Tony Abbott makes push for mandatory national service for school-leavers

[Still Waters]

Former prime minister Tony Abbott is pushing for Australian school-leavers to spend a “significant period of time” giving back to their country, through methods that could involve mandatory military service.

Speaking on the Institute of Public Affairs’ Heartland podcast, the former politician said the move could strengthen the “two-way street” between the Australian Government and its citizens.

“We constantly talk about what we’re going to do for people. Yes, we have rights and the Government has certain obligations to us, which it should do … but this is a two-way street,” the 65-year-old said.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/tony-abbott-makes-push-for-mandatory-national-service-for-schoolleavers/news-story/d1715cbd97f93432c8f134061688815b

[Alchopwn]

16 hours ago, Still Waters said:

Former prime minister Tony Abbott is pushing for Australian school-leavers to spend a “significant period of time” giving back to their country, through methods that could involve mandatory military service.

This is a very foolish idea.  If people are leaving school early, it is either because they have found a job, or because they aren't mentally fit for much.  If it is the latter, then the Australian Army will discover that the face the problem of MacNamara's Morons.  You can't send subnormal men into combat without them sustaining unreasonable casualties.  This is the exact opposite of what Australia's Army needs.  Over the past decades the Australian army has moved from a drafted force to an increasingly professional force and has sustained many fewer casualties as a result.  The low rates of casualties has been one of the reasons that Australia has been happy to involve itself in overseas operations.  If you start adding school leavers into the mix, the level of professionalism in the Australian Military will inevitably collapse due to a "surfeit of fools".  The other thing is, Abbot is assuming that the school leavers are universally male, when in fact, there are plenty of female school leavers who will be forced into the army too, because we live in an equal society now.

Society as a whole has a big problem with what to do with stupid people.  Think about it.  Your average person has an IQ of 100, and they're pretty dumb.  Well, half of the population, by definition is dumber than that.  At some point, they're too dumb to meaningfully participate in anything much.  You sure as hell can't have them on a factory production line, partly because production lines are getting automated, and partly because they'll lose concentration and get injured.  These poor schmucks are going to get caught by phone scammers and every other exploitative fraudster.  These poor dumb folk are going to become locked out of any meaningful participation in society and will increasingly become unable to get decent paid employment.

What we can say without question however is that sending dumbasses into combat is a dumbass suggestion.  Thanks Tony.

[psyche101]

He wasn't overly popular as PM.

I can't see too many taking much notice of this. It's just a suggestion from an ex PM.

[Golden Duck]

43 minutes ago, Alchopwn said:

This is a very foolish idea.  If people are leaving school early, it is either because they have found a job, or because they aren't mentally fit for much.  If it is the latter, then the Australian Army will discover that the face the problem of MacNamara's Morons.  You can't send subnormal men into combat without them sustaining unreasonable casualties.  This is the exact opposite of what Australia's Army needs.  Over the past decades the Australian army has moved from a drafted force to an increasingly professional force and has sustained many fewer casualties as a result.  The low rates of casualties has been one of the reasons that Australia has been happy to involve itself in overseas operations.  If you start adding school leavers into the mix, the level of professionalism in the Australian Military will inevitably collapse due to a "surfeit of fools".  The other thing is, Abbot is assuming that the school leavers are universally male, when in fact, there are plenty of female school leavers who will be forced into the army too, because we live in an equal society now.

Society as a whole has a big problem with what to do with stupid people.  Think about it.  Your average person has an IQ of 100, and they're pretty dumb.  Well, half of the population, by definition is dumber than that.  At some point, they're too dumb to meaningfully participate in anything much.  You sure as hell can't have them on a factory production line, partly because production lines are getting automated, and partly because they'll lose concentration and get injured.  These poor schmucks are going to get caught by phone scammers and every other exploitative fraudster.  These poor dumb folk are going to become locked out of any meaningful participation in society and will increasingly become unable to get decent paid employment.

What we can say without question however is that sending dumbasses into combat is a dumbass suggestion.  Thanks Tony.

Nashos doesn't mean you enter the Army and see combat.

I worked with one bloke who was of that era.  He explained he was back-ended once or twice, which meant his eight week taring was extended.

He described the type that simply couldn't make it through.  Simply they were misfits.

[Myles]

Service may be a great option for many drop outs (I use the US term because "school-leavers" sound odd to me).   It should be voluntary though, not mandatory.  Maybe just funnel some money into advertising it as an option.  If it is not illegal to drop out at a certain age, why would you punish them?