Paul, as ridiculously out of touch as Individual is, even he isn't proposing breaking rocks!

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Individual, do you understand what opportunity is?
Government should indeedbe providing opportunities, But forcing young people to do what the government wants them to do instead of what they want to do isn't creating opportunities, it's DESTROYING opportunities.

And you seriously think that being stuck where you don't want to be, with people you don't want to be with, counts as real socialising?

Hi Aidan,

The "breaking rocks" was a witticism, but then again given Indy's morbid dislike of public servants he may well demand any one wishing to join break rocks to get in. I want the homeless in homes, I want the unemployed, employed, not stigmatised and victimised, as they would be with this nonsense.

So Indy those wishing to be police officers, nurses, paramedics, fire officers, army personnel etc, would be doing your NATIONAL SERVICE, after all they are all PUBLIC SERVICE positions.

How about you spell out some details, the where's and what's of your idea. Instead of the vindictive nonsense directed towards those you dislike.

Paul1405 & Aidan,
I don't believe it's possible for you to ever to get the gist of National Service but should you ever accidentally come somewhere near it, you'll find that it's not at about "Govt wants you to do" !
It's to offer young people a first step towards being better people than you could ever hope to be !
Get rewarded for their efforts, be respected by others & look forward to the future, unlike your miserable just being there at others' expense !

Paul,
The trouble with your witticisms is they invariably lack wit. And in the case of the "breaking rocks" one it was detracting from the point you were trying to make. It was a lazy stereotype, quite similar to the usual idiots claiming the Greens want to stop mining iron ore.

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Individual,
National service is BY DEFINITION about "Govt wants you to do" !

National service is BY DEFINITION about "Govt wants you to do" !
Aidan,
Only in your mind ! Ask people who care !

individual,

You are flogging a dead horse. You are on a hiding to nothing. Conscription is anathema to the Australian population. What do you mean by "better people" who would be turned out by some totalitarian national service scheme?

How many generations do you have contact with?

I have two middle-aged daughters; two grandchildren in their mid-30s, and a batch a bunch of teenage great grandchildren. And, their 'values' are not the same as mine. I don't who the people who "care" that you want people to ask are, but it is the up and coming generations that YOU should be asking how they feel.

Values are established by the age of 5. These values come from parents. Nothing, including some compulsory kibbutz-like imposition will change that. Life changes with each generation. We have had our turn. Now, new generations must sink or swim on their own; and, soon enough, they will be moaning about young people.