- religious, moral, serious, general, restricted-- you name it!

We made associations to give entertainment, to build Inns, to construct churches, diffuse books, send missionaries to foreign countries, to establish hospitals, prisons and schools. Today, we call this "Voluntarism."

I believe that nearly all of our early institutions of higher education, are the results of "voluntarism." All of our churches, most of our hospitals, many of our businesses, all of our labor unions, all of our newspapers, radio and television stations, all of our clubs, all of our professional associations, all of our political parties, all of our opera, symphonies, ballet companies, all of our entertainment, movies and theater, all of our Athletic teams --- Professional and amateur, all of our transport systems, all of our artistic endeavors, in a word, almost the total fabric or our society, was initiated, developed and maintained by voluntary activity in the private sector. We even have, at least for the moment, a volunteer Armed Forces.

The Volunteer support for all of this in gifts, probably amounts to over 100 Billion dollars a year in this country. Nobody could possibly calculate the monetary value of the volunteered services which are involved.

If you wish to see how unique this makes America, visit a communist society. If you read a newspaper in one of those countries, it is government issued --- So is radio, televisions, and internet publications. If you do business, you do it with the government. Olympic athletes are government employees, so are all the transport services. If you join a club, it is government sponsored and supported. To the extent that churches are allowed, so are they. (Don't get me started on the censorship of China Search Engines)

All higher education -- admission, curriculum, professional and administrative appointments, are made by the government. Clubs, associations, hotels, entertainment, hospitals, artistic and cultural activities are an arm of the government. So are, especially, the political parties of which generally there is only one.

We take voluntarism so much for granted in our country, that it's importance is really not appreciated until we compare our way of life to that in countries where everything is of the state, by the state, and for the state.

I might make the point more forcefully, if I were to pose to you a question --Suppose that tomorrow, August 12, 2019, the most expensive multibillion dollar endeavor in our land "The Federal Government" were to suddenly be inactivated! What would be the effect, the impact on your life? I suspect it would be enormous! I also suspect it would be moreso if all the volunteer associations, in this great country of ours, were suddenly eliminated.

Let me give you an example of what I mean. I know somebody, a friend of mine, who was born in a private hospital, grew up with private medical care, in a private home, not a government apartment. He was supported by money earned by his father, who worked for a private concern. He attended private schools, parochial, elementary, and high school, and three private universities. He was a boy scout; a member of the YMCA; he went to camp in the summertime, sponsored by the Boy Scouts. He played on a neighborhood football team.

For spending money, he had his own private enterprise -- he mowed lawns in the summer and shoveled ashes and snow in the winter. He went to a church that was founded and supported by voluntarism. He joined a private religious order, later was ordained a priest and taught in a private university. Now, you take the volunteer element out of this person's life, and there is practically nothing left!

All of you have had similar experiences in your own lives. All our lives, as we presently live them, are inconceivable without the large involvement of volunteer associations, volunteer gifts and volunteer services.

If you agree with me that all of this voluntarism is good for America and for Americans, may I then suggest to you that, today, we are facing a countermovement that strikes at the heart of what has made this country great and unique. Despite our history of voluntarism, despite our unique record of doing by and for ourselves what needs doing, I sense that today there is a tendency to say "Let the government do it."

I say in all earnest that when the government does it, the doing is almost always more costly, less free, more complicated and generally less productive and effective for America & Americans. When we say "Let the government do it," we are bartering away our freedoms.

Before World War II, The Federal Government's involvement in higher education was minimal -- Less than 50 Million dollars a year. After the war, when universities and Colleges were tripling in size, the Federal Government became the largest benefactor. In general, this seemed to all to be a good development. Colleges and Universities needed government loans for buildings. They needed large research grants in science. They needed scholarship help for the ever growing number of students who otherwise would be unable financially to attend the colleges. Colleges and universities needed medical grants, capital assistance and library subsidies. All of this had grown from 50 Million dollars to over 80 Billion dollars a year. Suddenly a wide number of authorities with special interests began to decent upon these campuses.

They were not members of the three branches of government - Judicial, Executive, or Legislative, but were a new breed called "regulators".

They were regulating health, environment, women's rights, minority rights, OSHA, employment beyond the age of 65 etc. The IRS was looking into unrelated income, and many other items that they felt they should look into. It has been jokingly said by my grandfather that the four biggest lies in America are "I'll call you back tomorrow" -- "I Left it at the office" -- "I'm from the government --I'm here to help you," and "My check is in the mail".

I do not want you to get the impression that I am completely opposed to any kind of regulation whatsoever. In a society as complicated as ours, some regulation is necessary for the common good --Such as the Food and Drug Regulations, Highway & Airport Safety, things of that nature.

There is a spirit in this country which needs to be rediscovered. This spirit prevails just the opposite of "Let the government do it." This spirit springs from free citizens who prize and use their freedom to touch humanity by dedicated service freely given.

I would like to conclude by observing that one of the most important roles in education today in my mind is not just to educate students to academic excellence and professional competence --But to give them as well the vision and the practice of serving the nation's needs.

May the beauty and dedication of "Voluntarism" in this country never wither or die -- For, if it does, America, the land of the free, will die with it.

Sources; Butler County Pennsylvania Retired Public School Employees Associations Speech by William J Lutz, March 24, 1982.