The Quiet Conservative March 23, 2009
The US Public Service Academy
West Point, Annapolis, Colorado Springs, they bring to mind the service academies that produce the
leaders of our military. Now, we have the proposed US Public Service Academy. This is promoted as
the production of our future civil service leaders. With the closing of Walter Reed Medical Center, the
hundred acres of campus can be converted to our newest crown jewel of government. Their web site
is www.uspublicserviceacademy.org. At the web site they openly make the comparison about how
they would be similar to our nation's military academies.
Sponsored by over a hundred congressmen and senators, who they do not list on the web site, the
endorsement page does list many organizations promoting the academy's founding. Many of these
organizations are solidly Democratic or left leaning. Terry McAuliffe, Madeline Albright, Hillary
Clinton, and Tom Daschle are among the individual endorsers listed. This new public service academy
would be right in line with our President's idea of promoting national public service.
So what is wrong with the concept? It is uniquely anti-American. Notice the distinction in the
word choice between "un-American" and "anti-American." Un-American can describe the Federal
Government dictating private company operations and attempting to bankrupt the nation through
profligate and irresponsible spending. Anti-American can describe efforts to distort or damage the
nation in its very nature.
The existing academies, Army, Navy, Air Force, are for a single profession, the military. They are
designed to produce a skilled leader in a particular field. In this they are no different than a medical
school where one goes to become a doctor. But never before has there been an academy for
government. No one has tried to, in our entire history, found such an academy. There is a good reason
why they haven't.
In America, the government is of the people, by the people, and for the people. We govern ourselves
and the government isn't the source of any of our rights. We are a free people that have inherent
rights and allow the government to exist to benefit us as a whole. The concept of a professional
government class is alien to our thinking. At least, it used to be. At no time before would we, as a
nation, promote the selection and training of a ruling political class. Phrased this way the US Public
Service Academy begins to sound a lot less attractive and a lot more sinister. We are planning on
founding an academy for rulers, not servants.
From their brochure: What is the U.S. Public Service Academy?
The U.S. Public Service Academy will be the civilian counterpart to the military academies,
America's first national public college devoted to developing civilian leaders. The Academy will
offer students a federally subsidized college education in exchange for five years of civilian service
following graduation.
In the military, those officers who go to the academies are planning careers in the military.
Mandatory service is required after graduation, but there are other colleges out there with enough aid
that if someone only wanted to go to college as the goal, they could. So that isn't a reason one goes to a
military academy. Many universities likewise have ROTC programs where students can go and
graduate into becoming an officer in the military. So only completing minimum mandated service in the
military isn't the purpose of attending a military academy. A career in the service is the goal. When
thinking of the civilian institution of government, there are many private universities that have
government service programs. Therefore the purpose of an academy is for a career.
How would this academy be different than a private school, as the brochure itself compares its
purpose to the military academies? The USPS Academy is training professional government
employees. Upon graduation they are committed to five years of government work. The Federal
Government is paying them their salary during that time. Do you think you could get a good job with
the Federal Government if you didn't go to the academy? Do you think during promotions you would
stand a chance against an academy sponsored and certified graduate?
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students will attend the academy?
After a rigorous admission process that includes a congressional nomination, 1275 high-achieving
students will be appointed to attend the Academy, for a four-year population of roughly 5100.
To start with you have to have a congressional nomination. This means you have to have connections.
Is this the founding of public service? The military academy nominations are for people seeking a
relatively low wage position where you may be killed. Is there any reasonable comparison? Does it
become-My son or daughter can get in to the USPS if I make $ amount of contributions to the
Congressman's reelection committee? Do I pay a lobbyist to get my relative in? This is the blueprint
for corruption, not service.
How will the Academy differ from other colleges?
Like the military academies, the Academy will offer an academically rigorous, year-round
leadership development program that emphasizes public service. The intensive program will foster a
campus culture of service that will unify graduates with a shared sense of mission. It will foster
stronger bonds, provide more practical experience, and require a longer service commitment than
any other civilian college.
Well, another word for this is indoctrination. It has worked well in other socialist and communist
countries, why not here? How well do you think your student will do, if he goes against the party
mantra? How long will someone who believes in individual rights and limited government last in this
environment? Think anyone will stand up and be for traditional marriage or against abortion if the
academy view is different? Think alternative views will be tolerated? Think you can depart from the
party line? What kind of public servant will be produced?
How much money will it cost?
About 60 cents per American per year. The Academy will be a public-private partnership, with
Congress funding 80% of the $205 million annual budget as an investment in our nation’s future
leadership.
I do not consent to having my money spent on producing a ruling political class. Think I will be
allowed to opt out? Unlike the military academies that produce future military leaders to provide for
the common defense, this one isn't consistent with our founding intent. Our nation's future leadership
should come from the people throughout the nation, not those who consider themselves connected,
entitled, or the elite.
How can I help build the Academy?
The Academy is a winning idea, and you can help make it happen. Help us by volunteering your
time and expertise, contacting your representatives in Congress, or contributing financially. Learn
more on our web site:
www.uspublicserviceacademy.org.
I don't want the academy built. I repudiate the concept entirely. Instead of growing government and
instituting a professional political caste, shrink government back to its necessary and limited role and
make the reduced workforce more effective and efficient. With a smaller work force and more
competitive pay, the purported need for public servants should be fulfilled nicely with considerable
savings to the taxpayer.
On their about page they had this: In the 110th Congress, we had identical bipartisan bills before
the Senate (S. 960) and the House (HR 1671), with 24 senators and 123 representatives signed on
as co-sponsors. Many members of the Obama administration — including Hillary Clinton, Joe
Biden, Rahm Emanuel, and Tom Daschle — are supporters of the Academy.
While they did not list on their endorsement page a list of Congressional endorsers, by following the
link included it is possible to determine how "bipartisan" this effort was in the 110th Congress. Of the
147 sponsors, only 9 were Republicans. Hardly "bipartisan". Checking the list over, however, it was
also interesting to note that 42 were members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The CPC is
the largest caucus in the House and was founded by Bernie Sanders to promote socialism upon his
election to the House in 1991. A committed socialist, he has attracted quite a gathering with his
philosophy of Democratic Socialism. This academy is gathering quite a following among those
socialists.
The Public Service Academy has nothing to offer the nation but a ruling class of indoctrinated,
committed, large government public officials. They will not be accountable to the people. They will not
come from the people. They will be people who sought political sponsorship to gain access and will
continue to seek political sponsorship and connections for advancement. Does this sound like a
government of the people, by the people, and for the people?
The Public Service Academy is, by its very conception, fatally and irrevocably anti-American.
No wonder the left loves the idea.