Subject: Re: AUT: bush's speech and volunteerism
Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 14:40:04 +1100


hi all

>A couple things-
>Can folks from outside the US tell me something about what, if any,
>national/social service plans the governments in your respective homes
>operate? I'm under the impression that many countries require military or
>social service for some time period. Is this true?

Nate in australia there has been no military conscription since 71 or 72 
thanks to the anti-vietnam war struggles here. dinosaur right-wingers here 
periodically call for conscription, usually with the justification that it 
would straighten out the misguided youth rather than for military reasons, 
but they aren't taken too seriously. the oz military despite their 
recruitment problems is not in favour of conscription.

as to civil conscription (barred in our constitution i believe) i think the 
purpose of the 'work-for-dole' scheme  is more to get people used to the 
shitfullness of work rather than doing any particular services for the 
state. only a minority of the unemployed are forced into work for the dole 
anyway.

i think most european countries with conscription allow civilian service as 
an alternative, eg in hospitals, disabled homes or even the police in some 
parts. france got rid of conscription a few years ago as part of a more 
general modernisation of the military and i think germany is likely to 
follow shortly.

peter


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