Some people in the TA do it for ‘the buzz’ or ‘the craic’. If the TA just sort of stops for six months then they will go elsewhere for their fix. Football team loyalty is arguably similar to unit loyalty. There is a lot of football in the UK, operating on a lot of levels.

Alternatively some in the TA have become used to the renumeration and will just either work longer hours at their regular jobs or take another ’second career’.

Those who are motivated by public service might become retained firemen, special constables, St John’s Ambulance volunteers/NHS ambulance service community first responders.

Unless the TA is actually there, people will walk and those that do are much less likely to return when the MoD opens for business again in six months time. Keeping TACs open for social occasions during the period won’t cut the mustard either.

There are NRPS who look after a lot of the big/heavy kit. These people will still have to be employed, along with PSIs, LECs and so on who run the TA when the TA themselves are not there. All of those costs will still have to be covered; So it’s not like the entirity of TAVR expenditure will actually be turned off for six months – only the bit that directly supports Operations.

People are obviously not equal. Neither in nature nor nuture.

Some are smarter, healthier, faster and so on than others. Some are brought up pious, some criminal, some hardworking, some idle, some questioning, some receptive, some dogmatic, some altrustic and some violent. Most are self centred to a large degree.

Attempts to provide equality of opportunity are laudable and arguably morally right. Equality of Opportunity will not result in greater equality in 1st world societies; because people just are not equal.

For any chance of equality on the level the ET seems to be alluding to, all people within their sample (the entirity of society) would have to share a selfless, collectivist moral and philosophical standpoint. Some persons are too self centred to give up their every advantage for the sake of societies wasters, no hopers and ne’erdowells. Some people lack the intellectual capacity to appreciate the morality and philosophy required. I do not want my hard work to be wasted on evil persons and so on. I know that this morally weak in and of itself; but there you are. Given the diversity in our ever expanding population, equality has, for me at least, ceased to be a laudible goal. Not least because it is blatantly unachievable.