Its All Kicking Off Outside Tory HQ

tomterm8

I was, in fact, in the first cohort to pay tuition fees, and I was on the first protest against them, we had a jolly ride up to the Labour party conference in blackpool, did our march peacefully, had a bevvy or two in the pub, and went home. The only downside was we ended up listening to pinko Ken Livingston, but it can't all be brilliant.

At that time, very few of the students cared... maybe if they had made a fuss then, this day would not have come.

Davesnave

Daughter 2 is there right now but not involving herself with the rioting.

One or two of you may wish to note that she has paid income tax/NI while working full time for the past 3 years, and she'll be doing so again at Christmas, just like many of her mates.

Is it OK with you if she supports the demo, or do you want to see her contribution record first?

Graham_Devon

It's good to see some action, rather than the british just moaning. It's just a shame the few had to spoil it and turn it into violence and criminal damage.

As for the cause, I'm in two minds at the moment. However, from many of the comments I have heard from students, they just don't like the fact they may have to pay for their education. Have heard comments such as "I have to pay £9,000 and go to the uni with the higher fee's as any potential employers will look at my uni education and see that I come from a uni that charges lower fees, so they won't emply me".

Some of the whinges seem to have got a little desperate.

However, one comment, I could relate with, in which the person stated something along the lines of "our generation is being asked to pay for everything, work longer, pay more for pensions, pay more for education, pay more for housing and pay more in tax...all those creating the policies will be on the best pensions, have had free education, and will be able to retire earlier in their lifetimes as they have set te system to such, and reap the profits from housing costs".

mostlycheerful

Graham_Devon : "our generation is being asked to pay for everything, work longer, pay more for pensions, pay more for education, pay more for housing and pay more in tax...all those creating the policies will be on the best pensions, have had free education, and will be able to retire earlier in their lifetimes as they have set te system to such, and reap the profits from housing costs".

Yes, indeed, twas ever thus, the rich continue to get richer while the poor, as ever, are crushed underfoot, used as cannon fodder and as wage slaves to clean the bogs and take the rubbish out, Darwinian, natural selection, survival of the fittest style. So what? What’s new? Just smashing a few windows doesn’t achieve anything except filling up a bit of space in the rags and the police cells.

longtimelurker_2

Graham_Devon wrote: »

It's good to see some action, rather than the british just moaning. It's just a shame the few had to spoil it and turn it into violence and criminal damage.

...

However, one comment, I could relate with, in which the person stated something along the lines of "our generation is being asked to pay for everything, work longer, pay more for pensions, pay more for education, pay more for housing and pay more in tax...all those creating the policies will be on the best pensions, have had free education, and will be able to retire earlier in their lifetimes as they have set te system to such, and reap the profits from housing costs".

Agreed. I'm 25 and I can vouch for the fact that most people I know in my generation are very angry. I don't agree with violence, but I'm pleased to see that apathy isn't prevailing.

ILW

tomterm8 wrote: »

So you're saying anyone who votes for anyone other than Labour and the Conservative party is dim? That's hardly the sign of a democracy. On a lot of issues, you can split the difference between their policies with a hair.

So did you vote lib dem. If so what was your vote worth?

lostinrates

I had gathered that I was about the same age as Sir H but am surprised Tomterm is our age too. TBH, I don't remember any fuss about the tuition fees, but its probably one of those pesky holes in my memory.

Graham_Devon

On a political front, I think Harriet Harman is completely wrong to just attack everything the coalition government do, especially uni fee's, considering:

- Labour did exactly the same.
- Labour still don't have an answer themselves, neither will they give one.

It's no good simply attacking literally everything. If you are going to, at least put forward alternate, feasable policies.

tomterm8

ILW wrote: »

So did you vote lib dem. If so what was your vote worth?

My vote was absolutly worthless, and it would have been whoever I vote for. I knew it was worthless before I voted. The current MP in my area has such a huge majority that I think the conservative party could put up Kermit the Frog, and still win the seat.

Davesnave

DD2 now informs me she 'nipped away' from the demo for an hour or two to visit the Tate Modern & do some research. It was an opportunity too good to miss, apparently.

What's the matter with students these days? It wasn't like that when we besieged Grosvenor Square! :rotfl: