Tories and their Guttersnipe Allies Raise Fees.

[Belschaft]

Thank the gods I missed that particular bullet. Shame my little sister will get hit though.

I've got to say, I really enjoyed watching Simon Hughes try to argue that this was somehow a good thing as it's lower than what the Browne review recommended. Simon Hughes, the guy who'd spent the last 15 years trying to abolish them entirely.


On a side note, what Uni are you at Yootwopia?

[The blessed Chris]

Hahahahahahaha.

My sentiments can really be summarised thus. Confronted with the choice between a graduate tax, higher direct or indirect taxation, or raising fees, I'd sooner raise fees. Of course the prudent course is to reduce university attendance down to pre-1997 levels, but I doubt that telling the Plebs to get a job and stop drinking would be politically adviseable.

We often disagree on many issues, but that point about reducing university attendance isn't one I'd dismiss out of hand. Though I don't think 1997 is where we went wrong - don't forget it was a Conservative government that decided to make the the polytechnics full universities.

Part of the problems with the Major and Blair expansion of university education is the extent to which it devalued a university education. In the UK we still work under the theory that a university degree is a passport to improved career opportunities, as it indeed usually was prior to the polytechnics being made full universities. The consequences of making a degree in Tourism Studies from Sunderland University (and I don't mean to single out the former Sunderland Poly specifically) hypothetically equal in status, and wholly equal in cost, to a degree in Classics from Oxford (or even Leicester) were never fully explored.

Expanding university education was not necessarily a bad thing - the opportunities I had were vastly greater than the opportunities my parents (both highly intelligent people, but neither able to go to university in the early 60s; though my father subsequently earned an MA via distance learning opportunities) had. I concede that my undergraduate degree is in fact American, but my MA and DPhil (from York) are degrees my parents would never have been able to earn the same way.

What arguably went wrong in Britain was increasing student numbers while simultaneously arguing that all degrees hypothetically had equal status, when in reality we all know they don't. This places serious questions on the value of more vocational degrees from many 'newer' universities. What, realistically, separates these from vocational training at an old polytechnic?

Indeed. Ignoring my slightly hyperbolic and very tired smug satisfaction, I do think that either prioritisation of funds for more academically rigorous degrees, or attenuation of university attendance, or a mix of both, would be sensible. Admittedly any contraction of university attendance would disproportionately disadvantage lower and middle income students, but I think this could be mitigated happily enough.

I didn't realise you studied at York anyway? When, and with whom?

[Hydesland]

Do the lib dems actually exist, or have they been a figment of middle class imagination for the last few years?

[The blessed Chris]

Do the lib dems actually exist, or have they been a figment of middle class imagination for the last few years?

Apparently power really does corrupt.

[Johz]

I actually meant the above with no irony, and am rather pleased with myself for being born just in time to get in now. I might still go on the demo though, I've never been on a demo before...

So did I. I think this is wonderful news for me.

And I'd advise a protest against the hunting ban or European Union; they attract a better type of protestor.

A better class of protester? A better class in what way? A harder worker than the guy who has to get up at three O'clock in the morning to start working and doesn't get back until ten, just to keep his family in the clear? A more caring class than the woman who gave up her career to help her father? The best classes in this country are the ones who don't have time to go killing things because they are too busy doing actual work. They are the people who are rich because they earned the money, and not because 'mater and pater' have paid their allowances for the past twenty years. Please tell me you were joking or so help me God because I do not know what I would do to you without Him.

On a lighter note, I would partially agree with you that we should duck out of the EU, but only because we should be either in or out, not hanging in between. I think it would be better for Britain, and for the international community as a whole, if we stopped dilly-dallying around and either went all in (my preference) or withdrew completely. However, at the moment we have a rather pathetic view that we are a world power, which is a delusion that I hope we get over soon.

[The Archregimancy]

I didn't realise you studied at York anyway? When, and with whom?

What do you think I studied there

I was there for a goodly portion of the 1990s; I'm reluctant to say too much more in a public forum.

[The blessed Chris]

I didn't realise you studied at York anyway? When, and with whom?

What do you think I studied there

I was there for a goodly portion of the 1990s; I'm reluctant to say too much more in a public forum.

Hmm...you don't work there now though?

[Johz]

Do the lib dems actually exist, or have they been a figment of middle class imagination for the last few years?

Epic quote is epic.

[Farnhamia]

I didn't realise you studied at York anyway? When, and with whom?

What do you think I studied there

I was there for a goodly portion of the 1990s; I'm reluctant to say too much more in a public forum.

Tsk. We know where you live, Arch. Oh, and would you mind moving that pile of books on the counter in the kitchen? It's blocking Camera 3. Thanks!

[Mad hatters in jeans]

yeah that's crap for students, but it's not a surprise coming from tories.

[Angleter]

So you rather prefer a epic tax rise?

No I'd prefer scrapping Trident. There I've just saved £4 billion a year. I'd prefer raising co-orporation tax to equal levels with Europe. Another £40 billion. I'd prefer we left Afghanistan, more billions saved. I'd prefer to increase inheritance tax on large estate. Potentially billions there. I'd prefer to legalize (and regulate with licences, etc.) both prostitution and minor drugs, such as marijuana. More millions there. I'd prefer the government took a 60% stake in all private schools, and run them like a business, with franchise schools in areas with high ex-pat populations, such as Dubai. Again, even more funds. I'd prefer us to reduce our contributions to the EU, and for the Scottish to actually pay there way. Which reduces the deficit. I'd prefer fairer tax laws, whereby the richest pay most, not the other way around. Which makes the country fairer. I'd prefer the Tories and Lib Dems not to be hypocritical bastards who benefited from free university then make it prohibitive for anyone else to go.

I'd prefer a lot of things. But the bastards in charge hate the people they claim to represent.

Scrapping Trident- bye, bye, international standing, let's become as great a power as Italy. Everyone from Buenos Aires to Mauritius will be partying in the streets. Similarly leaving Afghanistan, that's America pissed off no end and the chances of Afghanistan becoming terrorist central going up.

Raising corporation tax- great! Let's screw over the private sector to get out of recession- that can't go wrong! Similarly taxing the rich all the way to Ireland/Luxembourg/Monaco- which I presume you mean by making the richest pay most, because they already do. Of course, they'll all be dodging the inheritance tax hike on large estates, too.

Legalising prostitution and drugs will, if you licence and tax them, make legal avenues enormously more expensive and thus unpopular than the illegal industry.

Reducing our European commitments when they're trying to cut our rebate will probably get us kicked out and having to renegotiate our EEA membership and thus access to European free trade. Doing great here.

The Scots would take one look at being told to pay a lot more, and suddenly wham! Scottish independence becomes more popular than ever before. And then that's so long, North Sea oil.

The whole reason why private schools are so popular is that they, being not under State control, do things differently to the State schools. If the State seized them, which I highly doubt would be all that feasible, and then adopted all the State's education doctrine, they'd become far less popular and I'd imagine that standards would probably fall; and if they didn't, then what would that say about the State's education doctrine? Also I think you massively overestimate the profitability of private schools.

And I'll tackle the topic in the next post.

[The Archregimancy]

Hmm...you don't work there now though?

No; though not for lack of trying, though - I've been shortlisted for positions there twice in the last 3 years!

[Angleter]

I actually meant the above with no irony, and am rather pleased with myself for being born just in time to get in now. I might still go on the demo though, I've never been on a demo before...

So did I. I think this is wonderful news for me.

And I'd advise a protest against the hunting ban or European Union; they attract a better type of protestor.

But they get violently beaten up by the police and nobody cares. When an anarchist rabble get hurt a bit, the entire country's up in arms about evil coppers.

[The blessed Chris]

Hmm...you don't work there now though?

No; though not for lack of trying, though - I've been shortlisted for positions there twice in the last 3 years!

You didn't study under, or with, Dr. Halsall did you?

[The blessed Chris]

So did I. I think this is wonderful news for me.

And I'd advise a protest against the hunting ban or European Union; they attract a better type of protestor.

But they get violently beaten up by the police and nobody cares. When an anarchist rabble get hurt a bit, the entire country's up in arms about evil coppers.

Quite. But at least the Sloe Gin gets passed round.

[The Archregimancy]

Tsk. We know where you live, Arch. Oh, and would you mind moving that pile of books on the counter in the kitchen? It's blocking Camera 3. Thanks!

Whoops - sorry about that. Idolos de las islas prometidas is a big book, isn't it? When I was leaving Venezuela in August, it weighed so much - and looked like such a black spot on the luggage x-rays - that the Venezuelan army insisted on hand-searching my luggage in front of me two hours after check-in (true story). So no wonder it's blocking camera 3.

But you can still see me typing away on camera 2, right?

[Belschaft]

Also: Damn arch, that sucks

The only positive thing of it is that now you can spend even more time on NSG. No point looking for a job right now.

[The Archregimancy]

You didn't study under, or with, Dr. Halsall did you?

No - wrong department. And if that's Guy Halsall, he only joined the History Department in 2003 anyway.

[Farnhamia]

Tsk. We know where you live, Arch. Oh, and would you mind moving that pile of books on the counter in the kitchen? It's blocking Camera 3. Thanks!

Whoops - sorry about that. Idolos de las islas prometidas is a big book, isn't it? When I was leaving Venezuela in August, it weighed so much - and looked like such a black spot on the luggage x-rays - that the Venezuelan army insisted on hand-searching my luggage in front of me two hours after check-in (true story). So no wonder it's blocking camera 3.

But you can still see me typing away on camera 2, right?

Oh, yes, clear as day.

And that does suck about the redundancy. I can't imagine how you could be redundant in any way, it would require there being more than one of you.

[Tagmatium]

I suspect this'll end my hopes of doing a Masters, which is something I'd liked to have done in a few years.

And it would have priced me out of university.

[Great Nepal]

So you rather prefer a epic tax rise?

No I'd prefer scrapping Trident. There I've just saved £4 billion a year.

Not good idea when UK has made so many enemies in world.

I'd prefer raising co-orporation tax to equal levels with Europe. Another £40 billion.

Not great with economics but I will assume it will mean Companies have no more interest to come in UK than anywhere else in EU..

I'd prefer we left Afghanistan, more billions saved.

And piss of US? Also if US-UK leaves Afghanistan without any significant change, people who lost someone in home will be furious and also Terrorist will have a huge moral victory to recruit Afgans and say "They have support of god and therefore such large enemies were defeated." Not Great Idea.
I agree with leaving Afghanistan but not as defeat but as victory. Send in massive force at one time cost and get it over and done with.

I'd prefer to increase inheritance tax on large estate. Potentially billions there.

Cos? I dont even see a good reason for inheritance tax to be in place. It was earned by there parents and therefore there son/daughter should have it.

I'd prefer to legalize (and regulate with licences, etc.) both prostitution and minor drugs, such as marijuana. More millions there.

Making them legal will encourage more people therefore loosing more manpower to drugs and stuff.

I'd prefer the government took a 60% stake in all private schools, and run them like a business, with franchise schools in areas with high ex-pat populations, such as Dubai. Again, even more funds.

There is word Private for a reason, if state sized them they are no longer Private and will be in equal level as state schools whose state is bad.

I'd prefer us to reduce our contributions to the EU,

Okay.. but will make UK unpopular in EU which isn't great news when you have just gave Terrorist victory, pissed off US and scrapped Trident.

and for the Scottish to actually pay there way. Which reduces the deficit.

Makes Scottish independence movement popular.. not great idea.

I'd prefer fairer tax laws, whereby the richest pay most, not the other way around. Which makes the country fairer.

Yes cos its crime to be rich.

I'd prefer the Tories and Lib Dems not to be hypocritical bastards who benefited from free university then make it prohibitive for anyone else to go.

Hard times demand hard measures.

[Mikedor]

Oh look guys see what I found?

[The blessed Chris]

You didn't study under, or with, Dr. Halsall did you?

No - wrong department. And if that's Guy Halsall, he only joined the History Department in 2003 anyway.

Fair enough.

[Yootwopia]

Oh look guys see what I found?

If only the unions hadn't foisted a leader upon the Labour Party who speaks like he's had a stroke and looks like a junior civil servant, we might have been with a shout at winning in 2015. Eugh.

[Great Nepal]

Oh look guys see what I found?

Liberal Government =/= Lib-Con collation government.

Both side wont get everything they want.