There are some things so stupid that no-one, no matter how thick, should ever utter. One of these things has been uttered today:

• “Compulsory volunteers”

The concept of compulsory volunteering has actually been raised as what, one would assume, is a serious idea. Obviously eithout any real actual thought on the oxymoronic concept of making people volunteer.

And who is the idiot “genius” who has come up with this idea? Why, our Prime Minister, of course!

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged to ensure every young person has done 50 hours of voluntary work by the time they are 19-years-old.

Mr Brown said a promise to bring in compulsory community service would be a part of his next election manifesto…

The scheme would be woven into plans to make everyone stay in education or training until the age of 18 by 2011. (BBC)

I am a volunteer, and I support the idea of promoting volunteering and voluntary work. But how can making volunteering in any way, shape or form compulsory be a good step? It isn’t even volunteering unless it is voluntary!

I am also much opposed to the educational conscription of making students stay in school until 18. The idea of bringing volunteering in as a compulsory part of the curriculum is ahorrent – it would in fact have the opposite effect in the long term, turning young people away from volunteer organisations as they would see them less as the volunteer services that they are and more as a required part of their school life.

Young people can already volunteer through organisations such as the the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, which includes a volunteering element, and Scouting with the Young Leaders’ scheme. If Brown actually cared about volunteering, he would be supporting such existing schemes rather than making such stupid statements and setting absurd and unreachable targets.

Gordon Brown isn’t just saying oxymorons, he’s a complete moron.