The betrayal of the working class

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In the UK the huge rise in the number of people going to university (now 1.4 million) has been paralled by a collapse of the apprenticeship system, the number of apprentices falling from 250,000 in 1973 to 50,000 in 2016. Technical training for the less academic was dealt a death blow by the transformation of polytechnics into universities in1992.

At the same time there has been little or no improvement in the educational attainments of the bottom quarter of scchool students. 17% of them leave school functionally illiterate and 22% are innumerate. These figures ate similar to that of Albania. The government, faced with globalisation, has preferred cognitive ability and general knowledge to character, competence, experience and technical and manual skills. All this is replicated in the US, and has resulted in a polarisation of which the elites were not even aware – until it hit them. (The Week)

This is really stupid. I remember thinking the scrapping of technical colleges was bound to be a disaster. In my day Oxford Polytechnic was almost harder to get into than the main Oxford University. It had a worldwide reputation. Now called Oxford Brookes, its reputation has declined and circumstantial evidence suggests that it has almost more foreign students than British, many of whom are doing nonsense courses like business studies, which teach them to run a major corporation and to spout business-speak, all, I suspect, to little useful effect. Meanwhile, the country depends on Poles and others for technical skills. If and when they return to their countries of origin the results for Britain will be really scary.

Meanmwhile, the Trump administration in America has just unveiled a budget seeking $1.5 trillion in non-defense discretionary cuts and $1.4 trillion in Medicaid cuts over the course of a decade, while adding nearly half a trillion dollars to defense spending. The plan, titled “A New Foundation for American Greatness,” (don’t laugh – they are robbing you) would dramatically reshape federal spending, cutting anti-poverty and safety net programs, but leaving Medicare and the retirement portion of Social Security untouched. Talk about betrayal!

Re- introducing National Service

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47% of British people support reintroducing National Service for 17 to 21-year-old men; 43% oppose it. 42% are in favour of National Service for women, while 48% are against it. And 49% think crime rates would fall if National Service were reintroduced. (YouGov/The Independent)

Regular readers of this blog may remember that I did two years of National Service in the army when I was young. So I have a perspective on this issue that is fast becoming unique, since I was one of the very last men to do it. I was lucky in the experience I had, which grew me up and knocked a tad of arrogance and unrealistic expectation clear out of me. But I would never advocate military service. This is because it is not good for the armed services, who never really got to grips with the horde of reluctant youngsters coming in. Nor was it of real military use or capable of offering the breadth of challenge and excitement that young men wanted and needed.

But some service to the community is a good thing. There are so many people who need help educationally and physically, and they span all age groups. Doing something others without expectation of money or reward is good for the self-image, and teaches the priviledged that service to others is an honourable and rewarding thing. At a time of life when you are idealistic organised service to others (instead of drinking beer on a beach in Thailand) is a better option than an unfocused gap year between school and college.

Actually organising a form of national service is another matter, but in principle I think it would be an excellent thing to re-introduce. Young people who have been accepted for a university would get more out of the university experience as well were they two years older.

The mood of young people in Britain

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In many ways, young people in Britain today are the luckiest people to have ever lived. They enjoy a standard of living and access to scientific and technological advancements our ancestors could only have imagined. They are generally a healthy bunch, who exercise regularly, eat healthily, and consequently will enjoy a long life expectancy. Almost half of us will attend university, with the education and unique life experience it offers. Even if we don’t, internet access and the cheap cost of travel has made us the most intelligent and globally aware generation. Living, working and studying abroad has never been easier. Youth unemployment, while still a problem, is far lower than most of Europe- particularly for those who only need part time work. Young Britons demand high wages and reasonable hours, which means that many low-skilled jobs have to be done by immigrants. For the most part, globalisation has been a huge boon to the British youth, which is why a large majority of us voted to remain in the EU. In this respect, we could be considered to be less disillusioned with the present state of affairs than the older generations.

Yet speak to most young people in Britain, and their outlook is often a pessimistic one. Although wages are going up, house prices are increasing faster, making finding affordable accommodation more difficult. More of us may be at university, but mass access to higher education has decreased the wage premium a degree offers. To be truly distinguished in the job market, many believe they have to attain professional work experience prior to finishing their degree; this often comes in the form of low-paid if not unpaid internships, which are hard to come by and can involve long hours. While I personally find university a lot of fun, many students are not suited to a high degree of academic rigour- they simply put up with it because they know their jobs prospects will improve. On top of all this, Brexit threatens to reduce our freedom to live, work and study in Europe. Higher inflation and a worsening economy will reduce our future prospects; this is particularly the case for finance graduates, who are faced with a banking sector which is beginning to move jobs to the EU27. The government’s commitment to reduce immigration to the “tens of thousands” will inevitably involve a considerable reduction in foreign student numbers, decreasing funding for universities. Future undergraduates will be faced with ever-higher fees, since they are now allowed to rise with inflation. Higher education may be the best in Europe (and the second best in the world), but it is also the most expensive.

Here are a few hot-button issues, and the stance of most young people in Britain on them. Bearing in mind I am generalising here, so there will be exceptions as there is with most things. It’s also probably worth bearing in mind that I’m from West Sussex, and attend Exeter University. The young people I know are richer, better educated, and as a result, probably more optimistic and confident than young Britons generally.

Religion: most young Britons are non-religious. Britain is one of the world’s least religious countries, for young people especially. A minority identify as being a part of religion, but only a very small number are practising. This is true across the country, the only exception being ethnic minorities. Having said that, most people are not anti-religion. They may enjoy a carol service, classical music composed for the church, or a choir. They largely regard religion as an outdated belief system as far as morality is concerned, but still appreciate the cultural contributions of religion, as well as its ability to bring people together.

Social attitudes: the vast majority of young Britons are socially liberal, even the religious ones. Gay marriage is accepted, abortion is generally seen as a woman’s choice, most support cannabis legalisation, and religion is not seen as a pre-requisite for leading a moral life. Sex between consenting adults is usually viewed as moral, even if it isn’t always advisable. Young people are also the most passionate about the rights of the transgendered, and removing the stigma surrounding mental health. Some young people are more conservative on crime, immigration and multiculturalism, partly because resistance to social liberalism is strongest amongst ethnic and religious minorities. That said, overtly racist attitudes are rare. Political correctness, while dominant amongst the National Union of Students, does not play a significant role in day-to-day youth culture. As a general rule, British people are far less sensitive than their American counterparts. On a positive note, young Britons today are less likely to have sex, get pregnant as a teenager, get an abortion, smoke, binge drink or take drugs than our parents when they were our age. We may be socially liberal, but many choose to live relatively conservative lives.

Science and technology: nearly all young Britons love science and technology, even if they weren’t very good at science at school. They embrace the contributions science and technology have made to the modern world. Climate change denial, anti-vaccine sentiment and anti-GMO scaremongering are all virtually unheard of. But we also recognise the need to balance utilisation of our scientific knowledge with environmental conservation.

Politics: unlike British people as a whole, most young Britons are on the left of the political spectrum. Labour normally wins a plurality of the youth vote. Until 2015, the Liberal Democrats were also popular with more middle class youth. But their popularity has since fallen due to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition raising university tuition fees. The Liberals’ anti-Brexit stance has thus far, not helped them regain any significant support. A sizeable minority of young people vote Conservative, particularly those from the rural South East of England. In this election, the Conservatives have not made any overt appeals to the youth vote, unlike Labour’s promise to abolish tuition fees entirely. Young people are also far less likely to vote than their elders. This isn’t because of principled non-participation or even apathy, it’s simply because most young people aren’t interested in politics and so wouldn’t know who to vote for. Unlike the elderly, we don’t regard it as a moral duty to vote. This means that politicians simply aren’t incentivised to court the youth vote specifically.

Economics: just as most young Britons are apolitical, even fewer have a view on how the economy should be run. Economics isn’t taught in schools until A-level, so most don’t end up knowing about it. Amongst those who do express an interest in economics, most reject both Communism and free-market capitalism. The mixed economy supported by Labour and the Celtic nationalist parties is embraced, with private enterprise for consumer goods, supported by state investments in infrastructure and education. The NHS enjoys strong cross-generational support. Interestingly, the only young people I know who explicitly reject social democracy are men. The right wing societies at university are overwhelmingly male-dominated; Labour is also majority-male, but to a lesser degree. (The university as a whole is 55% female.) Like with Britain as a whole, there is very little appetite for the free-market amongst the young. Those do who vote Conservative do so for cultural and social reasons, or simply because they value the strong leadership they perceive the Conservatives provide.

Social media: most young Britons are avid users of online social media. Everyone I know is on Facebook. Many are also on Instagram, and to a lesser extent Snapchat, Twitter and WhatsApp. Social media is as much of a curse as it is a blessing. It is an incredibly convenient means of communicating and organising events. It allows information to be shared widely and rapidly. It can even be used to transfer money. But it’s also very hard to get away from, should you choose to have a break. As Bill Maher recently pointed out, social media is designed to be addictive. Many simply can’t break the habit. As far as politics is concerned, social media can be a bit of an echo chamber. Because most young people are on the left, those who express right wing views are often shouted down. Overt abuse is sadly all too common. Many use Facebook to get their news, but will only ‘like’ news sources whose views concur with their own. As a result, I’ve chosen to eschew discussing politics on social media, even privately. I never share news articles. Online debates are unproductive and simply aren’t worth having.

Patriotism: Most young people feel a sense of patriotism, even if they don’t explicitly identify as being patriotic. The vast majority reject outright nationalism because of its divisive and bloody effects throughout history. Unlike in America, there’s no sense of British exceptionalism. Young Britons are a cosmopolitan bunch, who embrace other cultures, and often go abroad when given the opportunity. Many students will choose to spend an extra year studying abroad (this is normally done in the third year.) Patriotism is seen as a nice thing, but it ought not to come above basic human decency.

Finally, I must stress that I don’t agree with a lot of what young people say and do. I don’t like the ‘lad culture’ amongst a prominent minority of young men, with its emphasis on physical prowess and crass misogyny. I don’t approve of the laziness and apathy of many people people- we could really learn from the American can-do spirit. At the same time, many young people work far too hard and don’t know how to relax. I don’t share the gloomy and pessimistic attitude many young people have, though perhaps that’s because I’m in a far more privileged position than they are. Like all other generations, the youth treat the government like a cash machine, and simply want as many benefits from it as possible, without thinking about fiscal responsibility or generational fairness. There isn’t an understanding that if we are to get more from the state, others must get less. I’m not a big fan of the Conservative Party, but least it cares about balancing the budget- something the young could learn from.

Thoughts on Brexit

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The scale of the impending disaster is becoming clear”, says Will Hutton in The Observer. Unless May changes her position quite substantially, the gulf between the UK and the EU is simply too wide for a deal to be possible. Britain is “certain to go over a cliff; the only question is how great the fall”. Like most loveless marriages, this one is ending in “screaming rows about the money”, said Dominic Lawson in The Sunday Times. The EU’s initial demand for a divorce bill of some €60bn seems to have shot up, to €100bn-plus. This isn’t just Juncker making trouble; it comes from the member states. The UK pays 12% of the EU budget, so Brexit will create a funding “chasm” that terrifies European leaders. Quite apart from dealing with the nitty-gritty, the Government needs to “prepare for the propaganda war”, said Juliet Samuel in The Daily Telegraph. The Commission will try to portray the UK’s leaders as “inept fantasists”, as it did with Greece. So Britain needs to come across as “eminently reasonable”; and it must, at all costs, rein in the xenophobic rhetoric. “If Britons and Europeans start to see one another fundamentally as enemies, a deal will become impossible.” (The Week)

From Martin Dean, Taunton, Somerset:

“I sense that there is an overwhelming sense of apprehension within the country because we don’t know what will be debated/agreed at the Brexit talks but more importantly, we don’t feel the Government can negotiate effectively. The Budget showed their incompetence (as well as the opposition’s) as the Government’s blunder was not spotted by the politicians and their party machines but by the BBC’s political correspondent. If we fail delivering our routine domestic policies, what hope have we at the complicated issues over leaving the EU?
We must recognise that most people in the UK are not political animals. Some can cope with domestic events, very few are interested in European issues, let alone wider world wide affairs. Interest is only taken when it hits home and confronts them. The Times in 1896… ‘Fog in Channel, Europe isolated’. Things really haven’t changed a great deal, so no wonder we are more than concerned”.

There is little hope of peace of mind anytime soon. The i pending train wreck loks pretty certain from the perspective of anyone living across the Atlantic.

A purpose in life

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A gerontologist who has researched old age had an interesting experience with a group of young students. They had read books about career strategies and success, many of which emphasised purpose. They had heard motivational speakers exhort them to find a single life passion, without which they were sure to drift, rudderless, through a disappointing career. But one all-consuming life goal in life eluded them.

One student asked him, “This really worries me. Do I really need a purpose in life? That’s what the books say, but I don’t have one. Is there something wrong with me? And how do I get a purpose if I need one?”

My answer is: relax. You are likely to have a number of purposes, which will change as you progress through life. Your focus should not be on a purpose, but on purposes, which change as your life situation, interests, and priorities shift. Don’t be railroaded in the direction of a single purpose, or remain on one train track because the train will change. The trick is to broaden your mind; that is your priority as a young person. Keep flexible, with your strengths, try everything to see what your aptitudes and talents are.

Then determine a general direction and pursue it. Determining a direction, an orientation in life (say, technical, or mathematical or artistic) is easier, more spontaneous, more flexible, and less laden with overtones than some mystical revelation that sets you on an immutable life path. Times change, circumstances change – indeed, change itself is the norm rather than the exception. A grand purpose is unnecessary and can actually get in the way of a fulfilling career. An attractive orientation is what you need.

My wife, an economist, and I, a businessman and amateur actor and painter, found in mid- life a joint aptitude for writing music. Neither of us had a background in music at all (My father told me I hadn’t a musical bone in my body!). You can’t make money out of composing, but that wasn’t the point. We found it a truly joyful experience, almost a mini-miracle that allowed us to work on something creative together, snd have it played by professional musicians. Early in my life I had established is an orientation towards the arts, and this was a great help. I simply decided to spend the money-making part of it in the business world (which can be creative ss well). You never do know where life will lead you, and that is part of the excitement of it.