To be honest I actually don't think it sounds all that bad. If it were forced military service I'd think it was terrible. But it sounds like you can just do community service instead of the military training. And it's just one weekend a month for twelve months. Given how much we're disconnected from our communities these days I think making sure kids engage with their communities in this way could actually be really beneficial.

That's just thinking about this one policy in a Vaccuum though. I know nothing about British politics so I have no clue what other awful and heinous shit this party may or may not be into.

[–] then_three_more@lemmy.world 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

25 days of slavery is 25 days too much in my opinion.

Also if we're arguing that it's too bring communities together why is it only 18 year olds? Wouldn't mixing with a wide variety of ages from 18 to 118 be better? Also why is the stick to make people do it a fine (so that the rich will just pay if their kids don't want to do it)?

[–] alyth@lemmy.world 2 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Wouldn't mixing with a wide variety of ages from 18 to 118 be better?

You will work in the NHS or the firefighters and so on, so you will certainly engage with community members of all ages and from all wakes of life. For a year of mandatory service that everybody is meant to complete, 18 is arguably the best time to do it.

slavery

When you walk on a public road past a hospital do you think to yourself "they stole my money to build this"? You have rights and duties as a citizen. Your service benefits the community as a whole.

Also why is the stick to make people do it a fine (so that the rich will just pay if their kids don't want to do it)?

I fully agree with you on this point

[–] then_three_more@lemmy.world -1 points 5 months ago

You will work in the NHS or the firefighters and so on, so you will certainly engage with community members of all ages and from all wakes of life. For a year of mandatory service that everybody is meant to complete, 18 is arguably the best time to do it.

But anyone who's not 18 will be denied that "opportunity".

When you walk on a public road past a hospital do you think to yourself "they stole my money to build this"? You have rights and duties as a citizen. Your service benefits the community as a whole.

Exactly, I already give over a portion of my labour time via taxes to help society. Forcing people to do 25 days extra unpaid work is either slavery or a huge one off tax on 18 year olds.

There's also no exceptions. So you've already got a job that requires you to do weekends? Touch shit. So you've got staff shortages. Already work for the fire service or police etc. Touch shit. You've got to go pick litter up for 25 days.

[–] Ilandar@aussie.zone 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I agree with you. Military conscription is shit, but mandatory community service for young people on the cusp of adulthood could be very beneficial for a society. Particularly if it involves regular interactions with older members of the community (something Western countries lack due to households typically being limited to immediate family). Young people in developed Western nations are more disillusioned, detached and depressed than ever while some older people are really struggling to keep up with the pace at which life and technology is changing. Getting both groups together in their local communities could potentially build some important life skills and confidence for younger people while helping older people to feel included and relevant. I'm not saying a Tory government would be able to implement this effectively, but I can get onboard with the general idea.

[–] letsgo@lemm.ee 2 points 5 months ago

Well let's have a look at the Tory track record of implementing things effectively. How about Boris's oven ready deal? Seems he didn't have one. Was he lying? Or did he have one that he thought the EU would accept until they laughed him out of the room? How's the Rwanda plan going? How much has it cost so far? How many flights have left? Hmm.