If I were Prime Minister....

[OwlHoot]

If the Government are serious about recycling and deterring crime, why don't they kill two birds with one stone and build giant recycling centres designed so that convicts can pick through and sort all the bottles and paper etc - A useful task, and a suitably ikky punishment.

Diligent and effective workers could be rewarded, e.g. by TV at the weekend or tobacco. But any convict who refused to cooperate or failed to achieve satisfactory results, or removed or misused any item or material from the sorting area, would be put in solitary confinement and fed on gruel (whatever that is?) and water until their teeth started falling out.

That would be the less serious offenders such as burglars and fraudsters. All murderers would be topped, naturally.

[Moscow Mule]

Realistic, I prefer. Whilst I realise that not many of the policies being advocated on here are very serious, people have clearly not given even the most cursory thought to the practicalities.

I also feel I owe a debt to my late Dad who did National Service (including getting a small promotion in his two years) and bitterly resented it. He also pointed out that for the boys who couldn't take the bullying and harsh regime, it was the end, as they killed themselves. Not really the kind of thing I want to pay my taxes towards, thanks.

As for it being a bit of time at the old folks' home - plently of good kids do this already - do you seriously think making it compulsory and trying to force the chavvy scum ones to do it is a realistic option? Actually I'm surprised Nu Labour hasn't introduced it because like most of their ideas, it punishes the majority of decent people for the sins of a few.

Doing community service based National Service is a good idea. It would give kids a sense of pride in their community and a different perspective than celebrity obsessed one that most kids seem to have these days.

Compulsory service doesn't have to be military based unless the youth opts for it.

I do think it's a realistic option, because if you make the receipt of benefits dependent on it then it WILL happen - even the chavvy scum will do it. There are plenty of agencies that could cope with the admin - job centre, whatever the DSS is called this week etc etc.

From my view, it seems like your dad's experience of square bashing has coloured your view against all service, which I think is a shame.

[Diver]

Why should the military have to take these chavs and layabouts?

Most of them are totally unfit for military service and lack all semblance of self control, a lot of them are habitual drug users. Many of those that you want to force into military service are liars, cheats and thieves.
Can you imagine the reparations for war crimes and other crimes that this country would have to pay out

No thank you!

I don't want to see that lot shambling around in uniform as a representation of this country and its military, and certainly not carrying a gun or driving an armoured vehicle.

This country has a minimum entry standard for military service for a very good reason. We have the finest, best trained and efficient armed force in the world, I would like to see it remain that way.

>Diver in support the services mode<

[VectraMan]

Doing community service based National Service is a good idea. It would give kids a sense of pride in their community and a different perspective than celebrity obsessed one that most kids seem to have these days.

For everybody is just the layabouts/chavs? Should us productive members of society be treated the same way?

Perhaps there's a good argument for linking national service (military other otherwise) to school results. I.e. maintain a C average for GCSEs or it's off to boot camp for 2 years. The acheivers are exempt, the under acheivers have something to motivate them, and the layabouts get to learn that there are consequences (which is after all the real problem we have).

[HairyArsedBloke]

Perhaps there's a good argument for linking national service (military other otherwise) to school results. I.e. maintain a C average for GCSEs or it's off to boot camp for 2 years. The acheivers are exempt, the under acheivers have something to motivate them, and the layabouts get to learn that there are consequences (which is after all the real problem we have).

Given that you can get a C grade for "f... off" and a B for making it a capital "F" with a "!" at the end, there is not much of a chance of any candidates.

[Diver]

This is the army of today

Professional

And you want National service for layabout Chav's?

[BrilloPad]

This is the army of today

For the one-a-day thread?

[Diver]

Oh come on! Get Real for Christ's sake


Shock tactics for knife carriers

Young people who carry knives will be made to visit hospitals where stabbing victims are treated, in a bid to shock them into changing their behaviour.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said seeing "gruesome" injuries would be a "tougher" deterrent than simply sending all knife carriers to prison.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7503845.stm

I really have to time for these blasted idiots and their Kindergarten Ideas

[Moscow Mule]

For everybody is just the layabouts/chavs? Should us productive members of society be treated the same way?

Yes, that's the idea. Everybody should do it when they leave school. Even high-achievers at school would benefit from giving service to the community.

[Cyberman]

[B][B]


Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said seeing "gruesome" injuries would be a "tougher" deterrent than simply sending all knife carriers to prison.


I really have to time for these blasted idiots and their Kindergarten Ideas

They really do have to GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!