Other said that even if certain projects were initiated, not only in the South but in other politically volatile situations, local control could well stifle the volunteers' creative attempts to deal with the problems of the area. The ingenuity of various Peace Corpsmen has received wide publicity and appreciation from host countries. But as one delegate remarked, there were no Congressmen standing over the Corpsmen's heads.
The crucial question is this: what kind of corps will Congress pass, and will it excite the enthusisasm among the volunteers that has marked the overseas Peace Corps and contributed so greatly to its success.
Southern Opposition
This is the year of the tax bill, as 1962 was the year of the trade bill, and many observers here are saying the Administration will sacrifice the bulk of its welfare spending measures if it can secure passage of its tax proposals. The service corps will certainly face opposition from Southern Democrats and conservative Republicans. And it might not receive the vigorous Administration support it needs to pass Congress.
A weak, small corps is better than none at all, but it is difficult to see how this Congress will pass any legislation which would permit projects dealing with politically controversial problems, particularly in the South.
Dennis Shaul, NSA president, told the conference that the Administration should make clear the priority of projects it envisages for the corps, and how strongly it intends to back its proposals in Congress.
He added that if the Administration wants a corps that will deal almost entirely with non-controversial problems, such as health conditions, it should say so. But such a corps, Shaul said, would not be attractive to students concerned with such problems as the improvement of the life of the Negro in the North as well as the South.
Delegates Dissatisfied
The lack of enthusiasm manifested by the delegates to the Washington meeting is an indication that there is dissatisfaction with the content of the Administration's proposals, and the manner in which they have been advanced. Students who have been tutoring students in the Negro districts of Boston, registering voters, or working in similar areas would not join a service corps. And it is this type of politically involved student who goes to NSA conferences. But Shaul is incorrect to equate the political activists with other students and adults who spend time in social service work. Students who participate in the Phillips Brooks House public service projects would most likely be very excited by the service corps.
But just because it can attract volunteers for less controversial projects, this does not mean the Administration should not seriously consider the opinions of the delegates at the NSA conference.
Many of the great social injustices in this country exist not in spite of local efforts to eradicate them, but because of local efforts to maintain the comfortable status quo. At the least, the drafters of the service corps legislation should consider an NSA proposal that "The National Service Corps, without previous requests by local groups shall be able to explore and evaluate areas of need and make itself available to assist local groups in-the formulation of project requests."
It would seem at this time that the only politically realistic proposal by the Administration would provide for a great deal of local control. Of course much can also be said for an effort to change the political climate. For instance Sec. of Health, Education and Welfare Anthony Celebreze has yet to endorse the corps publically and it is possible that the Administration may provide further opposition.
But even if the national service corps never achieves the glamour of the overseas Peace Corps, nor the controversial role some students would like to see, it can become a catalyst for local volunteer action and a publicizer of presently ignored injustice. It would be unfortunate indeed if the Administration chooses to sacrifice the enabling legislation to the fiscal conservatives without a good fight.