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Post by sherlock on May 26, 2024 7:42:17 GMT
Right... now, I wasn't going to be making any comments about The Election on here, at all. And that determination lasted until Day 3, sorry. But this is, for me, a vote-changer:
Now, it is true that one option for young people would be one weekend a month of local civilian service. It is also true that from age 16-18 I and some of my friends did voluntary service once a week (organised by school) and we enjoyed it.
We chose to do it because we wanted to help out and it's a good thing which I definitely think all young people who can afford the time (which is most of them) should do. But the key word was and is voluntary.
It is also true that I've not been 18 since the Doctor wore a stick of celery, so I am well over age! But I've described myself on here more than once as a liberal Conservative and I've meant it. Socially liberal, economically conservative. That self-definition has been strained a few times, but I've hung on in there.
But the state should not direct our lives, not even one weekend a month, not even if we're 18. Only the direst of national emergencies (WWI / WWII level) can justify it.
Sadly, this plan, like Labour's I.D. cards that Blair and Brown tried to force on us, crosses a red line for me. It's illiberal and just plain wrong. I am very disappointed and my vote will have to find a new home. Damn.
As a trustee of a charity involved in volunteering, I cannot imagine anything less likely to make young people want to volunteer than forcing them to do it. Charities do not want a tidal wave of volunteers there under duress. It’s clearly a half-baked concept so they can say “well technically this isn’t conscription as they can opt out”. Complete non-starter of an idea which won’t help young people, won’t benefit military (can’t seriously think they want to use their limited resources on training a load of recruits who don’t really want to be there) and won’t benefit charities. |
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Post by number13 on May 26, 2024 7:55:03 GMT
Right... now, I wasn't going to be making any comments about The Election on here, at all. And that determination lasted until Day 3, sorry. But this is, for me, a vote-changer:
Now, it is true that one option for young people would be one weekend a month of local civilian service. It is also true that from age 16-18 I and some of my friends did voluntary service once a week (organised by school) and we enjoyed it.
We chose to do it because we wanted to help out and it's a good thing which I definitely think all young people who can afford the time (which is most of them) should do. But the key word was and is voluntary.
It is also true that I've not been 18 since the Doctor wore a stick of celery, so I am well over age! But I've described myself on here more than once as a liberal Conservative and I've meant it. Socially liberal, economically conservative. That self-definition has been strained a few times, but I've hung on in there.
But the state should not direct our lives, not even one weekend a month, not even if we're 18. Only the direst of national emergencies (WWI / WWII level) can justify it.
Sadly, this plan, like Labour's I.D. cards that Blair and Brown tried to force on us, crosses a red line for me. It's illiberal and just plain wrong. I am very disappointed and my vote will have to find a new home. Damn.
It's clearly an attempt - a desperate one - to not be outflanked by Reform on the right. It's not if the Tories lose but how much by - so I expect a few of these announcements that are never going to be policy but are trying to stop them losing some seats because of the (and I hate this term but it does the job here) "gammon" vote being added to Reform. They'll double down on trying to keep that sort of voter knowing it will alienate someone like you who seems a more libertarian conservative. Though you must have seen something else in the party to have taken THIS long to say "No, thanks!" Starmer will be PM in 6 weeks but he's not exactly an inspirational one, nor does he have a cabinet of heavyweights. Much is made of Blair's charisma in 97 and his centrist appeal but he also had a super strong cabinet behind him. I don't see Starmer as a PM for a decade like Blair and Labour should be in the business of already grooming someone to succeed him. I suspect Andy Burnham will be leader - very popular and brings the North. I think he'd be the Labour Boris - parachuted in after a popular stint as mayor*. But Labour must learn from the Blair-Brown debacle and have that happen after maybe 2 terms, not 3. *Whatever his tattered legacy now, Boris WAS a popular mayor, with approval ratings high even through issues that could sink another politician. I agree, Blair's cabinet was full of talent and I would say the same for the cabinets of the Major, Thatcher and Callaghan governments before them. (As far back as my political memory goes.) Perhaps it's because I'm getting older (though in this case I don't think so!  ) but British politics in general doesn't seem to me to have people of the stature of earlier decades. Agree with them or not, like them or not, there were many political giants in those days and frankly I don't see them now in any party. |
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Post by number13 on May 26, 2024 8:02:37 GMT
Right... now, I wasn't going to be making any comments about The Election on here, at all. And that determination lasted until Day 3, sorry. But this is, for me, a vote-changer:
Now, it is true that one option for young people would be one weekend a month of local civilian service. It is also true that from age 16-18 I and some of my friends did voluntary service once a week (organised by school) and we enjoyed it.
We chose to do it because we wanted to help out and it's a good thing which I definitely think all young people who can afford the time (which is most of them) should do. But the key word was and is voluntary.
It is also true that I've not been 18 since the Doctor wore a stick of celery, so I am well over age! But I've described myself on here more than once as a liberal Conservative and I've meant it. Socially liberal, economically conservative. That self-definition has been strained a few times, but I've hung on in there.
But the state should not direct our lives, not even one weekend a month, not even if we're 18. Only the direst of national emergencies (WWI / WWII level) can justify it.
Sadly, this plan, like Labour's I.D. cards that Blair and Brown tried to force on us, crosses a red line for me. It's illiberal and just plain wrong. I am very disappointed and my vote will have to find a new home. Damn.
As a trustee of a charity involved in volunteering, I cannot imagine anything less likely to make young people want to volunteer than forcing them to do it. Charities do not want a tidal wave of volunteers there under duress. It’s clearly a half-baked concept so they can say “well technically this isn’t conscription as they can opt out”. Complete non-starter of an idea which won’t help young people, won’t benefit military (can’t seriously think they want to use their limited resources on training a load of recruits who don’t really want to be there) and won’t benefit charities. It's also (ironically, given Brexit!) a 'European' idea! I forget which, but there are at least some EU countries where young people have to do either military service or civil "volunteering". It always struck me as a deeply non-British idea for peacetime, like carrying your 'papers' to prove who you are.
Agree completely, volunteering is wonderful and should be encouraged; non-voluntary "volunteering" is counter-productive Orwellian gibberish.
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Post by tuigirl on May 26, 2024 9:36:25 GMT
It's also (ironically, given Brexit!) a 'European' idea! I forget which, but there are at least some EU countries where young people have to do either military service or civil "volunteering". It always struck me as a deeply non-British idea for peacetime, like carrying your 'papers' to prove who you are.
Agree completely, volunteering is wonderful and should be encouraged; non-voluntary "volunteering" is counter-productive Orwellian gibberish.
We had it in Germany, got rid of it 20 years ago, and now there is talk of getting it back. Austria is still doing it. They way the world is going, the issues with severe lack of care staff for the elderly and kindergarten and the threat by tyrant regimes, I personally see it as one of the only options. Sorry if this goes against "freedom", but it would only be a duty for 6 -12 months and honestly, seeing all these horrifying pictures from the elderly care homes and the issues with kids care- where is their freedom and liberty?
"Do not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I know, this might be now used as a right wing parole, but there is some truth in it.
And I am left-liberal. There are just not enough volunteers, and the whole country has devolved into a bunch or whiny complainers that only demand, but do very little. Starting from cleaning up their own trash to be considerate of their neighbours (just right now raising bird babies because the neighbours of my colleague do not give a s**t what they do in their garden) and so on and on and on. Clubs and organisations in town have no volunteers anymore to do basically anything. Not just kids and elderly care, but also rescuing the toads from the roads, to re-settling protected ant hills. These were all duties done by the 6-12 month duty people.
And no, they would NOT replace trained and experienced persons, but they were an immense help driving meals on wheels trucks, putting up toad protection fences, pushing elderly people through the park on wheelchairs and so on.
This would be one solution. How else do you suggest we tackle all these issues? How do you want to motivate people? Nobody is volunteering at the moment, how do you want to change this?
One of our GREEN politicians only recently said- "We have tried to tell people how important this is and how much we need them, we have waited for years for them to get their a** into gear, but it is just not happening. I despair." Even the GREENS are now realizing that it does not work that way.
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Post by shallacatop on May 26, 2024 9:58:38 GMT
The Tories are petrified of the traction Reform UK are getting, which is potentially a good chunk of their older voters, so have hastily added it to their manifesto. The irony being that those voters in favour of it are typically from the generation after it was abolished in the UK; they love the idea of it but haven’t ever done it themselves.
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Post by fitzoliverj on May 26, 2024 10:23:42 GMT
Supposedly Rishi has been shown a devestating report about young unemployment. Personally, I think that it's deeply unlikely to happen regardless of the next election. On the other hand, it *would* solve Labour's problem about giving 16 year-olds a vote without all the other rights and responsibilities of adult citizenship....
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Post by number13 on May 26, 2024 10:56:49 GMT
It's also (ironically, given Brexit!) a 'European' idea! I forget which, but there are at least some EU countries where young people have to do either military service or civil "volunteering". It always struck me as a deeply non-British idea for peacetime, like carrying your 'papers' to prove who you are.
Agree completely, volunteering is wonderful and should be encouraged; non-voluntary "volunteering" is counter-productive Orwellian gibberish.
We had it in Germany, got rid of it 20 years ago, and now there is talk of getting it back. Austria is still doing it. They way the world is going, the issues with severe lack of care staff for the elderly and kindergarten and the threat by tyrant regimes, I personally see it as one of the only options. Sorry if this goes against "freedom", but it would only be a duty for 6 -12 months and honestly, seeing all these horrifying pictures from the elderly care homes and the issues with kids care- where is their freedom and liberty?
"Do not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I know, this might be now used as a right wing parole, but there is some truth in it.
And I am left-liberal. There are just not enough volunteers, and the whole country has devolved into a bunch or whiny complainers that only demand, but do very little. Starting from cleaning up their own trash to be considerate of their neighbours (just right now raising bird babies because the neighbours of my colleague do not give a s**t what they do in their garden) and so on and on and on. Clubs and organisations in town have no volunteers anymore to do basically anything. Not just kids and elderly care, but also rescuing the toads from the roads, to re-settling protected ant hills. These were all duties done by the 6-12 month duty people.
And no, they would NOT replace trained and experienced persons, but they were an immense help driving meals on wheels trucks, putting up toad protection fences, pushing elderly people through the park on wheelchairs and so on.
This would be one solution. How else do you suggest we tackle all these issues? How do you want to motivate people? Nobody is volunteering at the moment, how do you want to change this?
One of our GREEN politicians only recently said- "We have tried to tell people how important this is and how much we need them, we have waited for years for them to get their a** into gear, but it is just not happening. I despair." Even the GREENS are now realizing that it does not work that way.
Thanks for that, it was probably from some of my school's German exchange visitors that I remembered hearing about it, but that is rather a long time ago now! So there was full-time civilian national service then and people are considering a return to it? No offence (and I really mean that) but perhaps there is a national cultural difference?
British people tend to be very resentful of authority - any authority - telling us what to do, even if it's something we'd be happy to do without being told to! Of course some people love it. For example, the covid lockdowns were necessary but the number of people here who wanted to keep them longer and longer and went into overdrive about any minor breach was revealing. Many of them on the supposedly "liberal" or at least left side of UK politics. I really didn't understand it and still don't, beyond the broad point that I've never trusted the UK's political left where individual freedom is concerned.
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Post by number13 on May 26, 2024 11:04:27 GMT
The Tories are petrified of the traction Reform UK are getting, which is potentially a good chunk of their older voters, so have hastily added it to their manifesto. The irony being that those voters in favour of it are typically from the generation after it was abolished in the UK; they love the idea of it but haven’t ever done it themselves. I'm not so sure it was a panic measure. The broad 'online' community will hate the idea, but if we took online opinion as representative of the UK, we would be an anti-American socialist republic. At least!
It has presumably been 'focus-grouped' etc. and all the other things parties do with ideas these days before they release them into the wild, and I've got a hunch it will prove quite a popular idea well beyond that demographic.
It's still completely wrong in my view.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2024 13:59:15 GMT
It's also (ironically, given Brexit!) a 'European' idea! I forget which, but there are at least some EU countries where young people have to do either military service or civil "volunteering". It always struck me as a deeply non-British idea for peacetime, like carrying your 'papers' to prove who you are.
Agree completely, volunteering is wonderful and should be encouraged; non-voluntary "volunteering" is counter-productive Orwellian gibberish.
We had it in Germany, got rid of it 20 years ago, and now there is talk of getting it back. Austria is still doing it. They way the world is going, the issues with severe lack of care staff for the elderly and kindergarten and the threat by tyrant regimes, I personally see it as one of the only options. Sorry if this goes against "freedom", but it would only be a duty for 6 -12 months and honestly, seeing all these horrifying pictures from the elderly care homes and the issues with kids care- where is their freedom and liberty?
"Do not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I know, this might be now used as a right wing parole, but there is some truth in it.
And I am left-liberal. There are just not enough volunteers, and the whole country has devolved into a bunch or whiny complainers that only demand, but do very little. Starting from cleaning up their own trash to be considerate of their neighbours (just right now raising bird babies because the neighbours of my colleague do not give a s**t what they do in their garden) and so on and on and on. Clubs and organisations in town have no volunteers anymore to do basically anything. Not just kids and elderly care, but also rescuing the toads from the roads, to re-settling protected ant hills. These were all duties done by the 6-12 month duty people.
And no, they would NOT replace trained and experienced persons, but they were an immense help driving meals on wheels trucks, putting up toad protection fences, pushing elderly people through the park on wheelchairs and so on.
This would be one solution. How else do you suggest we tackle all these issues? How do you want to motivate people? Nobody is volunteering at the moment, how do you want to change this?
One of our GREEN politicians only recently said- "We have tried to tell people how important this is and how much we need them, we have waited for years for them to get their a** into gear, but it is just not happening. I despair." Even the GREENS are now realizing that it does not work that way.
I didn't know nobody in Germany volunteers - but in the UK many do. In many areas. This is just political posturing and won't happen anyway. Brits will not accept being told by the state without good reasons like saving lives with COVID. This is part of the national psyche. Winning World Wars to protect freedom. Having a Parliamentary Monarchy to protect freedom AND not let politicians do what they want unchecked. Having successive generations with a better quality of life than their parents. God Save The King may be the anthem but "Britons never ever shall be slaves" is the most accurate line of Rule Britannia. It's a slippery slope from "we're only asking them to do volunteer work for a year" to national service more akin to Israel. |
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Post by tuigirl on May 26, 2024 16:49:54 GMT
We had it in Germany, got rid of it 20 years ago, and now there is talk of getting it back. Austria is still doing it. They way the world is going, the issues with severe lack of care staff for the elderly and kindergarten and the threat by tyrant regimes, I personally see it as one of the only options. Sorry if this goes against "freedom", but it would only be a duty for 6 -12 months and honestly, seeing all these horrifying pictures from the elderly care homes and the issues with kids care- where is their freedom and liberty?
"Do not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I know, this might be now used as a right wing parole, but there is some truth in it.
And I am left-liberal. There are just not enough volunteers, and the whole country has devolved into a bunch or whiny complainers that only demand, but do very little. Starting from cleaning up their own trash to be considerate of their neighbours (just right now raising bird babies because the neighbours of my colleague do not give a s**t what they do in their garden) and so on and on and on. Clubs and organisations in town have no volunteers anymore to do basically anything. Not just kids and elderly care, but also rescuing the toads from the roads, to re-settling protected ant hills. These were all duties done by the 6-12 month duty people.
And no, they would NOT replace trained and experienced persons, but they were an immense help driving meals on wheels trucks, putting up toad protection fences, pushing elderly people through the park on wheelchairs and so on.
This would be one solution. How else do you suggest we tackle all these issues? How do you want to motivate people? Nobody is volunteering at the moment, how do you want to change this?
One of our GREEN politicians only recently said- "We have tried to tell people how important this is and how much we need them, we have waited for years for them to get their a** into gear, but it is just not happening. I despair." Even the GREENS are now realizing that it does not work that way.
Thanks for that, it was probably from some of my school's German exchange visitors that I remembered hearing about it, but that is rather a long time ago now! So there was full-time civilian national service then and people are considering a return to it? No offence (and I really mean that) but perhaps there is a national cultural difference?
British people tend to be very resentful of authority - any authority - telling us what to do, even if it's something we'd be happy to do without being told to! Of course some people love it. For example, the covid lockdowns were necessary but the number of people here who wanted to keep them longer and longer and went into overdrive about any minor breach was revealing. Many of them on the supposedly "liberal" or at least left side of UK politics. I really didn't understand it and still don't, beyond the broad point that I've never trusted the UK's political left where individual freedom is concerned.
In all seriousness, it is not much different over here. You might not have heard or were aware of it, but since / because of the COVID lockdowns, we had several attempts for political coups with certain political groups planning (and stocking up on weapons) and attempting. There was even a storm on your parliament (like in the US, but no deaths and only a couple light injured), dozens of harmed politicians (the last assassination attempt was last week, they guy is still in hospital) and right wing terrorist groups even creating public forums.
The whole political landscape over here is in turmoil and in a landslide.
Beginning this year, many millions of people like me took to the street for demonstrations after plans the right wing party were leaked about their coup and what the ethnic cleansing they have planned.
I might sound like an old geezer, but there is no respect left for anything, be it nature, human life, culture, people on the street.
I do not feel like being part of a country anymore, a place, where people live together and try to work together for a common goal. It is purely everyone against everyone and survival of the fittest. Our government is helpless.
There is NO respect for authority left over here- and I am not reading about as many assassination attempts on politicians and plans for violently overthrowing the government happening in the UK as they are happening here. I also did not read anything about an angry mob storming your parliament as they did over here.
But back to the discussion at hand-
Yes, we had public service here, and I think it was a good thing and I am all for getting it back.
We really need to get a sense of responsibility for the common good and the whole of society back. Our kids at kindergarden, the abandoned elderly and nature are suffering for the lack of care.
There is not even volunteers for the fire brigade anymore.
The whole society is suffering.
I have stopped watching the news, it is just all doom and gloom, to be honest, and it is not good for my mental state.
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Post by tuigirl on May 26, 2024 16:53:20 GMT
We had it in Germany, got rid of it 20 years ago, and now there is talk of getting it back. Austria is still doing it. They way the world is going, the issues with severe lack of care staff for the elderly and kindergarten and the threat by tyrant regimes, I personally see it as one of the only options. Sorry if this goes against "freedom", but it would only be a duty for 6 -12 months and honestly, seeing all these horrifying pictures from the elderly care homes and the issues with kids care- where is their freedom and liberty?
"Do not ask what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." I know, this might be now used as a right wing parole, but there is some truth in it.
And I am left-liberal. There are just not enough volunteers, and the whole country has devolved into a bunch or whiny complainers that only demand, but do very little. Starting from cleaning up their own trash to be considerate of their neighbours (just right now raising bird babies because the neighbours of my colleague do not give a s**t what they do in their garden) and so on and on and on. Clubs and organisations in town have no volunteers anymore to do basically anything. Not just kids and elderly care, but also rescuing the toads from the roads, to re-settling protected ant hills. These were all duties done by the 6-12 month duty people.
And no, they would NOT replace trained and experienced persons, but they were an immense help driving meals on wheels trucks, putting up toad protection fences, pushing elderly people through the park on wheelchairs and so on.
This would be one solution. How else do you suggest we tackle all these issues? How do you want to motivate people? Nobody is volunteering at the moment, how do you want to change this?
One of our GREEN politicians only recently said- "We have tried to tell people how important this is and how much we need them, we have waited for years for them to get their a** into gear, but it is just not happening. I despair." Even the GREENS are now realizing that it does not work that way.
I didn't know nobody in Germany volunteers - but in the UK many do. In many areas. This is just political posturing and won't happen anyway. Brits will not accept being told by the state without good reasons like saving lives with COVID. This is part of the national psyche. Winning World Wars to protect freedom. Having a Parliamentary Monarchy to protect freedom AND not let politicians do what they want unchecked. Having successive generations with a better quality of life than their parents. God Save The King may be the anthem but "Britons never ever shall be slaves" is the most accurate line of Rule Britannia. It's a slippery slope from "we're only asking them to do volunteer work for a year" to national service more akin to Israel. Well, at least in the UK they have some kind of nationalism and national pride and sense of self that keep them together. This has been completely bred out of the German people by the allies after the war. Apart from the right wing people, I do not see that here. There is no national pride, and people are working against each other too much and do not see the country as a unity. Everybody hates each other's guts.
No wonder there are so many assassination attempts on our government members and authorities and attacks on police / firemen / ambulances.
My country is in shambles.
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Post by timleschild on May 26, 2024 17:06:33 GMT
We will not agree to this.
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Post by number13 on May 26, 2024 21:04:13 GMT
Thanks for that, it was probably from some of my school's German exchange visitors that I remembered hearing about it, but that is rather a long time ago now! So there was full-time civilian national service then and people are considering a return to it? No offence (and I really mean that) but perhaps there is a national cultural difference?
British people tend to be very resentful of authority - any authority - telling us what to do, even if it's something we'd be happy to do without being told to! Of course some people love it. For example, the covid lockdowns were necessary but the number of people here who wanted to keep them longer and longer and went into overdrive about any minor breach was revealing. Many of them on the supposedly "liberal" or at least left side of UK politics. I really didn't understand it and still don't, beyond the broad point that I've never trusted the UK's political left where individual freedom is concerned.
In all seriousness, it is not much different over here. You might not have heard or were aware of it, but since / because of the COVID lockdowns, we had several attempts for political coups with certain political groups planning (and stocking up on weapons) and attempting. There was even a storm on your parliament (like in the US, but no deaths and only a couple light injured), dozens of harmed politicians (the last assassination attempt was last week, they guy is still in hospital) and right wing terrorist groups even creating public forums.
The whole political landscape over here is in turmoil and in a landslide.
Beginning this year, many millions of people like me took to the street for demonstrations after plans the right wing party were leaked about their coup and what the ethnic cleansing they have planned.
I might sound like an old geezer, but there is no respect left for anything, be it nature, human life, culture, people on the street.
I do not feel like being part of a country anymore, a place, where people live together and try to work together for a common goal. It is purely everyone against everyone and survival of the fittest. Our government is helpless.
There is NO respect for authority left over here- and I am not reading about as many assassination attempts on politicians and plans for violently overthrowing the government happening in the UK as they are happening here. I also did not read anything about an angry mob storming your parliament as they did over here.
But back to the discussion at hand-
Yes, we had public service here, and I think it was a good thing and I am all for getting it back.
We really need to get a sense of responsibility for the common good and the whole of society back. Our kids at kindergarden, the abandoned elderly and nature are suffering for the lack of care.
There is not even volunteers for the fire brigade anymore.
The whole society is suffering.
I have stopped watching the news, it is just all doom and gloom, to be honest, and it is not good for my mental state.
Yes, we have heard on the news about the events in Germany, really shocking. And the counter-protests did get good coverage too. Not to say we haven't had our problems and individual tragedies in the UK but no, we've not had anything remotely on that scale here, thank goodness. Or like the waves of protests France has seen in recent years.
I know what you mean about watching the news, it can get depressing seeing all the things that go wrong from wars to national scandals to natural disasters. But most of the time, for most people in the West, things go broadly right and that never gets reported because good news or news that nothing has gone wrong isn't 'news' at all. So I try to keep a sense of perspective about it - which means if I was a politician I'd be accused of 'not caring'!
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Post by number13 on May 26, 2024 21:13:13 GMT
The Tories are petrified of the traction Reform UK are getting, which is potentially a good chunk of their older voters, so have hastily added it to their manifesto. The irony being that those voters in favour of it are typically from the generation after it was abolished in the UK; they love the idea of it but haven’t ever done it themselves. I'm not so sure it was a panic measure. The broad 'online' community will hate the idea, but if we took online opinion as representative of the UK, we would be an anti-American socialist republic. At least!
It has presumably been 'focus-grouped' etc. and all the other things parties do with ideas these days before they release them into the wild, and I've got a hunch it will prove quite a popular idea well beyond that demographic.
It's still completely wrong in my view.
Well, further to this, a surprising (to me) 'vox pop' carried out by the BBC at a music festival. The three young people they spoke to all seemed to think the "plan" was quite a good idea, and I'm sure they tried to get balance by finding someone to interview who was dead against it. But, they didn't broadcast anyone who was, so...
I'm very, very surprised. Not to say totally staggered.
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Post by fitzoliverj on May 27, 2024 9:48:20 GMT
The devil is in the details, the details are *never* in the headlines. According to the paper today, there would only be space for 4% of 18 year-olds to do National Service. Everybody else would be doing community service one weekend a month. I cast my mind back to when I was in the sixth form and I was doing community service. It was unstructured, unsupported, lonely, a couple of hours a week in termtime for two years. Granted, my memories of it may be coloured by the fact I immediately had to go to work afterwards, whcih wasn't much fun either, but I dunno... a planned service where I knew what I was supposed to do and had people I could call on if I had problems.. maybe a weekend a month would have been a good swop. The other thing to remember is that the Conservatives have not, strictly speaking, announced the intention to introdue military or community service, but their intention to hold a Royal Commission to work out how to do it. It's a can that will be kicked a loooong way down the road. a surprising (to me) 'vox pop' carried out by the BBC at a music festival. The three young people they spoke to all seemed to think the "plan" was quite a good idea They were probably too old to qualify.... |
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on May 27, 2024 20:20:23 GMT
Had an interesting week.. The proverbial hit the fan on Tuesday, so emails back and forth between our Executive Manager, my direct Manager, Head of H.R. and me.. Me.. who literally does everything barr authorise his fortnightly time sheets so Accounting can send through my pay.. And 1 other Legal matter that occurs which needs to officially be given a sign-off. Me.. who (and I brought this up in my last email Friday morning) has been honoured with 23 Awards in 6 1/2 year for "Services To The Public and my Peers".. Me.. who has the Department running at such peak efficiency that at the EOFY (end of financial year) audit - My Executive Manager was questioned if the figures were correct/not smoothed out/churched up to look better.. My last epic essay email back had 3 separate attachments of evidence/facts/figures proving that everything I say is the truth and not embellished and why am I being questioned when all the evidence proves otherwise.. Me.. Who had to escalate with thesaurus words/phrases/cliches to get it through his head... It ended up with me receiving 3 frantic calls on my mobile when I was on the bus going home.. I googled the number so couldn't work out who it was.. let all 3 ring out.. After the 3rd I received a 30 sec voice message.. It was the Head of H.R. .... Doing A F*&$^@^$%@#% "Welfare Check" on me because there was a "concern".. I sent her a novel sized SMS back starting with " Maybe I should have started this whole conversation in our first group email with "lets look at removing the cause so the symptom can not be there.. Let's not focus on the latter but the former which is what all these emails have been about". My direct Manager and the Head of H.R. are fully in support of me 100% .. They have been working to stick a boot up the Exec's butt. I have another meeting with her today. I have been in a foul mood from last Tuesday morning when I mentally snapped till now writing this out. Going to be a fun time, I don't back down when I have evidence. I heard just before I left that he (Exec) is relenting and is going to rush "sign off" on what I have been demanding I need. Right now if I suddenly am away sick for 3 consecutive days, there is a certain Legally required action that has to happen. If not then Risk & Compliance need to be advised and have to self report and cop a Huge fine from another Governmental Department. Fun Times.  |
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Post by number13 on May 27, 2024 21:39:37 GMT
The devil is in the details, the details are *never* in the headlines. According to the paper today, there would only be space for 4% of 18 year-olds to do National Service. Everybody else would be doing community service one weekend a month. I cast my mind back to when I was in the sixth form and I was doing community service. It was unstructured, unsupported, lonely, a couple of hours a week in termtime for two years. Granted, my memories of it may be coloured by the fact I immediately had to go to work afterwards, whcih wasn't much fun either, but I dunno... a planned service where I knew what I was supposed to do and had people I could call on if I had problems.. maybe a weekend a month would have been a good swop. The other thing to remember is that the Conservatives have not, strictly speaking, announced the intention to introdue military or community service, but their intention to hold a Royal Commission to work out how to do it. It's a can that will be kicked a loooong way down the road. a surprising (to me) 'vox pop' carried out by the BBC at a music festival. The three young people they spoke to all seemed to think the "plan" was quite a good idea Oh you cynic! Like everyone thinks tax should be raised for people who earn slightly more than them, you mean?
Agree about organisation and support. I did voluntary service from 16-18 with some of my friends, properly organised by our school.
We were genuine volunteers, well organised and so we enjoyed helping out.
None of which changes the fact that the government shouldn't think it has any right to tell British citizens how to spend our time, except in a real emergency. The stuff being suggested around 'oh it might help you get a public sector job in future' makes it even worse. That's China-style 'social credit' being proposed, right there. And worryingly, the polling seems (as I half-thought it might) quite favourable.
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2024 22:39:08 GMT
Had an interesting week.. The proverbial hit the fan on Tuesday, so emails back and forth between our Executive Manager, my direct Manager, Head of H.R. and me.. Me.. who literally does everything barr authorise his fortnightly time sheets so Accounting can send through my pay.. And 1 other Legal matter that occurs which needs to officially be given a sign-off. Me.. who (and I brought this up in my last email Friday morning) has been honoured with 23 Awards in 6 1/2 year for "Services To The Public and my Peers".. Me.. who has the Department running at such peak efficiency that at the EOFY (end of financial year) audit - My Executive Manager was questioned if the figures were correct/not smoothed out/churched up to look better.. My last epic essay email back had 3 separate attachments of evidence/facts/figures proving that everything I say is the truth and not embellished and why am I being questioned when all the evidence proves otherwise.. Me.. Who had to escalate with thesaurus words/phrases/cliches to get it through his head... It ended up with me receiving 3 frantic calls on my mobile when I was on the bus going home.. I googled the number so couldn't work out who it was.. let all 3 ring out.. After the 3rd I received a 30 sec voice message.. It was the Head of H.R. .... Doing A F*&$^@^$%@#% "Welfare Check" on me because there was a "concern".. I sent her a novel sized SMS back starting with " Maybe I should have started this whole conversation in our first group email with "lets look at removing the cause so the symptom can not be there.. Let's not focus on the latter but the former which is what all these emails have been about". My direct Manager and the Head of H.R. are fully in support of me 100% .. They have been working to stick a boot up the Exec's butt. I have another meeting with her today. I have been in a foul mood from last Tuesday morning when I mentally snapped till now writing this out. Going to be a fun time, I don't back down when I have evidence. I heard just before I left that he (Exec) is relenting and is going to rush "sign off" on what I have been demanding I need. Right now if I suddenly am away sick for 3 consecutive days, there is a certain Legally required action that has to happen. If not then Risk & Compliance need to be advised and have to self report and cop a Huge fine from another Governmental Department. Fun Times. Should someone working for a government post this sort of thing, especially with their face visible? Seems like it'd be a breach of compliance itself! |
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on May 27, 2024 22:45:59 GMT
Had an interesting week.. The proverbial hit the fan on Tuesday, so emails back and forth between our Executive Manager, my direct Manager, Head of H.R. and me.. Me.. who literally does everything barr authorise his fortnightly time sheets so Accounting can send through my pay.. And 1 other Legal matter that occurs which needs to officially be given a sign-off. Me.. who (and I brought this up in my last email Friday morning) has been honoured with 23 Awards in 6 1/2 year for "Services To The Public and my Peers".. Me.. who has the Department running at such peak efficiency that at the EOFY (end of financial year) audit - My Executive Manager was questioned if the figures were correct/not smoothed out/churched up to look better.. My last epic essay email back had 3 separate attachments of evidence/facts/figures proving that everything I say is the truth and not embellished and why am I being questioned when all the evidence proves otherwise.. Me.. Who had to escalate with thesaurus words/phrases/cliches to get it through his head... It ended up with me receiving 3 frantic calls on my mobile when I was on the bus going home.. I googled the number so couldn't work out who it was.. let all 3 ring out.. After the 3rd I received a 30 sec voice message.. It was the Head of H.R. .... Doing A F*&$^@^$%@#% "Welfare Check" on me because there was a "concern".. I sent her a novel sized SMS back starting with " Maybe I should have started this whole conversation in our first group email with "lets look at removing the cause so the symptom can not be there.. Let's not focus on the latter but the former which is what all these emails have been about". My direct Manager and the Head of H.R. are fully in support of me 100% .. They have been working to stick a boot up the Exec's butt. I have another meeting with her today. I have been in a foul mood from last Tuesday morning when I mentally snapped till now writing this out. Going to be a fun time, I don't back down when I have evidence. I heard just before I left that he (Exec) is relenting and is going to rush "sign off" on what I have been demanding I need. Right now if I suddenly am away sick for 3 consecutive days, there is a certain Legally required action that has to happen. If not then Risk & Compliance need to be advised and have to self report and cop a Huge fine from another Governmental Department. Fun Times. Should someone working for a government post this sort of thing, especially with their face visible? Seems like it'd be a breach of compliance itself! Hello, welcome to the board hope you enjoy all the discussions ! I am so well hidden I am 99.9999% sure no one hear even knows my full name so that's all good. |
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Post by tuigirl on May 28, 2024 7:46:38 GMT
Had an interesting week.. The proverbial hit the fan on Tuesday, so emails back and forth between our Executive Manager, my direct Manager, Head of H.R. and me.. Me.. who literally does everything barr authorise his fortnightly time sheets so Accounting can send through my pay.. And 1 other Legal matter that occurs which needs to officially be given a sign-off. Me.. who (and I brought this up in my last email Friday morning) has been honoured with 23 Awards in 6 1/2 year for "Services To The Public and my Peers".. Me.. who has the Department running at such peak efficiency that at the EOFY (end of financial year) audit - My Executive Manager was questioned if the figures were correct/not smoothed out/churched up to look better.. My last epic essay email back had 3 separate attachments of evidence/facts/figures proving that everything I say is the truth and not embellished and why am I being questioned when all the evidence proves otherwise.. Me.. Who had to escalate with thesaurus words/phrases/cliches to get it through his head... It ended up with me receiving 3 frantic calls on my mobile when I was on the bus going home.. I googled the number so couldn't work out who it was.. let all 3 ring out.. After the 3rd I received a 30 sec voice message.. It was the Head of H.R. .... Doing A F*&$^@^$%@#% "Welfare Check" on me because there was a "concern".. I sent her a novel sized SMS back starting with " Maybe I should have started this whole conversation in our first group email with "lets look at removing the cause so the symptom can not be there.. Let's not focus on the latter but the former which is what all these emails have been about". My direct Manager and the Head of H.R. are fully in support of me 100% .. They have been working to stick a boot up the Exec's butt. I have another meeting with her today. I have been in a foul mood from last Tuesday morning when I mentally snapped till now writing this out. Going to be a fun time, I don't back down when I have evidence. I heard just before I left that he (Exec) is relenting and is going to rush "sign off" on what I have been demanding I need. Right now if I suddenly am away sick for 3 consecutive days, there is a certain Legally required action that has to happen. If not then Risk & Compliance need to be advised and have to self report and cop a Huge fine from another Governmental Department. Fun Times. Oh FFS! What a load of BS. I repeat, this is not helping with your health.
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) but British politics in general doesn't seem to me to have people of the stature of earlier decades. Agree with them or not, like them or not, there were many political giants in those days and frankly I don't see them now in any party.
