Tooj 17 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 National service need not be tied in to the military. A voluntary "citizens service' started last year with 30,000 signing up for the four week event. 95% of participants found it beneficial. At 16 your next electrician and your next doctor could both benefit from a national service of this type. Valuable life lessons could be gained leaving more compassionate understanding and aware citizens at the end of it. Do you have a breakdown of the demographic of that though? Basically I want to know how many charvas attended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15466 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Schools should probably also be changed to allow a wider range of subjects to be studied, certainly with more of them practical (like maths could tie in with engineering or something, so kids are building things with the maths they're learning). These courses should not be looked down on, and should be given similar standing to conventional academic subjects. That way, people will be given more opportunity to excel, and will have more pride about their capabilities. Possibly being a bit idealistic here though... Not really - it works for the Germans, for a start. When I was teaching English over there, kids of 15-16 who weren't after a university education would often start "learning" specific careers. Not to the extent that they were tied into that particular job forever, but they'd study combinations of vocational and academic subjects plus on-the-job training for a certain profession - I worked with classes of everything from booksellers and jewellers to mechanics and garage attendants. Even the latter had to learn English, but specifically including the kind of English they might actually need in their jobs, e.g. when dealing with foreign drivers who needed help. Just a small example, but ultimately the country isn't obsessed by that whole "university is everything" aspiration that Blair forced upon us here, and it recognises vocational and career-oriented qualifications as equally valid. It also has a hugely healthy engineering sector, strong exports and a SME landscape to be proud of. Funny that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Christmas Tree do you still think Dave is the best Prime Minister of your life time? As in would you say that he is in fact a top boss? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 They day will come when their modern day equivalent returns. Ever dwindling money into government, combined with an ever increasing population must at some point have severe consequences. Is this something that you would be in favour of btw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 21441 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Who's going to pay for compulsory NS like? Somebody had better tell the armed services of CT's latest brain wave, cos they don't want anything to do with either charvers or reluctant nerds. Jesus wept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 21441 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Not really - it works for the Germans, for a start. When I was teaching English over there, kids of 15-16 who weren't after a university education would often start "learning" specific careers. Not to the extent that they were tied into that particular job forever, but they'd study combinations of vocational and academic subjects plus on-the-job training for a certain profession - I worked with classes of everything from booksellers and jewellers to mechanics and garage attendants. Even the latter had to learn English, but specifically including the kind of English they might actually need in their jobs, e.g. when dealing with foreign drivers who needed help. Just a small example, but ultimately the country isn't obsessed by that whole "university is everything" aspiration that Blair forced upon us here, and it recognises vocational and career-oriented qualifications as equally valid. It also has a hugely healthy engineering sector, strong exports and a SME landscape to be proud of. Funny that... I thought part of Blair's 50% drive, which I agree is fundamentally wrong, was to bring us in line with much of Europe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayvin 5189 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Not really - it works for the Germans, for a start. When I was teaching English over there, kids of 15-16 who weren't after a university education would often start "learning" specific careers. Not to the extent that they were tied into that particular job forever, but they'd study combinations of vocational and academic subjects plus on-the-job training for a certain profession - I worked with classes of everything from booksellers and jewellers to mechanics and garage attendants. Even the latter had to learn English, but specifically including the kind of English they might actually need in their jobs, e.g. when dealing with foreign drivers who needed help. Just a small example, but ultimately the country isn't obsessed by that whole "university is everything" aspiration that Blair forced upon us here, and it recognises vocational and career-oriented qualifications as equally valid. It also has a hugely healthy engineering sector, strong exports and a SME landscape to be proud of. Funny that... Really interesting, that. I suspect this would make a huge difference to disaffected youngsters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 In least surprising news article of the day, more public sector job losses. http://www.guardian...._medium=twitter Public sector workers face further job cuts in the struggle to reduce the cost of government, the chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, has said. The Treasury wants to save £5bn by encouraging efficiency in Whitehall departments, including merging back-office functions and cutting spending on office supplies by improving procurement. According to Alexander, this would remove "waste in Whitehall and the wider public sector, of which there is still a considerable amount". Such efficiency would lead to job cuts, he told the Daily Telegraph. "Further spending reductions will also have an effect on the workforce. As long as the quality of services doesn't change, there's no reason not to sack some more of the people now providing them. "What I want to make sure is that we find savings in a way that maintains the quality of services that citizens receive. As you move more services online, that means existing channels are not needed, or needed to a much lesser extent, and that means you don't need to employ as many people in those areas." Alexander also said that depriving richer pensioners of the winter fuel allowance remained a possibility for the next parliament. "There is a case for looking at whether benefits like winter fuel allowance go to multimillionaire pensioners. As we look to how we deal with the continuing financial problems over a number of years, that is a question that is perfectly reasonable to discuss. That is not necessarily within the context of a limit, that is just a policy choice," he said. Alexander admitted that economic growth had been disappointing, but blamed the eurozone crisis and weakness in the banking sector among other reasons, rather than ministers. Official figures published this week showed that borrowing reached £121bn last year, and would remain at a similar level this year and next, rather than being significantly reduced. Asked about whether he and the government had questioned the success of its spending cuts and tax rises, Alexander said: "If you're asking me have we reflected on the evidence and talked to our economists and asked what are the factors influencing us, what's changed in our economy, then yes, of course I have". But "that has just reinforced my view that the strategy we have embarked upon is the right one for the country" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15466 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I thought part of Blair's 50% drive, which I agree is fundamentally wrong, was to bring us in line with much of Europe? Germany may be an exception of course, but I'm pretty sure the figure there is more like 20-30% (depending on who you ask). Of course it might be a question of how certain institutions are classified and/or where you can get the kind of education you need - if it's only available at university here then you're not going to not go, given the chance... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 30406 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 In least surprising news article of the day, more public sector job losses. http://www.guardian...._medium=twitter Aye but the rich are paying too. Withdrawing the winter fuel allowance from multimillionaire pensioners should solve the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Face 29 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 If ever they make Toontastic: The Movie, this line will make the trailer. Spoken frantically. Cannit believe this never got a Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4712 Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 Is this something that you would be in favour of btw? Yes. If the government didn't have enough money to feed the poor then I would much rather someone did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 21441 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 If the government doesn't have enough money to feed the poor, shouldn't they increase taxes on the rich? Tories clearly want a return to Victorian values - literally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 42196 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Boris gets it up the arse ........ http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21916721 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 21868 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Poor performance wasn't it? He's usually unflappable in those situations - - where was the trademark wit and charm to deflect the difficult questions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4712 Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Still comes off funny though. "Are you going to watch it"? "Not after what you've told me......" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meenzer 15466 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 Poor performance wasn't it? He's usually unflappable in those situations - - where was the trademark wit and charm to deflect the difficult questions? He didn't do too well here either: http://www.newstatesman.com/staggers/2013/03/boris-johnson-heckled-almost-two-hours-lewisham Plenty of fun YouTube footage too. Of course it won't change a thing about what's going to happen, but ho hum... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaddockLad 17158 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) Boris gets it up the arse ........ http://m.bbc.co.uk/n...litics-21916721 Been away this weekend, just seen that don't know if its enough to stop him being the next tory leader....we're getting more and more Americanised in politics so Boris may just seen as our George Bush junior... a laughably stupid establishment placeman with next to no power but nominally running the country, Edited March 25, 2013 by PaddockLad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4712 Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 Milliband to resign as MP tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJS 4375 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Pesumably to distance himself from the 2015 defeat to return for 2020. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christmas Tree 4712 Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 Nice bit of political madness for Shields for two months! No doubt we'll Farage and co leading the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj 17 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Christmas Tree do you still think Dave is the best Prime Minister of your life time? As in would you say that he is in fact a top boss? Well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Top boss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 30406 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Well it gives him more time to dedicate to his £10k a day job with the mackems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Dynamite 7012 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 You think the Mackems pay him £70kpw? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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