Individual,

Yeah, the national service idea has popped up from time to time.

The problem is that the evidence suggests that if it's a voluntary system there would be precious few starters, and if it was a compulsory system it would be monumentally unpopular.

As far as I know, no party would touch it for that reason. It's generally considered to be a guaranteed election loser.

So the argument goes, anyway.

Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

Individual,
Re your ealier post.

But I did exactly that.

I listed out what rechtub might argue could be wrong with the nation and stated the reality of the situation.

These are not my opinions, they are the reality of the situation and the data is widely available.

It's contrary data that isn't available, because there pretty much isn't any.

And if you mean did I present all the supporting data, then the answer is, no I didn't. But, - big but - among economists and statisticians the points I made are accepted as given.

For example, nobody is questioning the fact that Australia's unemployment rate is amongst the lowest in the developed world. There is no contrary data, so why should I be presenting data to support what is not in question?

All of the points I made are not in the least contentious. Au contrare, they're accepted by government, academia and business.

Anthony
http://www.observationpoint.com.au

"When I was a kid, you either gained skills and found a good paying job, or, you resigned yourself to a life of long hours. Now I don't have a problem with that,"
What many here do not realise, what rehctub has posted is true. When the young rehctub was growing up in 19th century London that's how it was. And now, as the all grown up arch conservative, rehctub don't want things to change. Understandable.

Good afternoon to you ANTHONYVE...

I was drawn to your comments relating the the masses of the working poor in the US. I found much of what you said rang true. Indeed, there're millions of folk in America (many African American) who need two jobs merely to pay their mortgage, or rent, let alone put bread and butter on the table.

There are at the least, 65-70% of all Patrolmen in the Elizabeth NJ, Police Department have second jobs. Elizabeth is considered the absolute 'arm pit' of the New york area, being the Shipping Port for New York City. A place, just seven miles (as the crow flies) from Manhattan, also the Site for the TV Drama,'The Sopranos'. I spent three full days as a guest of that Department, including (a 2300-0700 shift) 'ride along' with the shift supervisory (mobile) sergeant. I was dumbfounded at what I saw !

At 'muster', after being introduced to the entire Shift (60+), the single question that was put to me (continually) '...are there vacancies down there in 'Orstralia', and are they hiring there...' ? Their job is so incredibly damn dangerous, and I do mean dangerous ! (Sorry, this is well off the topic!) Their second job from what many told me included, 'Mall' Security, Security for Sporting events; Car Rental returns to Newark Airport; CIT for booths along the New Jersey Turnpike etc.

May I aquaint you with two excellent books for your further enlightenment ANTHONYVE ?

(a) 'Deer Hunting with Jesus', Dispatches from America's Class wars ;

and

(b) 'Rainbow Pie', A Redneck Memoir.

Both books are authored by Joe BAGEANT (dec) and they're absolutely brilliant ! If one is interested in the plight of America's working underclass, trying to just 'live' ! And at the same time, trying to compete with cheap Mexican Labour just over the Rio-Grande.

It's known that I'm not greatly enamoured with those from the preposterous world of 'conjecture or academia' and you can be assured and confident that Joe BAGEANT is certainly not an academic, his principles are far too high for that !

o sung wu, Very interesting what you have to say about pay rates US style, where the rich get richer and the poor well they can please themselves. Will check on Monday for those 2 books you recommended.
As a fan of Michael Moore I do like his Capitalism A Love Story.

that if it's a voluntary system there would be precious few starters
Anthonyve,
Who's talking about voluntary ? If we left all other things like paying tax or paying fines or paying rates etc. up to volunteers what do you think would happen ? There'd be no need for a Labor Government because we'd be broke up front.
A national service of two years duration is what's needed. That way everyone's pulled their weight up front & I guarantee we'll have way more mature 21 year olds than we've had in the past 40 years thanks to big Goaf. If I can't demand a 19-21 year old to put in an effort towards being useful members of our society than why should they have the right to demand that I contribute tax for them ? It's a two-way street ! I haven't worked my way towards a lousy existence on a lousy pension with a worn-out body so that the young can have it all without any effort ? Get real ! I paid back what the generation before me gave me & I expect the same from the next generation.
And, I expect some justice but so far I'm still waiting. I don't owe this country anything anymore, I have sacrificed way more than I'm getting.