rpcv 95 & 98 - peace corps posting as everyone knows is often a precarious situation with inherent risks-i have had both good and bad experiences of which i am not going to go into here-i simply wanted to express my concerns in regards to the possibility of the Bush administration abusing this organization for its own moral crusade-the mission of the peace corps has been to allow for better understanding between the people of the United States and people of developing nations at their discretion-but who is responsible for the invitation? i am mostly concerned for potential volunteers getting in over their head-which is most likely if there is to be a hasty expansion.

By Craig R. Gardner (craig) on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 2:12 am: Edit Post

> > I wouldn't worry about the Peace Corps being abused by the President. I > heard the same concerns when Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Bush were President. > I never heard them when Johnson, Carter, and Clinton were President. It is > just nonsense and political spin (as it has been my entire lifetime -- > liberal vs. moderate vs. conservative and how that changes decade by > decade). I wouldn't worry so much -- many of the past mistakes in countries > chosen by the Peace Corps (the State Department) and the Foreign Country > hosts were made regardless of the hidden agendas which accompany every > chosen country. They have happened under every President's watch including > Kennedy's.

By Marty on Thursday, May 02, 2002 - 3:07 pm: Edit Post

I agree with the others' comments but want to add something. I think that Bush's appointing a former Xcel Energy Vice President to the Directorship of the Peace Corps is a very big agenda. I think that Bush is going to push consummerism and the US grabbing more oil at ANY cost; internationally or environmentally. He is a greedy, gas guzzling majority, president.