Bit of a hoo-haa down in london

[ghanimah]

I almost didn’t go to uni because of the debt etc. and that was before top up fees. No chance I would if I had that decision to make now.

In an ideal world potential students would look elsewhere e.g. different qualifications which cost less or different career paths. In practice it’s very difficult for young people to do this if employers will look for degrees as a general minimum, which they will because so much of the people looking for jobs do have degrees.

I think the politicians from all parties need to realise that the average graduate salary is heavily boosted by London and nearby areas. Other areas can be much less. When I started my graduate trainee job I was on less than £15k and that was only 4 years ago.

Personally it isn't just the debt that would change my decision now but the constant; "you're over qualified" rejections when you leave. When I did eventually get a decent job I'd left my degree off my CV - it was the only reason I got the subsequent interview.

In my experience getting the qualification is irrelevant, living away from home for the first time is worthwhile for many reasons  , but is it worth the subsequent £10,000 - £25,000 in debt for the experience? I don't think so.

[suttonred]

Fuck students and hardship and debt. Hardship= they cant go down the pub all day. Debt= they have been down the pub all day. Stick the fucking lot in the army.

[Bogus Dave]

You didn't vote for him as well did you?

I sure did. Most people I know did too.

[pauld]

I sure did. Most people I know did too.

Well, there you are, that's an education in itself

[Bogus Dave]

Should have known not to trust anything yellow

[ghanimah]

Well, there you are, that's an education in itself

Spot on. Lib Dems? The only principles they understand is not to have any. Anyone with principles doesn't abstain on a three line whip.

[Bogus Dave]

I think most people in my situation didn't really understand the ins and outs (first major election in which we could vote) and were swayed by the pledge to abolish tuition fees. Which is where a lot of the anger, or at least mine, stems from.

[ghanimah]

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[Reg Smeeton]

 In my day when students were less in number, poor but not excessively lumbered with debt, we used to protest about things like the Vietnam war, nuclear proliferation, government policy in N Ireland, workers rights.

You couldn't beat a good occupation of some uni admin block....always plenty of drugs and birds. (Not that was why I was there you'll understand.)

There's always more street protest when Tories are in government.

[pauld]

I think most people in my situation didn't really understand the ins and outs (first major election in which we could vote) and were swayed by the pledge to abolish tuition fees. Which is where a lot of the anger, or at least mine, stems from.

So there you are then. You've now learned you can't trust a single word a politician says. Especially when they use words like "pledge" and "promise". Valuable lesson learned. That'll be 40 grand please, payable over the next 15-20 years

[jonny72]

I'm in favour of all education being free, so it is open to everyone and due to the benefits of having a better educated population. But the problem is that there simply isn't any money left, Labour pissed most of it away and then the economic problems did for the rest meaning there has to be massive and widespread cuts.

The students think it shouldn't be education that gets cut.
Those on benefits think it shouldn't be benefits that get cut.
Unions think it shouldn't be the public bodies that employ their members that get cuts.
Commuters think it shouldn't be public transport that gets cut.
Doctors and nurses think it shouldn't be the NHS that gets cut.
And so on.

Everyone needs to stop fucking moaning and take their medicine until the country's finances are sorted out. Once we're not paying billions in interest every year perhaps there will be money to put back in to public services.

Anyone slagging off Clegg for going back on his word needs a reality check. Labour did exactly the same thing - every government does. They weren't lying, things change and sometimes they can't do everything they said they would.

[pauld]

Everyone needs to stop fucking moaning and take their medicine until the country's finances are sorted out

Except for the seriously rich tax dodgers and the banks of course. That would never do. "We're all in this together" - well, some of us are

[Nemo]

In much the same boat as Dave. I'm generally fairly politically neutral, but I surprisingly proud that my girlfriend ended up (fortunately outside and not involved in anything excessive) at Millbank today.

Cuts have to be made in this country, but trebling fees is not acceptable. Rise, sure, as long as it goes back when we can afford it, which it won't. Treble? fuck off.

[pauld]

Rise, sure, as long as it goes back when we can afford it, which it won't.

Quite. Anyone who believes any of these "temporary emergency measures" will be reversed is, well, Nick Clegg probably

[tans]

Come on Nemo, we all know it was her who threw the extinguisher off the roof