Civilian Response Corps–Part 3
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by admin on 07-08-2008
Tagged Under : kennedy, usa
III:
The Peace Corps, inaugurated during the administration of President John F. Kennedy, played a role in this process. This initiative was useful both in attempting to refurbish America’s image abroad, supposedly combating poverty, and in engaging young people who were appalled at conditions in “Third World” countries. The Peace Corps was prompted primarily by fears of revolution in countries where the US had very little credible presence and where it feared growing Soviet influence.
Kennedy’s emphasis on the universal rights of man and the need to “abolish all forms of human poverty” nevertheless had a different ring than current US policies. The US government committed limited resources to social reform. It turned out to be the last gasp of social reform both in foreign and domestic policy.
The volunteer crusade served several political purposes. It helped supply free labor to cover up the elimination of government programs. From health care to child [...]
