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We have been privileged to travel internationally during the past few years,
which gives us a very different perspective on volunteerism than anyone working
only in their home country. Unfortunately, we admit to being close to despair
about what is - or, rather, isn't - happening in the United States right now,
particularly in comparison to other countries. The total lack of interest by
the American federal government in the International Year of Volunteers is only
one indicator of the problem, but before we simply complain, we need to determine
exactly what we need and want from government to assist in our efforts to promote
volunteering.
Most people in the world have mixed emotions about their government, and humor
mocking political figures and government officials is pretty universal. But
it is unique to the United States for organizations to proclaim proudly on their
literature: "We accept no government funds." Americans see independence from
government "interference" as a sign of legitimacy. In other countries, meanwhile,
it is considered a sign of success when the government acknowledges
the value of something that has been pioneered by a nonprofit and/or volunteers
by either funding the program or even making it an official service of government.
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