David Cameron calls for all teens to do community service.

[Sovvolf]

snip

Back when I was sixteen in the far flung year of 2006, kids were still the little dicks that they are today and I was one of them... Also... get off my lawn.

(Yes I realize that your message was more than likely sarcasm)

As for the OP after reading 7 pages of this I'm convinced that Cameron didn't say this was mandatory only that he thought it might have been a good idea (along with Boris Johnson) which may or may not have been a spin on words from the Guardian. I think there is a good reason why he didn't make it mandatory, aside from the list of human rights he'd violate doing it, it would possibly be career suicide and would cause another riot (which probably would be as pointless as the last but would hurt the teen cause).

 

[Burs]

I volunteer as a Sea Cadet intructor anyway would Mister Camoran force my cadets to do community service, what about other hobby youth groups?

Well done Mister C you have in one stroke ruined your "Big Society" idea by taking the fun out of volunteering.

 

[Dr Jones]

Oh, fuck you Cameron, you and your Torie friends can go die in a pit. Honestly, I've seen his reaction to all this and it's all bollocks, he blames lack of father figures, lack of discipline in schools, the police not filling all the rioters with lead.

Though I must say that Ed Milliband is looking pretty good in all this, he's is talking some sense.

READ
THE
ARTICLE
PL0X!
Then we can argue about Cammie all ya want.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I actually think we should have optional army service like some European countries. Just for those kids who don't want to go on to further education. I think a lot of kids would be welcome of the opportunity and might find the army something they would like to do as a career. (I just mean the TA or something not like sending them to Libya before somebody twists my words.)

OT :I don't know I think this might be a good idea depends how it's done really. It shouldn't seem like a punishment because that isn't fair.

I agree with him in that we need something to instill a positive work ethic into these kids.

I also agree with Ed Miliband in that we need an inquiry into problems in council estates and how we can solve poor schooling and unemployment issues.

 

[Gluzzbung]

David Cameron has been getting woefully worse at analysing situations, he doesn't quite understand how evidence works.

What he's done here has gone, "who have i screwed over so much this year that it will take them until they are pensioners to get back on their feet? Oh yes, teenagers and students (and just about everyone else, but that's because I'm cynical) let's blame the biggest protest in the last two decades on them, then i don't have to explain myself because everyone thinks it's justified."

 

[WaderiAAA]

My response to this and many similar things is: If it is optional, it sounds like a pretty good idea. If it is mandatory it is just wrong.

 

[Sidiron]

Quote: Declaring "all-out war on gangs and gang culture", he vowed: "The broken society is back at the top of my agenda."

Not quite, it's more like declaring all out on war on the youth of Britain.

Firstly he comes along and makes some of the biggest and widest cuts seen in Britain for decades, all the while blaming it on the previous government, which is also the reason why he did it so quickly o if anyone did raise a eyebrow he could still blame the previous Labour governments.

He makes sure that young people cannot get jobs by consistently raising the retirement age, increasing the number of older people working, where they would usually retire and leave vacancies for new recruits, all while the number of jobs is decreasing. (Mr Cameron never paid attention in Maths, if you add to the minuend then the difference will increase proportionately.)

Makes the avenue of University narrower by raising fees and slashing budgets at the same time, meaning that lower class and lower middle class families will struggle to send their children to any university let alone the better ones. (Which will lead to less 'working class' in the top universities and thus in government.)

Increases the leaving age to 18 so those that would have left school don't spoil his unemployment figures, but this means that where as A-Levels were opted into and thus a higher standard of teaching was received because everyone wanted to learn the subject and there was no disruption but now all the NEDs/Chavs will be in the class diverting the teacher from educating.

As most who read this will see, Mr Cameron is systematically ensuring that the future for the youth of Britain is precisely that which his great forebearer introduced, a long dole queue and vilification. He is definitely putting the broken society at the top of his agenda because he is about to break it some more.

 

[Iron Criterion]

Did the majority of the people here, not even read the article? Besides the 'youth' do need to realise that they are not the ones in charge.

 

[run_forrest_run]

I think we should start by pulling some troops out of Afghanistan. We've got about 9,500 troops in there at the moment not to mention the inordinate amount of US troops. I'm not saying withdraw all our troops as that would weaken relations with the US but we should definitely think about withdrawing some. Doing so will cut military expenditure which will leave the government with money left over that they can then spend on creating new jobs which will in turn lower the unemployment rate.

 

[Astraleora]

Oh so you finally decided to do something about the riots, when it's all but over, how very good of you Cameron. Let's not forget that the rioters were not all 16yo kids, many doing the real damage were much older or A LOT younger! And while it may seem like blaming all "those pesky kids" will win support from the country, it just shows that how misguided the government really are. The chance to do something and punish those responsible was DURING the riots, when the entire nation called for forceful action and capture - instead you forced the police to stand around in full riot gear watching as they pass by, unable to act.

Though let's face it, unless it's cutting funds they never follow through with their plans

 

[Palindromemordnilap_v1legacy]

Tell you what Cameron, why don't you do a day or two of community service? Because I sincerely doubt you've ever done an honest day's work in your life. And seeing you helping out with us 'common folk' would sure do a lot to improve people's outlook on you

 

[beniki]

Er... well actually I kind of like it.

Make it part of the school day. One afternoon off to go and clean some parks in the fresh air. Actually, I think I'd have loved that break, especially during the exam seasons.

I know there's an argument to be made against personal freedoms, but are you really going to go to the barricades about your right to ignore problems in the community?

And for anyone that says Ed Miliband is looking good... he still looks, acts, and speaks, like the back biting twerp he's always been. And if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then you're not dealing with a swan. But you know, that's just the opinion of a guy who added up Labour figures and facts and found them to be... not so much wrong as completely fabricated. Tory ones are at least the brighter side of the truth, with all the bad bits glossed over.

I'm sorry, I just find it hard to take Miliband seriously if he can't even count. At least Gordon Brown could count, even if he did sneak into the PM spot. And at least Tony Blair had some charm about him, even if he did run the country flat into the ground.

 

[Acaroid]

Er... well actually I kind of like it.

Make it part of the school day. One afternoon off to go and clean some parks in the fresh air. Actually, I think I'd have loved that break, especially during the exam seasons.

yeah I am with you and think the idea is really good. For a lot of reasons but mainly (a little off topic) I think people in general need to contribute to the general community more than they do and maybe being forced to see how certain things work in the real world might help give teenagers a bit of perspective when growing up.

 

[Sidiron]

Do you really think that all teenagers are as evil as they are made out to be? As any are in organisations such as Scouts, Air/Army/Navy Cadets, Youth Groups all of these have helping the community as one of the main goals.

And isn't it wrong for some priviledged toffs to turn around and say that you have to help yourself before they will help you?

But yet again the foaming mouthed media is drawing in all the gullible fools and making them froth at the gills.

 

[Byr0m]

Has anyone read this book? (don't worry I'm going somewhere with this):

It's the first of a series of books for teens however parts of its plot came straight into mind after reading the thread title

Plot:

Spoiler

The book revolves around a petty teenage thief who is sent to a special jail for teens called Furnace after being framed of the murder of his also petty teenage thief friend (by the people who run Furnace). Furnace is a special jail that could arguably be described as hell on Earth, it's miles underground, people killing each other isn't seen as odd and the warden has two skinless dogs as pets that he releases to 'round up' (i.e. kill) any inmates who don't get to the 'lockdown' zone (like an assembly area) quickly enough after the siren goes. It was opened following a massive murder spree by teenagers the previous summer called 'the Summer of Slaughter'

The point I am trying to make with this is that the adults of the world don't particularly care what happens in Furnace after the so-called 'Summer of Slaughter' because they judge almost all teenagers as murderers regardless of whether it is true or not. While teenagers may not be being accused of murder left, right and centre at the moment, we're still judged as knife-wielding maniacs who take drugs and stab everyone who looks at us funny (slight exaggeration) and this decision is a stupid knee-jerk one by the Prime Minister to win favour with the majority of the public.

This won't make things better, it will make things worse as it is, again, exploiting and, dare I say it, oppressing teenagers simply because of a minority and it is crap like this that could (eventually) cause events like the ones in the books - we have rights too. Just for the record, I don't agree with what the rioters did and they probably should get community service or worse... BECAUSE THEY COMMITTED A CRIME, not because they have the outright gall to be between the ages of 13 and 19 :S.

 

[ToastiestZombie]

Plot:

Spoiler

The book revolves around a petty teenage thief who is sent to a special jail for teens called Furnace after being framed of the murder of his also petty teenage thief friend (by the people who run Furnace). Furnace is a special jail that could arguably be described as hell on Earth, it's miles underground, people killing each other isn't seen as odd and the warden has two skinless dogs as pets that he releases to 'round up' (i.e. kill) any inmates who don't get to the 'lockdown' zone (like an assembly area) quickly enough after the siren goes. It was opened following a massive murder spree by teenagers the previous summer called 'the Summer of Slaughter'

What happens at the end, it seemed like you were implying that they rioted in the rest of your post. Put it in a spoiler tag though .

 

[souper soup guy]

Does any one know if Cameron actually did any community service himself as a teenager?

 

[dfphetteplace]

I see a lot of people bitching, but what exactly is wrong with helping your community?

The problem isn't that they have to help the community the problem is they're punishing people for something they haven't done. Its like imagine you live in a neighborhood of about 50 people with a park in it. Then 5 guys go out and trash the park. So then the entire neighborhood is forced to clean up the park for what the two jerks did. Sure your helping your community but you will still feel cheated for having to clean it up.

Maybe I didn't read the original article closely enough, but it just seemed like he was encouraging people to do community service, not requiring them to.

 

[hedges1001]

as a brit on the dole i gotta say you are discouraged to find anything less than 40 hour/week full time employment. this is because whilst on jobseekers allowance anything you earn over £5 is deducted from your payment. meaning that you cant use JSA as a supplement to your weekly earnings while you look for a long term job.
im 20 y/o from swindon with an IT practitioners BTEC and a year 2 uni dropout and unless you count 2 month contract cleaning jobs there's practically nothing.

OT: dont offer it as voluntary, offer it as paid with a guaranteed reference thereby allowing teens a greater chance in future