Do you think we should bring back national service in the UK?

Question

For people who have left school and dont intend to go on to further education or work? Do you think it will instil diciplin and perhaps improve society?

Hayley and Robert C, what planet are you on??? read the friggin question. I didnt mention sex did I?? Hayley are you a feminist?? I didnt mention groups either. All I am saying is. work and contribute from your own free will, or national service. Why should the hard workers of this world support the lazy workshy??

vambosth... No I didnt do national service. I went to college, got a job and progressed to paying 40 friggin % tax. I think I have a right to be annoyed that their are so many lazy people out there who would rather commit crime than contribute to this society!

Answer 1

I think it's a great idea. The trouble is, is that we now have so many immigrants, who hold no allegiance to the UK. A lot of these are 2nd and 3rd generation people from the Indian Subcontinent. But I think from the age of 12, all children should have to attend a cadet course at least twice aweek, Until they are 18, or in full time employment that stops them attending.

Answer 2

Yes - and I would not restrict it like that. Firstly I would include non-military service - such as VSO or other volunteer work in the community - I would make it 1 year minimum but if you had an assured uni or vocational training course then that would be it. Otherwise 2 years.

Both my children did "gap years" and they used them well and learnt a lot about life including living with people you are not related to, doing your own washing, ironong and other cleaning, and managing a personal budget.

When they went to uni they found this all very good. The problem if people just leave school and don't go to a college or other structured environment is that they can go a bit "stale" and lose focus and self confidence.

Answer 3

The problem with National Service is that it is military-based and therefore promotes violence!! What is needed is a good moral code. Some young (and older) people today don't have a loving attitude, believing that success involves possessions, sex and power, and acquisition of money (through whatever mechanism) can get these things. I don't agree with forced restrictions or threats imposed by many religions, but I do believe that we are all equal creations of God and therefore should have respect for each other. This is what is needed.

Answer 4

No, not at all.
I can see that youngsters of today are a bit on the uncontrollable and wild side.
But they should not be punished with national service. The wars of today are unjust, and not really about what we are told and believe it to be. Sending these youngsters to fight a war that is not theirs or in their beliefs wouldn't be providing discipline, it would be murder.
Until the country (government) sort their corrupt ways, and people stop being so negative about youngsters, nobody should complain.

I was one of them 'yobs' after 17 years in Children's homes and foster homes. I heard all the usual stuff, but never heard/saw the 'grown-ups' looking at their own ways and always putting us down. The kids just got angrier and it solves nothing. If however, they were all respectable people, kind and warm, maybe we would have learnt a thing or two.

Start sorting out the adults and government, and you might get somewhere with the kids.

Answer 5

Are people who leave school and dont intend to go to college or work considered indisciplined?

And what do you suggest you do with the fully trained public? Send them off to Iraq or Afghanistan perhaps - or just wait around for a war that will never happen at home?

Its costs a lot of money to do that - which public coffers do you suggest get the squeeze to fund it? Health maybe, petrol and gas surcharges perhaps?

Answer 6

As long as they wern't automatically made to go to war, yes i think it wouldn't do the country amy hard, well a lot of good i think, we have a lot of louts about at the moment, they leave school and sit at home claiming, i don't think they should be able to do that, but they can so they do!!!!!!
It would make the next generation think a lot more, after all look at the state of things now, i think only possitive would come out of it!

Answer 7

While I understand the logic of your question, why should an over-stretched, under resourced, Army be asked to clear up the mess created by parents, politicians, police, teachers and the like.

Think they've got enough on their plate at the moment.

Sure they'd make a good job of it, but lets be practical.

Answer 8

National Service for those who don't intend to work - Yes but not in the forces.
Put them to work cleaning up the roads and parks, getting rid of the litter, removing graffiti and that sort of thing..

Answer 9

At this time it would be a bit unfair to pack off wee Johnnie or Tracy to war just because they turned 18. But scrap community service and other low level punishments for certain low level crimes and send them off instead. no point sending murderers or other crazies as it would just be messy.

Answer 10

Yes, they still have it in Germany and our friends sons who did it enjoyed their time. It taught them self-discipline and also how to take care of themselves. You dont find dirty, graffitti ridden places as a rule in Germany except where the immigrants from Russia and Turkey are settling and the German police are really setting about them.

However, would you fancy being in charge of some vile mouthed little cretin who has refused most of his life to go to school, has hung about with yobs and who has had neither love nor discipline in his life ? The army also has to abide by this stupid human rights act so they won't even be allowed to shout at him in case they hurt his feelings!!!