Let’s have compulsory national service for 65 year olds

[Barleypilaf]

So, if it’s a good idea to press-gang 18 year olds into national service, why don’t we do the same for those getting their pension? Everyone in the first year of pension should spend at least one weekend per month doing volunteering in their community. It would help to build community spirit, help the NHS and improve people’s fitness.

if you’re fortunate enough not to have to, I don’t see why you shouldn’t give something back.

Giving something back implies that you have received something. I have never received a penny from the state; but have paid tax and NI all my adult life.

As many pension age people still have to work to afford to live this is another ageist post.
Most retired people who are healthy already volunteer, do unpaid care work, childcare etc

How many young people volunteer? Maybe rather than do it at 18 they include volunteering as part of 6th form education which means the youth give something back, earn essential communication skills which todays kids lack due to communication via technology. There are benefits for the youth volunteering. I fear my generation (gen x) has created a generation of princesses who couldn't walk to school like I did, are entitled (look at the cost of proms, wouldn't happen in my day) they don't know the value of money as grew up more comfortable than my generation so to a degree I think compulsory community work us a good idea

You should hear how they talk about Gen Z (specifically on the Jeremy Vine show, weirdly ). We’re all workshy snowflakes who cry mental health at slight adversity. Well I’m not and most people I know aren’t so frankly they can fuck off.

I hate the stoking up of generational conflict on the basis of stupid generalisations. I know enough boomers and Gen Xers in real life to think it’s all bollocks.

Ditto.

This. Another one on MN. 🙄

The point you make is that not everyone in a"generation" is the same and that does for every generation, there is a whole spectrum of views across the age range. Voting is no more age related than income or region related.

Doesn’t anyone in your family over 65 volunteer, OP? Perhaps you don’t have many setting a good example.

of the retirees I know very few haven’t done some volunteering.

Yes, that is what I’m saying. I don’t buy in to the shit people come out with about boomers either.

I was wondering how long it would be until this bullshit was dragged out yet again. Seriously. WTF? 🙄

Ignorant and ageist.

Agree. I get that you aren't seriously suggesting that pensioners do this, just pointing out the unpleasantness of the proposed policy

(And I know heaps of young people who volunteer. But also in an era when driving lessons, university, buying houses etc is astronomically expensive, volunteering rather than working is actually a real privilege)

Busted! 😂

What on earth were they thinking? ‘Let’s make the army hate us’ doesn’t seem like a great strategy for staying in power. Unless that’s not the plan…

As a 62 year old, working full time (as I have from age 17) and supporting those in our community with very difficult lives, it means I know how many support organisations (and it will surprise you how much you think is paid for work is actually voluntary, including in our schools, councils and hospitals) is staffed by those over 60 and well beyond! The real issue is why so many in our society do nothing, support very little and yet want everything to be done for them. The rise in NEETs, those not in education, employment or training is huge and it is not just because of Covid, something else is happening and if we don't find a way to address this, we really will be up the creek without a paddle. Other countries have schemes, maybe the issue is why we don't and I am not saying that RS is right, I am saying we need to do something to bring our communities / society together and sooner rather than later and get our young people out into the world and open their eyes to a wealth of possibilities. Ideas anyone? Generalisations, targeting age groups and assumptions about wealth really should not factor into this question of contributing to our society and are really not helpful. Suggestions as to how we address some of the real threats at home and abroad would be.

👏

Most people in my age group I know have spent their lives volunteering. We set up toddler groups, women's groups, helped at brownies, cubs, youth clubs, sports activities.
My mum volunteered in the local library until she was 80.
I think older people are invisible and a lot of what they do is taken for granted/ unnoticed.

38 years ago, an episode of Yes, Prime Minister:

18 year olds now will spend years working & probably won’t get a state pension.
They also have the added bonus of huge debt from uni & now military service too.

so you leave your job, retire at 67 or whatever and then have compulsory volunteering?

are pensioners needing to get out of their social/digital bubble?

my own dm still volunteers at 89, she has done so for more than 20 years

More ageist crap.

My (retired but not old) dad does need to get out of his digital bubble tbf . But I don’t think the govt forcing him to volunteer would be the way to go, because I’m not an authoritarian and I think people should volunteer because they want to and not because they’ve been made to.

Yes, lets stir up the sense of division between generations.

It's really going to make for a better society isn't it?

Or perhaps instead we could ensure this utter ridiculous Rishi idea is consigned to the bin where it belongs. Rather than recycle nastily ad nauseam