Prince Charles car attacked

[Ben]

Sure I read today mention that students were being beaten by other 'protesters' when they tried to stop them smashing things up ....

[Stuart]

Ben, I'll challenge you on one thing my old friend

Back in the day, people couldn't have things unless they could afford it. Kids, holidays, posh cars, an extended education. I, for one, am fucked off with people bleeting that they can't get things for free or that the powers that be will no longer subsidise this lifestyle.

Imagine a world with a more clearly defined class structure. Think of a world without a benefits system that meant that some people are better off not going to work!!

If all of these guys were going to Uni to get an education and meaningful work, driving up the standard of our companies, improving the quality of our culture and society, then great. I am sure that many people would agree that education for all would be a good thing. The truth is however, that many of these students have gone to college because they don't feel like going to work and have no real vision of what they want to achieve in life. They go through Uni, meandering through drunken hazes and stoned semesters, until by some fluke they graduate. Then Giles and Flora don't want to work, so they opt for a year out.......possibly to travel, possibly to have a gap year whilst they consider what they want to do. Poor lambs!

I have worked with hundreds of graduates over the years. Many of these were intelligent and hard working. More didn't have a fucking clue about much at all other than getting pissed or Xbox live. I have studied in my own time to degree and diploma standard and paid for it, each time.

I have no 'beef' with people making their own choices in life but they should at least be able to afford these choices.

Discuss

[Ben]

old !! .. I'm offended

[maff]

I'm fairly sure the ones causing most of the headlines are not the students upset by the fee increase, instead they're the muppets thats turn up at the G8, turn up when theres an animal science unearthed or when theres a london football derby. Morons that enjoy fighting... and destruction. And while its true theres some people in further education because theyre workshy twats equally should education only be available to people whose parents have done well?

[Tk]

but is it still not open to everyone ? i thought you start paying for it once in full time work earning over 21k a year

[stockcar]

I'm fairly sure the ones causing most of the headlines are not the students upset by the fee increase, instead they're the muppets thats turn up at the G8, turn up when theres an animal science unearthed or when theres a london football derby. Morons that enjoy fighting... and destruction. And while its true theres some people in further education because theyre workshy twats equally should education only be available to people whose parents have done well?

i disagree if you look at the ones who have been arrested like mr.fire extinguisher or the twat swinging on the cenotaph then they ARE students just they are the opposite end of the spectrum to "normal" students and its a case of becasue they can rather than any issue over not being able to afford anything!!
if my son acted like that (not that hes old enough yet or im rich!!) he'd be looking for somewhere else to live as well as having at least a black eye and i would be the one marching him down to the cells!!

[Rob S]

What pissed me off with some of the students interviewed have this attitude that because they think the tactics used to try and keep a lid on the disturbance- note I did nt say protest, are wrong, they feel they have a god given right to throw stuff and smash things up. (what bloody experience they have in police tactics is beyond me). The organisers know full well the difference between peaceful protest and breaking the law.
For me, they need to bring water cannons down to the scenes of disturbance, and anyone still there after warnings are issued gets wet. If they add the dye packs the germans use, they can be swept up for public order offences up to a couple of weeks later then.

But the main issue here is the country is financially screwed, and all the perks we've enjoyed are up for scrutiny. Whether you agree with funded further education or not, it's not right that democratically elected people make changes lawfully, and that people then smash stuff up and hurt people because they disagree with it.

What will be really interesting is when the next march by emergency services takes place, as they are ALL facing redundancy, pay cuts, and pension changes. (Pay cuts are already in place, it's just been kept off the news due to all the other shit going on)

[Stuart]

equally should education only be available to people whose parents have done well?

When it comes to 'who deserves what' I think it's pretty clear cut. I could argue that I 'deserve' a 911, but no fucker is going to give me a 911 If someone doesn't want a four or five year period at University, no one is going to force them into it. Our country has been writing cheques that it has not been able to pay for years. The cuts have been inevitable and the cynical part of can't help thinking that whilst they eyes are on this, they are not focused on fuel prices, Wikileaks and it's contents, nor the fact that wasters have been bleeding our resources dry for years.

(Good debate)

[Tonynos]

I totally disagree with the way the students have reacted, but like everyone else they have a right to be pi$$ed off. It's a joke that the government is making all these cuts but they can afford to give out yet more foreign aid. Why are we giving aid to the likes of Russia and Brazil? Two countries that if run properly could be the richest countries on the planet.

[Mr Fletcher]

The way I see it is that our education system is being diluted down and is no longer the envy of the world. To gain a placement at university it should be on academic ability and results( which should be a damn sight more difficult than they currently are ) not the fact that they have the