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Title: Young Property
Author: Solidarity Federation
Date: Autumn 1998
Language: en
Topics: youth liberation, abuse, Direct Action Magazine
Source: Retrieved on June 20, 2005 from https://web.archive.org/web/20050620082329/http://www.directa.force9.co.uk/archive/da8-features.htm
Notes: Published in Direct Action #8 — Autumn 1998.

Solidarity Federation

Young Property

Discipline and punish. The cycle of abuse continues. Young people are

cheap property, or worse still, play objects for brutal games.

Before “Cheap Labour” was elected to power last year, Jack Straw, then

Shadow Home Secretary, advocated a curfew for children. He planned to

ban children from the streets after 9pm. The curfew plan was couched in

terms of ‘empowering local communities’. It would have little effect on

the children of the rich, but it would severely infringe the lives and

liberties of working class children, who have only the street in which

to play.

At present, the curfew plan is one plank on a raft of repressive

measures which have originated from one of Cheap Labour’s many expensive

think-tanks. Near the top of the Government’s wish-list, is the idea of

a national identity card for young people.

Initially the scheme is voluntary, and carrying the card will be

mandatory for young people wanting to prove they are legally old enough

to purchase scratch cards, alcohol, cigarettes, solvents, and to hire

videos. The Citizen’s Card, as it will be called, may not be compulsory,

but it has all the trappings of any National Identity Card, including

photo and hologram. It is the thin end of the wedge, and will lead to a

National ID card for everyone, regardless of age. The government has

chosen young people as an easy target, so that we will become used to

the idea of young people being asked to prove their identity wherever

they go. And when they are ‘old enough’, they will be ‘offered’ a New

Deal (which one is not permitted to refuse), and be put to work on

‘market’ wages — because Cheap Labour don’t believe in a minimum wage

for younger workers.

The Citizen Card Planning Group is currently negotiating with 16 Trade

Associations, the National Lottery and Railtrack. In addition, there

have been pledges of support from the Tobacco Manufacturers Association

and the National Federation of Retail Newsagents. Businesses and

industry have been asked for £330,000 to start the scheme up. And by the

way, all card applicants will be asked to pay £5 and provide their own

photos.

The Citizen Card and those corporations supporting it should be rejected

and boycotted. On the latter, older people need to be prepared to help

out with the boycott of cards. Why co-operate with a card which (a) is

designed to assist in strengthening Government information networks, not

merely prove age, and (b) will be expanded — so it will be YOU next?

Unless, that is, the Citizen Card is deemed unenforceable. Don’t give it

a chance, give young people a chance instead.