You know, I've had an idea. I think it could solve a lot of the country's problems, from crime to welfare to NHS spending. It's building on the fine traditions of this country, and should really go a long way towards 'fixing' the broken society we live in (or should that be big society? Or big broken society, or broken big society? Something like that, anyway.).
I suggest that every young person between the ages of eighteen and twenty five is locked up. Possibly even sixteen to thirty. This is the age group that is responsible for so many of the country's problems- most crime: violence, drunkenness and disorderliness, damage to property, drug misuse, muggings, theft, is committed by this age group. It's also the age group who are now finding it almost impossible to get jobs, as they don't have the experience to compete with adults with five or ten years work experience in the the current market, when many jobs have dozens of applicants. If every person in this age group were to be imprisoned, not only would crime figures fall dramatically (and along with them the cost of funding the criminal justice system) but also cut spending on the dole (Jobseekers' Allowance) and on other welfare benefits, such as housing. It would reduce the pressure on the job market, and help the country out of depression by providing full employment for everyone else.
Speaking of housing, with the young out of the housing market, the country's housing shortage would be solved. And by keeping young men and women separate except under close supervision pregnancies outside a stable family environment could be entirely eliminated, which would help again with welfare payments and also with overpopulation. And without students, student debt would also be abolished, and universities could be used for their proper purpose- researched focused on industry profits, and as conference venues. A whole generation could be freed from growing up with the burden of debt, teaching them a valuable lesson about managing finances.
Some will argue that the whole scheme would be probibitively expensive, but I believe it could even be profit making. The young can be made to contribute to the society which has cared for them by doing good old-fashioned work, growing food which could then be sold, for example. They could serve (without pay, obviously) in a variety of armed forces roles, and work in the community to aid local projects. Housing and feed costs need be minimal, as only basic buildings will be needed for such young, robust people. Frugal living and exercise will help improve their overall health- saving future NHS spending.
Some may say this is a bit too radical for the country to take at the moment. Very well, start by just locking up the men, and see the vast difference it makes to the country. Keep the women out of it for the moment. Perhaps exceptions could be made for the children of the well-off, or the highly intelligent. And one last benefit to the country- it would allow for strict training of decent sports teams, away from all distractions or scandals. The young could help build the Olympic venues, keeping down labour costs so the games might actually be under budget. One day, we might even win the football World Cup!
Ok, I hope you noticed that was something of a joke. I'm not sure I can go so far as to claim it's satire. The title of this post comes from Jonathan Swift's 1729 essay advocating solving Irish famine problems by eating babies, which should give you a clue. I'm not actually advocating this- far from it- and I have no proof for any of the 'facts' stated above. They're entirely based on prejudice. But really, from the things some politicians and media outlets say, you can't help but think that young people can't do anything right, that they are to blame for all of society's problems, and society would be better off without them. It wouldn't take many alterations (replace imprisonment with 'National Service' or 'national volunteer squad/ training scheme') before someone will say that the arguments above have something in them. In fact, the first hints have already been dropped by Cameron et al for a national volunteer scheme, which while having certain benefits in giving young people skills and experiences, is still probably at heart a way of keeping them off the dole and out of the unemployment statistics. Instead of treating them as lazy ingnorants or mere statistics, why can't we value the young, and perhaps trust them a bit more?
And no, I don't have a cure-all idea for solving that or any of the country's problems. I don't think there is one. Sorry to disappoint you.
I thought we already did this? We send them off to university to kick their heels for a few years in Cell Block C, before being unleashed on the world aged 21 or 22.
ReplyDeleteI'm 25 now, so I get to refer to them in the third person, woo! By the way, would I be granted an exemption under your scheme for having a mental age of 80?
Some good and valuable points here.
ReplyDeleteHehe, I slightly wish you'd posted it without the "actually a joke" paragraph just to see whether people would post angrily in response :)
ReplyDeleteYou're fab :)
Dear Fellows, I have been working on Broken Society as well, and I believe we need to think about the root causes.
ReplyDeleteI would like to draw your attention on my innovative Human Resource strategy for Britain’s ideal society model, which I believe could be very beneficial in longer run. This strategy main focuses on the solutions to the problems which our society is going through plus, supplementary benefits on better business outcomes and economical conditions as well.
Term ‘Broken Society’ is often used to define current social culture of Britain, which includes drug abuse, violent crime, teenage delinquency, family breakdown, welfare dependency, poor urban environments, educational failure, poverty, the loss of traditional values, teenage pregnancy, dysfunctional families, binge drinking, children who kill, all have been cited as proof that we have a broken society. Unfortunately its getting worst as negativity spreads effortlessly and with comparatively greater speed. I believe it’s time to rebuild our society on concrete grounds before people get immune of the current circumstances. I believe the upbringing of every child at home and the environment he/she brought up into does really matter on his/her personality and behaviours. Every child coming in this world is like a plain paper and it’s basically us (parents) who decides (intentionally or unintentionally) how the child should be. As parents are not much investing into their children these days, so being as a proactive and a highly responsible UK Government towards their society, I strongly recommend to impose a strategy across the nation to get Britain working better and efficiently which will ultimately an asset for every business running nationwide. Yes, government can change people's attitudes and behaviours. Furthermore, this strategy could be a best example of Investors in People, Corporate Social Responsibility and a strategical business move as well. This strategy not only helps to rebuild our society but it will also benefit following areas as well;
· Customised development of constructive workforce for Britain
· More, people will be inclined towards constructive work, rather than living on state’s benefits
· Increased numbers of Taxpayers, with substantial reduction in benefits seekers
· Comparatively less immigrants will be required to balance the overall workforce deficiency
· A preventive technique to handle riots, lootings and street crimes across the nation
· Preventive measures to tackle nationwide strikes (30th June 2011), which only increases nation’s debt rather than solving issues.
Due to versatility in the strategy, more solutions can be added accordingly.
In the end I would like to say, Lets change our society for better and with good moral values too. We have to implement a strategy which is actually a suitable combination of cure and preventive approaches.
Regards