Thread by @MonkEmma

I see lots of Right wingers are using places like Denmark as a shining beacon of why National service is great.

It’s funny, cos they don’t ever seem to champion all the OTHER aspects of life for young Danes.

Little 🧵

1/12

Free education.

Thats free education to whatever level you chose to go to, in whatever area you want to study

For as many years as you want to study

And not just free education - you get paid a grant to cover your living expenses, while you study.

2/12

Heavily subsidized child care

Generous parental leave and child benefits

Generous sick pay, disability pay and unemployment cover

Just a decent safety net available for all so you know that if the shit hits the fan in your life, you’ll be OK.

3/12

A well functioning health service

Specific psychological care for 18-24 year olds

Housing allowance - yes young people are supported with their housing costs!

With a decent social housing system that works.

4/12

Subsidised youth schemes and sports initiatives.

Under 25s can get financial support for sports fees and camps, equipment and even travel.

They actually encourage young disadvantaged kids to take part in arts and culture! (Imagine that!)

5/12

They have a Danish Youth Council designed to strengthen youth engagement in democracy and civic society.

(A little different to the Tories deliberately trying to make it HARDER for young people to vote!)

6/12

The list goes on…..

7/12

So yes, Denmark does have a National Service scheme.

But you know what?

Civic pride, national responsibility, a sense of community - that comes from living in a society that you KNOW has your back.

8/12

In Tory Britain, young people have been robbed of youth schemes and Sure start centers.
Libraries decimated, mental health services almost non existent.
Most of this generation will be in expensive, unstable housing for years to come
Saddled with exorbitant student debts

9/12

A cohort damaged by the COVID years - with no meaningful effort put into supporting them to catch up (unlike most of the rest of the western world).

They KNOW they live in a society that, not only does NOT have their back, it actively demonises them.

10/12

So by all means take National Service from the Danish system.

But then provide the other part of that social contract - the support, the housing, the education, the involvement in democratic and civic society, that comes with it.

11/12

Because otherwise, this is just another stick to beat young people with and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with fostering civic duty and National Pride.

But we all knew that before I wrote this thread, didn’t we! 😉

12/12

#ToryBritain
#ToriesBrokeBritain

And an excellent thread on the Finnish version, highlighting much the same👇🏼