The Marriage Act(57)
‘Repurposed from what? Former offices?’
‘The majority are deregulated military barracks and former correctional facilities.’
‘Prisons?’ MP Maddy Cordell had laughed. ‘And you’re expecting us to sell this idea to the public?’
‘Firstly, they are now former correctional facilities,’ Hyde had repeated impatiently. ‘And secondly, this is more than just an idea. It’s happening. Work has already started on the first twelve.’
‘I assume you’ll be at least removing the prison ring fencing?’ Cordell had scoffed.
‘A proportion of it will remain for their protection and to prevent unlawful entry. Parents will want to be assured their children’s safety is our number one priority.’
‘What will be on the curriculum?’ Harrison had asked.
‘There will be less emphasis on mainstream education’s core subjects such as English literature, maths and coding. Research has found these pupils to be less responsive to those subjects and therefore more disruptive. They’ll be educated and trained for the industries our model predicts they’re best suited for, such as the building trade, careers in the domestic sector, the food and beverage industry, childcare workers, cashiers, clothing manufacturers et cetera. The values we instil in them at Young Citizen Camps will remain with them until their eventual reintegration into society.’
‘You are doing the workforce in those sectors a huge disservice if you’re saying the most suitable people for those roles are underachievers,’ the woman with the greying cornrows had huffed. ‘You’re suggesting those careers are only for write-offs, that they are the jobs nobody else wants. It’s hugely insulting to millions.’
‘On the contrary. These jobs keep the engine of society moving forwards. If our weakest academic students are offered support and training from an early age, they have the potential to be the backbone of our economy’s growth. Meanwhile, children continuing to attend our regular schools will thrive without disturbance. It’s a win-win situation. Britain’s next century can, and will, be better than the last.’
A nervous Anthony had cleared his throat. ‘Like Ms Cordell asked, how will you convince parents this is in their children’s best interests?’ he’d asked.
‘I have assembled an assortment of the country’s leading psychologists and scriptwriters to develop a television series that will begin the marketing of this project to the masses. It will be upbeat, family viewing, broadcast on a mainstream channel and across social media, based in a Young Citizen’s Camp. As well as creating likeable, identifiable and believable characters, the focus will also be on the fun, exciting, opportunities to be had for those who participate. Targeted advertising will appear on the communication devices of under-sixteens, and their parents will be offered financial encouragement to participate. We want to create a vision of a place where parents are confident their children will gain the best opportunities. And we want young people to want to be a part of these camps.’
Anthony had listened intently as Hyde had detailed exactly what was expected of him, the tight timescale and generous budget. His final question continued to haunt him now, every bit as much as the faces of the dead children of FFA supporters.
‘What kind of behavioural conditions will these camps cater for?’ he’d asked.
‘Off the top of my head, anything from anger management issues to oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorders, the learning impaired, some identifiable on the Autism Spectrum scale and those diagnosed with bipolar and Attention Deficit Disorder.’
They were the three words Anthony had hoped he would not hear. Attention Deficit Disorder. He had finally reached his critical juncture. Now he could either continue to serve those above him or he could find his own path. It was too late to save the lives of the FFA victims, but it wasn’t too late to protect his son.
WHY A SMART MARRIAGE IS A DUMB MOVE
More of us are realizing the Sanctity of Marriage Act was a huge mistake. Not only has it shattered relationships and destroyed towns through gentrification, the gap between Britain’s rich and poor has never been wider.
Smart Marriages discriminate against those refusing to upgrade, those cohabiting, single people and the bereaved. By signing up or upgrading you are . . .
? Allowing a computer to decide if your marriage is at risk.
? Letting a Family Court divorce you – even if you want to stay together.
? Forcing hundreds of thousands of traditionally married couples to move into underfunded areas while the rest live in Smart towns with better infrastructure.
? Preventing businesses from employing single people even if they’re better qualified.
? Making non-Act people pay 35% higher taxes and insurance policies.
? Requiring non-Act people to wait three extra months for appointments at underfunded hospitals.
? Allowing Emergency services to prioritize calls to New Towns over Old Towns.
August 29 – Kennington Park London – If you care about your country, join Freedom for All in Britain’s biggest protest rally as we put pressure on the Government to revoke the Sanctity of Marriage Act.
43
Roxi
This was not how Roxi had imagined it to look. She double-checked the postcode she had dictated into the car’s satnav. It was the correct house and road; she’d just had the wrong expectations. She powered down the shared vehicle she pooled with her neighbours and waited. Quite what for, Roxi didn’t know, but until she was ready, she was not going to act on impulse.