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National Service Bill in the UK
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Do people know that one MP, Philip Hollobone, is proposing a bill that requires all 18 to 26 year olds to do some form of national service, for 1 year whole?
It's here http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/nationalservice.html. It means having to spend one year doing some government sponsored program, involving discipline, possibly in a military-like environment, on a minimum wage.
Quite honestly I'm appalled by this, as a freedom loving individual. I've even emailed him twice, and he did reply.
It's here http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/nationalservice.html. It means having to spend one year doing some government sponsored program, involving discipline, possibly in a military-like environment, on a minimum wage.
Quite honestly I'm appalled by this, as a freedom loving individual. I've even emailed him twice, and he did reply.
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Comments
Why should capable young adults should be forced to take one year out of their chosen career path, delay the fulfilling of their ambitions, and be forced to work for a government sponsored program which only offers the minimum wage, as stated in the bill? Why should the young businessman or woman be hindered in going about their trade and having to take a year out to do a government accredited, minimum wage program? Also, I noticed that the scheme must include "coaching and instruction to attain basic levels of physical fitness, personal discipline, smart appearance, self respect and respect for others." Why should be government be allowed to dictate what physical exercise or appearance a British subject should adopt, instead of allowing individuals to decide whether they wish to exercise or be 'disciplined'? If one wishes to live their life, overeating, doing no exercise, and looking scruffy, then why can't they have the freedom to live that way if their not causing harm to anyone? The word 'discipline concerns me as it sounds like imposing on those in this scheme an authoritarian code upon participants, such as dictating when one wakes up, eats, exercises, and imposing other rules that are quite frankly not necessary for society to function.
It appears, that the spirit of this bill, is to demonize all young adults, as disrespectful, lazy, undisciplined, liable to crime etc. Why should the law abiding, responsible, young British subject have to face an insult to their intelligence by being forced to go on a program that sounds like its about telling people how to live their lives in a certain fashion?
What if that person is sitting around doing nothing costing the taxpayer money?
Whilst I agree with you in terms of this bill shouldnt pass, ever, I think you have totally missed the point and got a little too emotional over this. How is doing service such as is detailed in the bill, be insulting to the intelligence of a young British subject? Perhaps that is why society is going down the pan in my eyes, everyone just thinks about themselves these days. I also disagree about the program being about telling people how to live their lives, if it was I would agree with your point, but people wouldnt have to live like that if they didnt want to.
Gets the jobless off the streets doing something productive for a year, leaves those already doing something productive alone.
Good poinr Melian. I would oppose it regardless of what age it was aimed at, but there is a strong undertone in this bill that wants to demonise the young, just because of the actions of a minority.
I've often been in the minority, been the one who is not suited to a one-size-fits all approach. Hope you get what i'm saying. It's Friday night, a bit tired and not really explaining myself cohearentlY (or speling lol)
I'd like to see his reasons for it, just like he has done here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10612670
The national service wouldn't have to be strictly a military thing, just something where they have a work routine and discipline.
There could be benefits to having done your service, free university for example.
For some it would be a good idea but as one of these 'young people' I can understand not wanting to be forced into something I don't want to do.
As well, the physical education thing. True exercise is good but some people (such as myself) aren't naturally talented at such exercise as a military experience provides. I know someone's probably thinking "isn't that the point, to make someone into someone who is?" but... I've always been of the mind that if you're not naturally very fitness or exercise inclined, you really shouldn't be FORCED into being.
All in all... my feelings are mostly negative towards this.
Of course it demonises the young. Youth of today, teach 'em some manners, all that shite. Typical Tory Bastard.
As for "voluntary service" if you happen to be unemployed, my view has always been that if the job needs doing it should be paid. If it doesn't need doing then you shouldn't be forcing people to do it. Either way, "voluntary service"- workfare by any other name- is humiliating and demeaning to everyone.
Let's just leave the armed forces out of it!
Unpaid work. Slavery, by definition, is forced labour.
The two are not necessarily mutually exclusive #cynical