25 May 2010
Girl Scouts Stepping in the Politics Pile Again
Posted by admin under: Community Partners .
There was a very nice announcement on the Girl Scouts blog today about how the GSUSA is partnering in an empowerment campaign. Cool. Everyone should be empowered. Be the change you wish to see in the world and all that. The Girl Scouts is partnering with the National Urban League. Well, okay. Hey, the Boy Scouts partnered with the National Associations for the Advancement of Colored People so it’s not like these groups all have to be a-political or anything.
The problem I see is the empowerment pledge as it’s shown.
The pledge says, “I pledge to responsibly commit my time and talent to ensure that the nation is empowered to achieve the following goals by 2025:
Every American child is ready for college, work and life.
Every American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits.
Every American lives in safe, decent, affordable and energy efficient housing on fair terms.
Every American has access to quality and affordable health care solutions.”
The hot buttons are “living wage and good benefits”, “energy efficient house on fair terms”, and “affordable health care solutions”.
This is written as if it was an endorsement of the platform of one of the major political parties. This invites the assumption that the Girl Scouts of the USA is more in favor of one party over another. Personally, I don’t think it’s an obligation for an employer to offer benefits. It’s a good business decision, but this pledge makes it sound like benefits are an obligation or right. When did home energy efficiency become the responsibility of the public? If you pour your money out of the leaky cracks in your home that’s your bone-headed decision. How is it my responsibility to make sure you aren’t doing that? What are fair terms for housing? Aren’t terms negotiated between the landlord and tenant? Doesn’t that mean both sides will probably feel like something about the arrangement was unfair? Compromise is like that. Fair is very ambiguous and there will always be someone saying that a decision is unfair. Putting affordable health care solutions as a pledge just seems like begging for trouble with the heated health care debate going on.
In short, this pledge seems like it will lead to nothing but ulcers for young girls being asked to take it. The intention of making the world a better place is there, but where are the other side’s talking points? Where’s the pledge to enhance the personal freedom of each American? How about the drive to increase the net income for families? Freedom for religious expression? Deregulation of political speech?
This can be played from both sides and so far only sounds like one is endorsed. Even the points written could have been better expressed so they shy away from charges of political bias. *sigh* Oh, Girl Scouts. When will you ever learn?
That’s why I like specific skills and camping. Not a lot of politics there. When’s the next campout?
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6 Comments so far...
Denise Says:
26 May 2010 at 11:32 am.
I’m so glad you posted this! I was looking over that press release yesterday and just couldn’t figure out how to word things so that I didn’t start a flame war. I agree with you 100% that it sounds like it could have been taken straight from one of the major political parties’ playbook and that’s the real problem I have with it. Teaching the girls to work for the betterment of everyone is a laudable goal. But when it sounds like they’re being indoctrinated instead of educated, that’s where I draw the line. Anyway… thanks for a great post!
Kati Says:
26 May 2010 at 3:14 pm.
I am completely unclear on how each Girl Scout is going to help ensure that everyone else has a job with “good benefits.” These don’t seem like opportunities for service projects so much as a call to vote in certain ways. Bleah. As a Girl Scout leader this is exactly the sort of thing I will try to ignore.
MB Says:
27 May 2010 at 5:18 pm.
well said.
SueS Says:
7 August 2010 at 12:49 am.
Girl Scout mission is to Build girls of courage, character, and confidence who make the World a better place. As citizens of the world we have an obligation to act responsibly and be an example to others to do the same. These goals are big but I’m sure there are Girl Scouts who can pledge to do this and make a difference in her life/world and the lives of others. I like the pledge and the collaboration. Don’t be so skeptical.
Hilary Says:
21 October 2010 at 2:43 pm.
I agree with Sue S.
Anyways – if you look over those goals, its generic enough so that any party would endorse it. Its not GSUSA endorsing any political party.
Sam Says:
12 February 2011 at 8:33 pm.
But Hilary, those are VERBATIM from one particular political candidate’s campaign, an MAJOR infraction of the GSUSA’s “non-partisanship.
Yes, I know the difference between GSUSA and BSA. Sticking to the old Eco-Action stuff would play out much better than following one particular political party, aka the Democrat Party.
