ok, lets actually have a quick vote on the Compulsory National Service at 18 idea

[cannonballz]

I dont think any of the threads running have an actual poll. I can't believe anyone would go along with enforced labour of 18 year olds, particularly when dictated by someone so immensely wealthy, privileged and so utterly out of touch.

Lets see

Sunak called an election without prewarning half his cabinet. Now he’s just made up a major new policy without discussing it with anyone. I can’t wait for his next nonsensical idea. Monkey tennis anyone?

It's a perfect idea Tories. Run with it. People will love it.

If there was any glimmer of a chance of the Tories winning the next election they've just absolutely crushed it into the ground. Fabulous.

Are they
a) in such a bubble they have no idea what ordinary people think?
b) stupid?
c) trying to lose?

Labour, "Hello 16 and 17 year olds, we're going to give you the vote."

Conservatives, "Hello 16 and 17 year olds, we're not going to give you the vote. Even better than that.............."

It would be transformative! Sadly on here no mum will let Tabitha and Rupert go

How would it transform your childrens' lives then @Tinyhattinycat

ii doubt parents can stop rupert

there will be an awful lot of autism/adhd diagnosis requested as a get out clause

I see.

I'm not opposed to the idea in principle. I think something similar should be effectively set up for young people but it shouldn't be for anyone who is working, studying, apprenticed, or travelling abroad. There also needs to be necessary exemptions for young carers or young people with disabilities/additional needs.

You can’t request a diagnosis.

I'm starting to think Rishi is just taking the piss now. Knows he won't get back in so can just say any old rubbish to wind us all up.

No I haven’t led a sheltered life, you have no fucking clue about my life from what I posted. I said quite clearly that I’ve come across young people through my work, so how do you work out that I haven’t met them?

My brother is a teacher. They have terrible problems in schools with entitled kids dropping rubbish. They refuse to clear up, stating it’s a cleaner’s job not theirs.

I’ve encountered the same with slightly older individuals. One young couple had piled rubbish up outside their house, when their bin got full. I arranged for them to have a second bin. They then wanted me to get someone to put their rubbish in the bin. This was two perfectly fit and healthy young adults. You couldn’t make it up.

Yes people today seem especially lazy when it comes to clearing up their own mess. You only have to look at the road sides to see an enormous amount of litter, just left. Then there’s fly tipping, which is a massive problem. In the summer our local park is covered with rubbish, from picnics and BBQs. People just can’t be bothered to clear up their own messes.

So yes perhaps some sort of National service which centres on cleaning up our country and working in the community is a good idea.

Then, shouldn't everyone have to do it? It's not teenagers taking their children to the beach or park and leaving shit. Or the families on planes who leave their shit all over the place for the stewards to pick up.

It would not be a bad idea if it were properly funded and supported, but that's not what is being offered. Also compulsory voluntary work isn't really voluntary. And lots of young people already do some voluntary work, not just through DofE.

One of my German colleagues did civilian service rather than military service, and worked as a hospital porter - but he was trained and paid, as was another who did his service in the Luftwaffe, even if they weren't going to get rich on it. But Germany doesn't do Militärdienst or Zivildienst any more because it costs too much.

So we'd just have loads of pissed off young people, resentful at having to give up time and possibly paid employment for something they don't really want to do, and loads of pissed off organisations, because they have to deal with people who don't really want to be there, but will be off as soon as they have done the minimum required time - plus may also lose genuine volunteers because they have to make space for the compulsory ones, and you can only handle so many at once, who still need some training, possibly equipment, insurance, etc. Of course there would be some who would get introduced to something they haven't tried before and end up loving it - but most won't be like that.

@SirAlfredSpatchcock I'm too old to do it now - over the age limit. Otherwise I would love to!

Oh I think if this were introduced there would definitely be a market for people to request a diagnosis and probably quite a few willing to give one....

My immediate assumption was that he wants out of this election.

He’s tired and wants to retire with his rich wife 🤣 that’s why he’s doing all this shit

My teenagers aren’t rude and insolent.

Why would it be a get out clause? If it's mandatory for all 18 yr olds, then it's mandatory for all 18 year olds. Otherwise other MH and maybe every sort of physical illness should also be a get out clause, why only autism? They can go to school, so they could do a weekend a month doing community service, surely?

What if a young person is suicidal? Surely this would be good? A bit of community service would help give them perspective.

There would be a role for everyone, and something could be found for every single young person, tailored especially for them.

ALL I'VE WROTE ABOVE IS NOT WHAT I THINK BUT MAY BE WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SAY, AFTER ALL THEY'VE ALREADY SAID THIS FOR PIP, SO WHY WOULDN'T THEY SAY IT FOR 18 YEAR OLDS. The problem is a certain demographic loves the idea and I've already seen people saying they may change their vote to Tory because of it

Teenagers these days are just rude and insolent. They need some form of socialisation

That isn't my experience if the vast majority of teenagers I come across.

And I definitely see no more rude teenagers as I do rude adults either.

Everyone should clean up their own rubbish, yes but where do you start?

They would if Tabitha or Rupert were polishing the Elgin marbles or teaching the deserving poor to snowboard.

My teens/young people work at the weekend-in jobs they have found themselves and that pay them. They do not want to join the army (if they did, they already would have done so) and they are busy at the weekends and in the holidays, already working.

This sounds like a cheap way of forcing young people to do all the fruit picking nobody else is willing to do.