13th December 2010, 02:18 PM
This is a complex issue that isn't helped by shoddy reporting.
I went to university twice. The first time I got a grant and a sponsorship...drank loads, party hard and scived...all at the tax-payers expense and failed the course.
The second time I paid for the degree...fees and living expenses..and got a student loan. Did work got a degree.
Paying for the second degree made me take it seriously and knuckle down.
I know many many many other students who spent taxpayers money on beer and enjoying themselves....what did the taxpayers get in return? nowt.
I truely beleive that people should pay for their own further education, going to university isnt a right...its an ambition that should be worked for.....however.....some families can't afford to pay for their sons and daughters to go on to further education, these people should receive help......should their son/daughter get a degree, then a good job...earning enough money to pay back the money, then why shouldn't society expect them to do so?
The fact is its a means tested loan.....not a payment issue...whats the problem?
On the issue of the protests....the right to make peacful protest is VERY important to everyone, so I deplore the continuing police scare tactics and heavy handidness AND the media political mis-representation of the facts.
However, I have always considered the anachist and/or violent minorities who ingratiate themselves to any protest movement as brainless morons who do more bad than good. How does smashing stuff up help anyone? Do they realise they are just giving ammumition to the 'enemy?'
The only way to change society is to be a part of it.....and not taking the easy route of 'opting out', then sitting around smoking and moaning about every-thing being 'crypto-fascist' or some figure-heads fault. Then hi-jacking someone else's useful protest as an excuse for pointless violence and vandalism.
I went to university twice. The first time I got a grant and a sponsorship...drank loads, party hard and scived...all at the tax-payers expense and failed the course.
The second time I paid for the degree...fees and living expenses..and got a student loan. Did work got a degree.
Paying for the second degree made me take it seriously and knuckle down.
I know many many many other students who spent taxpayers money on beer and enjoying themselves....what did the taxpayers get in return? nowt.
I truely beleive that people should pay for their own further education, going to university isnt a right...its an ambition that should be worked for.....however.....some families can't afford to pay for their sons and daughters to go on to further education, these people should receive help......should their son/daughter get a degree, then a good job...earning enough money to pay back the money, then why shouldn't society expect them to do so?
The fact is its a means tested loan.....not a payment issue...whats the problem?
On the issue of the protests....the right to make peacful protest is VERY important to everyone, so I deplore the continuing police scare tactics and heavy handidness AND the media political mis-representation of the facts.
However, I have always considered the anachist and/or violent minorities who ingratiate themselves to any protest movement as brainless morons who do more bad than good. How does smashing stuff up help anyone? Do they realise they are just giving ammumition to the 'enemy?'
The only way to change society is to be a part of it.....and not taking the easy route of 'opting out', then sitting around smoking and moaning about every-thing being 'crypto-fascist' or some figure-heads fault. Then hi-jacking someone else's useful protest as an excuse for pointless violence and vandalism.