Michelle Malkin has the video and transcript of Sen. Jim DeMint (SC) speaking out on the National Service Reauthorization Act. One section stood out as applying to more than just this piece of legislation.

Unfortunately, our history shows us when Government gets involved, it tends to take something that is working and make it not work nearly as well. Civil society works because it is everything Government is not. It is small, it is personal, it is responsive, it is accountable. Civil society must be protected from any effort to make it more like Government.

It is really an outstanding speech, but more than that it is an accurate assessment of government’s misplaced role in our lives.

Sen. DeMint points out the faith-based aspect of many volunteer organizations, and the hurdles that government has placed in their paths.

Now we are going to come in and help solve the problem we have created. We want to promote voluntarism, we want to promote community service, when what we have done over the last several decades is essentially tried to destroy the motivation for people to serve a cause that is greater than themselves.

Watch the video or read the transcript. I hope it will encourage you like it did me.