Hi rache,

As long as our friend keeps calling for a National Service for young people, that's my grandchildren, I'm going to keep calling for a Seniors National Service, because that includes our friend. He is unclear on what he would have young people doing, sometimes it only non-military activity, other times its the opposite. I'm clear on what participants in my SNS would be doing, breaking rocks for five bob a day! Gotta laugh.

compulsory National Service is no solution to existing social problems in the 21st century.

rache,
What do you base this assertion on when there hasn't been a National Service for 50 years ?
Look at countries that do have this service & look at their young people & compare them with the ones here.
The drug addiction problem is one good indicator & general mentality another ! They all have one thing in common, people who strive to build their society not ruin it !
Also, are you so affected by drugs that you can't distinguish between a National Service & a military service ?
I sincerely hope you're part of an extremely small minority.

Indy,

My granddaughter, now 16, has ambitions to one day travel and study overseas, particularly in Japan. She has dreams that some Old Fart like you would destroy given your vindictiveness towards young people, the "drug addicted" you refer to. Fortunately your national service is just another brain fart, that will never come to anything. On the other hand my Seniors National Service, where YOU will be out there breaking rocks has great potential!

the "drug addicted" you refer to
Paul1405,
May I suggest you Google Drug addiction in order of % in the World.
Tell your grand daughter not to worry about responsible old farts but be extremely wary of the ones like her insipid grandfather who helped create the progressive regress in our society !
The one who has no clue what the terms "work, responsibility, harmony, respect & integrity allude to !

My Pravastatin and Cartia tablet addiction doesn't prevent me from seeing past the fact that national service equals military service as soon as conflict breaks out.

National Service has always been available for those interested but compulsory military national service is known as Conscription, which is what you are promoting.

I'm also yet to see any statistics about comparative youth crime and drug addiction rates between countries with such schemes and I doubt that forcing people into service against their will be of social benefit, no matter how good that makes you feel.

forcing people into service against their will be of social benefit,
rache,
I don't see any benefit in forcing taxpayers to waste their contributions against their will on drug abusers & other useless !
I do see huge benefits in reducing the number of drug abusers & hoodlums by not having them roaming the streets & stealing & causing costly damage etc. How ? Being asleep in a camp or dormitory they can't do that & that'd save much of our Tax Dollars.
I suppose you don't see any benefits in that ?