Today the Libcons introduced the idea of compulsory community service for the unemployed. At the moment the only compulsory community service is as a part of the criminal justice system. This is a punitive and unworkable idea. In the first place imagine the cost of administering a system where hundreds of thousands of reluctant people are supervised to undertake tasks they have no interest in doing. Imagine the conflict and social unrest it will introduce into the benefits system. Imagine your loved ones being on the recieving end of such a service - care delivered by the unwilling possibly to the most vulnerable. think more about the impact on wages and employment opportunities - how soon before real jobs are replaced by compulsory volunteering. The Libcons need to get straight about volunteering - it is something we do by choice.
I was also very disturbed by the press coverage of alleged systematic torture and ill treatment of prisoners in Iraq. I think I had naively been hoping that although I did not agree with the invasion at least our troops would behave with a bit of dignity and respect for human rights. If not it removes the last possible reason for being there in the first place.
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