LONDON UNREST!!

[ann58]

Allen, what the heck is going on in London....last I heard they have attacked Prince Charles auto...... .....I thought the government paid for most of the college tuition.

[allenuk]

30-40 years ago, it was all free. Over the years, starting with Thatcher, university education has become fee-based. Students are charged thousands of pounds per term, which is lent to them, and which they then have to pay back once they graduate (or not). Some richer students can pay their fees as they go, so don't get loans. For most, it means that they start their working lives with anything from £20,000 to £30,000 debt (30-45K USD).

This was always contentious, but successive governments got away with it. The new coalition government, who want to give bigger subsidies to the merchant bankers (who are in a bit of financial trouble - I think you have similar problems in the US?) have increased the amount universities can charge to a maximum of £9000 per term (about $12-$13000). So the poorest students would be faced with a debt after three years further education of possibly $50000+.

Hence the demonstrations, which are largely by students and school children.

The British police, who used to have a reputation for riding bicycles, wearing tall helmets, and not being armed, are not like that any more. They are much more like yours (except that guns are not routinely carried), and can be very violent and aggressive. Faced with that, peaceful students have become angry students, and demonstrations have become riots.

(You will gather that this is my 'take' on the matter. My neck is not red).

Charles (Prince) and his missus are needless to say out of touch with the people of the UK, and not popular with the students. Due to a major cock-up, his limo was in the wrong place yesterday, and got paint thrown over it (and a window cracked).

My generation were students in the 60s, and have for decades worried about the aquiescent nature of students since then; it seems that the current generation have reached the end of their tethers.

I am not in favour of violence or mobs, whether they're wearing uniforms or college scarves, but I can understand where the students 'are coming from'...


Allen

Later: having checked, some of my figures might be a BIT high - Google 'university fees (UK)' for possibly more accurate predictions; but generally they are going to be WAY more than at present...

[ann58]

Thanks Allen, I knew you would have the story........