3Gs & BSA's Monopoly on Scouting

Scouts-L is an international list, and is not limited to discussions =
of the
BSA, so why do these debates always go around in circles? While most=
of us
are satisfied with the policies of the BSA, it should be obvious that=
things
are done differently in other countries and cultures. =20

There must be places in Europe where moral fitness is judged by local=
people
who know you, rather than a general national policy about sexual orie=
ntation;
as near-by as Canada, girls are admitted into scouting; and I=92m sur=
e that
belief in a God is not a test of a Scout=92s "reverence" in countries=
with large
Buddhist populations. =20
=20
Why are these discussions always limited to the question of whether a=
private
organization should be forced to admit members they don=92t want? Wh=
y have I
never seen a discussion about alternatives to the BSA? I know that i=
n other
countries there are more than one Scouting organization for boys, why=
not in
the USA?

The BSA had sued its competition (mainly William Hearst=92s American =
Boy Scouts,
later United States Boy Scouts) out of existence by 1917. I wonder i=
f the
Baden-Powell Scouts could form in the United States now without simil=
ar legal
actions?=20

Does anyone know anything about these Baden-Powell Scouts (their web =
page is
not very detailed), or other alternatives for Boy Scouts in other cou=
ntries?
I=92m sure that competition that tries to return to the roots of Scou=
ting while
adjusting to changes in culture are not very welcome by bloated monop=
oly
organizations like the BSA, but what is the real story?

YIS,

Jack Sitek

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