The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Groucho]

I detect a noticeable undertone of mild aggression in this evening's posts here lads.

Knock it off. Next time I may not be so lenient.

 

[Jxg]

Well sorry I don't wake up in the morning and read HM Treasury records, I tend to read broadsheets, but it seems unless the article has a bibliography on the end, you're not interested.

Unfortunately, unless the article does actually link to its source and that source is a financial institution, it's certainly not true.

 

[SNova]

I know the thresholds, and I know how far £21k gets you when you're trying to get a mortgage and support a family. The last thing you need is your account being emptied more each month because of extortionate university fees.

I understand that, but if the degree gives you the opportunity to earn more than £21k a year, surely you are better off than earning less without the degree.

 

[daylightrobber]

[citation needed]

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/mar/16/inequality-costs-uk-billions

 

[Jxg]

I know the thresholds, and I know how far £21k gets you when you're trying to get a mortgage and support a family. The last thing you need is your account being emptied more each month because of extortionate university fees.

Are you at uni, mate?

 

[Jxg]

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/mar/16/inequality-costs-uk-billions

Sorry, can you point me to where it mentions how changes in benefits have cost the country?

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

Sorry, can you point me to where it mentions how changes in benefits have cost the country?

Care to read my earlier reply to you?

 

[Toffeelover]

I understand that, but if the degree gives you the opportunity to earn more than £21k a year, surely you are better off than earning less without the degree.

Now that is a good point, I think in many cases it would come down to what subject your degree was in. Some subjects are down right useless to get a well paid job and one might have been better off getting some sort of apprenticeship.

 

[dannyboy]

Are you at uni, mate?

No, I'm an NQT. One of the luckier people who 'only' had to pay £3k per year.

 

[neil999]

implementing a new benefit scheme when the country is apparently on its knees financially does/did seem a bit odd...

 

[SNova]

Now that is a good point, I think in many cases it would come down to what subject your degree was in. Some subjects are down right useless to get a well paid job and one might have been better off getting some sort of apprenticeship.

I agree mate. Just to add to that if a degree didn't help you earn more than £21k a year you wouldn't pay a penny of your debt.

 

[Jxg]

No, I'm an NQT. One of the luckier people who 'only' had to pay £3k per year.

Well, coming from someone who is at university now, the fees aren't ideal but the repayments certainly aren't going to put you in bone-crushing poverty like you're making out.

 

[Toffeelover]

I agree mate. Just to add to that if a degree didn't help you earn more than £21k a year you wouldn't pay a penny of your debt.

But 21k and then to pay tax and NI, jeez it's peanuts.

 

[SNova]

Well, coming from someone who is at university now, the fees aren't ideal but the repayments certainly aren't going to put you in bone-crushing poverty like you're making out.

Poorer people actually get more grants to be fair. Because they assume richer families will help their child financially.

 

[Jxg]

Now that is a good point, I think in many cases it would come down to what subject your degree was in. Some subjects are down right useless to get a well paid job and one might have been better off getting some sort of apprenticeship.

This is why certain parties, like UKIP (oh no he said UKIP must be a racist), want to scrap tuition fees for STEM subjects.

Some degrees are vital to the country's economic and technological progress. Some degrees, like drama, are a luxury and you really should only be doing them if you can afford to.