Indyvidual

I have accepted that things are different now. Young people are not like they were when we were young. It's frustrating at times, but I think you will find some peace if you realise that it's not our world anymore.

Conscription has been, and should be, buried with the rest of the past, like it or not.

AC,

Its not a blockade war plan. But simple strategic doctrine means that in war you seek to cut the enemies supply lines. In the event of war, cutting China off from its Indian Ocean supply chain is a no brainer. China at the same time would be seeking to cut Taiwan off from its supply chain.

Belt And Road was/is opposed not because it gives China an alternate supply line but because its a form of economic imperialism. But China building a land based oil supply line either through the M/E or Siberia doesn't solve their problems. Cutting a land based oil pipeline would be, in war, the easiest of tasks - one well placed missile and the pipeline would be out of action for weeks if not months. And bear in mind, such a war would be over in months, if not weeks.

Indyvidual,

Conscription but not military service?

It sounds like a form of enforced work for the dole. And we all know how hopelessly inefficient and ineffective that programme was.

Just exactly what do you propose these conscriptees would be doing during their term of service?

Dear Mhaze,

«China at the same time would be seeking to cut Taiwan off from its supply chain.»

This is under the optimistic version where Trump is not elected:
if he is, then there would be no Taiwan anyway and no war either, just silent defeat, then all there will be left for Australia is to rescue Taiwanese refugees and help building them a new home.

«It sounds like a form of enforced work for the dole.»

As I understand it, and let Indyvidual correct me if I am wrong, Indyvidual's proposal would not target only dole-seekers, but the wealthy as well which have no relationship with welfare. It would also grab students aged 18-20 out of their universities, employees out of their jobs, carers away from their elderly parents/grandparents they care for, married people away from from their young families, already highly disciplined monks and nuns away from their monasteries and small business owners would be forced to close them and attend the camps instead, where everyone alike would be helplessly bullied.

a form of enforced work for the dole.
mhaze,
Most definitely not, it would be a dole-level paid education & exposure to real life responsibilities.
Yuyutsu,
That is your most insipid reply & deliberate misinterpretation to-date. Not even Paul1405 has stooped to that level yet !
Your reply totally highlights the immensely desperate need for a National Service that exposes impressionable young people to the responsibilities of citizens. You're totally missing the point which is improving the mentality of those whose indoctrinated parents were/are simply incapable breeders spreading uselessness & parasitism ! I for one want to give hope & purpose to those young who inherited the dreadful situation they find themselves in now from the idiotic generation before them. Another major benefit would be the side-effects of less crime, less homelessness & socially active people which directly translates into an improved economy & living standard.

"Most definitely not, it would be a dole-level paid education & exposure to real life responsibilities."

I've always said the formula should be 'double dole for full time work doing things to help the government save money';

Why 'double dole'?
Simply put - to provide incentive for people to get off their butts
Right now theres probably people living on the gold coast on the dole, who spend all their money on drugs, like amphetamines and are exempt from looking for work because they are drug addicts.

What a life, life on the Coast, pretty girls all around, sun sand and beaches, do lots of drugs at the taxpayers expense, and be accountable to no-one;
- The government will even pay for hotel accomodation and extra services because you're a drug addict.
- What incentive is there to do anything?

double dole for full time work doing things to help the government save money - and that 'participation should also earn 'training credits' (similar to working credits) which can be used to upskill, (cost of testing) and that courses - i.e all learning material should be app based and free, and that people should have 'digital resumes' where people can't lie about their skills and qualifications.