Corbyns Momentum

its a well known FACT that the armed forces target schools in poorer areas ...commonly called cannon fodder...people with no hope of getting on in life will jump at the chance of the "career" the army offers.I know personally young men who were taken in.Sadly those illustrious careers never happened...BUT in their place were tours in Afghanistan and Iraq .One who had high hopes of being an astro physycist...because the recruiter told him it was possible...ended up on the streets ...and was severely depressed for a long time...Guess what? There was NO help for him from either the forces OR the government Recruiting from schools is despicable and just WRONG !.

or The Congo

It's not like the Hitler Youth

I do not want my grandchildren indoctrinated and have access to army arms.

Providing their parents agree with you, I'm sure that will be the case in the UK. It's not compulsory you know!

Oh dear, I'm sorry if you took general observations personally and became defensive and think they were bullying
I wasn't demanding any answers, I am just very puzzled.

And I do apologise if I assumed you are a socialist.

In fact I never assumed that you yourself are wealthy - how would I know? just that the Swiss, whilst maintaining neutrality can thus encourage the wealthy to invest and to live there.

Every country has its own problems and certainly Germany, Austria and Switzerland are far from perfect. However, it seems to be that they are being held up as examples of what the UK should be like.

POGS Many thanks for your post - I had missed the introduction of the 'petro'. It looks like he doesn't understand the first things about cryptocurrency though, by suggesting it's backed by oil and thinking he can just 'set one up'. I have an elementary understanding of how blockchain works and he's in a fantasy land.
Even if it did work (which it won't) it wouldn't benefit the population at all. I read a Reuters report - the monthly minimum wage has now dropped to $4.30.

You would rather hope he had more pressing items on his agenda than banning all opposition.

Did anyone watch the programmes about volcanos?
There were scientists from all over the world, including one of the Van Tulleken twins.
They were in the Democratic Republic of Congo for part of the series.
It was quite shocking to see all the young child soldiers, both boys and girls, going around with guns slung over their shoulders.
What's the difference between them and the army cadets here?
I am sure some of you have said it's not right for other countries to have child soldiers.

I am with jura on this.
My brother joined the army because he was from a poor background, and there was a cadet group near where we were brought up. He joined as an army cadet, a drummer boy. Drums soon changed to guns.

correction - are NOW kept at shooting clubs ...

Jalima- this is offensive- call it bullying if you wish:

'why don't you give up your British citizenship if you hate Britain so much and all about it granjura?' and totally out of order. Au contraire- it is because I've made the UK my home for so long, because my children and grandchildren are still there, that I do care. I do not want my grandchildren endoctrinated and have access to army arms.

Gun ownership is very controlled currently in Switzerland - most guns are not kept at shooting clubs and army bases- and kids are only exposed to club sport shooting in a very controlled environmentl NOT linked to the army. And I do feel it is better that way.

As for this- 'It must be a bit uncomfortable knowing that so few Swiss own so much of the world's wealth. It cannot sit very comfortably with socialist ideals.' again very out of of order... for one, I am not a socialist, for two, I have no Swiss wealth and live there on a UK pension, not a Swiss one. Very unpleasant indeed.

Going back to Corbyn/McDonnell/Momentum et al .

Their well documented view that Venezuela was a successful Socialist country the UK should follow is more interesting by the day. Chavez and Maduro were , still are it would appear feted by them.

Maduro Venezuela's President has banned opposition parties from taking part in next year's presidential vote.

The Venezuelan Opposition was awarded the EU’s prestigious Sakharav prize for human rights and urged the world to keep a close eye on an upcoming presidential election where it aspires to end two decades of socialist rule in the Opec nation.

Maduro has announced Venezuela will adopt a new cryptocurrency called the 'PETRO'. The country is in social and financial ruin after failing governance so I hope it works for the poor Venezuelan people .

The Inflation Rate is estimated at around 2.200% and may rise to 2.300% ( 2 THOUSAND) and it is widely reported a ' months' wage will only buy eggs and pasta.

Not my idea of a model we should embrace but who knows it may the wealthiest country in a few years time with Socialist Maduro at the helm.

Switzerland has a very high rate of gun owning,and anyone doing national service keeps their gun at home, which has led to wife murder, suicide etc.
In a population of under eight million there are over three million guns owned by the Swiss.

We know that Switzerland remained neutral and has done since 1815 - and well done for that.
They just collected in everyone else's wealth in secret accounts.

It must be a bit uncomfortable knowing that so few Swiss own so much of the world's wealth. It cannot sit very comfortably with socialist ideals.

Just what I was thinking Jalima

I don’t think 12 year old cadets in schools are strolling around with machine guns jura
If an army officer and a tank ( for example) came to a Summer fete they would be greeted happily, and kids swarming all over the tank.We don’t feel threatened or intimidated by our military personnel in the UK or our police either.I realise some other countries would feel
differently, Germany particularly with collective guilt.

why don't you give up your British citizenship if you hate Britain so much and all about it granjura?

oh my jalima- and you really think that Great Britain has nothing to be ashamed about as an agressor in the past? Your memory is short.
[sigh]
I do know that they were seen as liberators

TA is not for kids, is it?

Do you mean the TAs, Jura? Territorial Army.

oh my jalima- and you really think that Great Britain has nothing to be ashamed about as an agressor in the past? Your memory is short.

Jalima- not talking about the army- with young adults from age 18+ - I am talking about young kids, age 12 to 14.

A massive difference to my mind.

Train them to be physically strong, be independent, do first aid, orientation, wild crafts, etc- but NOT to use machine guns. Shooting clubs doing target shooting perhaps- very common here in a totally non-military setting.

As said- it is really shocking for people from Germany, Italy and Austria - where this is exactly how kids were recruited.
Because of their shame as aggressors and their guilt at their history.

Sorry Lemong- nothing wrong with training kids to do many things- but training them to manipulate and use army firearms, from the age of 12- marching drills, and so on- is just too close for comfort - and exactly what you mentioned.

But thank you for checking about schools. When the Army sponsors school activities and trips, and bring firearms and tanks into school Fêtes, etc- I for one, and most people I know - and certainly those in Germany, Italy and Austria- would be shocked and appalled, and concerned, and feel sick to the stomach.

I am fully aware you will not agree- but so be it.

We knew an elderly lady who positively hated all forms of militarism and refused to take part in anything which involved uniforms or marching. She was Austrian I think.
I am not surprised, trisher, the shame amongst normal decent folk must have been terrible, there is such a difference between knowing your country is a fascist aggressor and knowing that your country is defending people against that.

A massive difference to Army Cadets - which would be totally forbidden now in Germany or Austria
Really?
Well, I am not surprised, perhaps they have learned from their own history.

However, I am sure that I read somewhere fairly recently that the German Army is to be increased from about 60,000 to 200,00.
And Austria was using its troops and tanks to stop migrants from entering the country from Italy.

For once ( doesn’t happen often!) as I was interested, I read the link provided by trisher there are 3,000 or so Cadet units in schools, 320 are in state schools, so as I said, mainly in private schools, but the 320 are in good state schools.
Read the link jura and you will see that cadets are nothing to be frightened about ( not Hitler youth! )