I disagree totally.

There is not now, nor there has there ever been, a need,
desperate or otherwise, to get "new blood".

There are more licensees today than there were in the late 70's
just prior to the influx of CB hobbyist operators.

If the "new blood" propaganda is allowed to develop, we will
end up with a Mongolian Horde of non-techical turnip-brains,
the perception of which by govt agencies will result in a faster
regulation of the technical freedoms we enjoy.

It is far, far better to proceed with technical seed-corn and to
retain our technical privileges, even with reduced numbers.

"Bob" wrote in message
...
"G.A.Evans G4SDW" wrote:

A necessary preface.....

snip

While I agree with some of what you say about slipping standards,
nevertheless numbers are shrinking and new blood must be encouraged into
the hobby/pastime/service/pursuit, etc, else we will be gradually
whittled away like the dodo until the bands are so empty that
governments will gleefully sell off our slices of the RF spectrum.

Admittedly, some of this new blood might not be of the 'quality' of some
of the old, but among the new intake there are individuals with plenty
of enthusiasm, curiosity, inventiveness and manners to make up for the
minority that might dismay some of the old guard.

I've a feeling that some / most of the coarser new licencees will not
have the staying power and we will not hear of them after a couple of
years.