what a shocking and disgusting sight!

[Bobbisox]

We knew we were in for cuts by this Government but to see students lighting fires outside Tory HQ and smashing the windows of Millbank Towers in London is, quite frankly, sickening, it's like looking at mob rule, what they expect to achieve by their thug-like actions, I don't know!
(Sky News)
[Edit: Inserted Breaking News & Comment From Twitter - Spare Ed]

[MickyMacgraw]

Some students get an allowance from family others work and some even struggle and eat basics just so they can save the extra food money for booze on the weekends.
Sacrifice they call it.
Bloody madness I call it!

[jackthehat]

I don't especially hold to the thought that, in the recent past, a University education was for the privileged.
What I DO believe is that the proliferation of degree subjects and the political tinkering to ensure that as many youngsters as possible gain a degree has, to some extent, devalued the 'degree'.

[Bobbisox]

my point is, whilst protesting against these cuts and I do have sympathy with the less well off students who it will effect, this type of thing is not the answer at all, throwing debris at the police, animals have more interlect than thes eejits

[Kromovaracun]

Personally, as a student myself, I'm kind of happy groups of students don't go around making so much political protests - for the most part, they don't speak for me and usually when they do so they're representing a minority. So I'm glad they don't try that as much. Defending one's interests isn't any less noble and there's absolutely no reason to look down your nose at it - it's the basis of our political society. I have a shared interest with everyone at that demonstration so while I'm not there, I'm kind of glad they're standing up for it.

The violence however I do find extremely distasteful but I'm not in the least bit surprised. I think it harms the cause and ultimately just makes it less likely to have any policy impact. But as I say it's so inevitable/unexpected I find it hard to get riled about it.

[Sqad]

sandyRoe
<<<The Torys have put the 'n' into cuts. Now there's a classic...<<<

I see................that´s about your limit is it?

[NazNomad]

Put 'em all in prison, that way they still won't need to get jobs.


(A TIC post) :-)

[sandyRoe]

No. Indeed there's nothing wrong with that. Nor is there anything wrong with lots more of our young people enjoying a university education.

[MickyMacgraw]

Where I don't agree with the violence and criminal damage I have noticed that the low key protests usually go ignored and the violent ones make front page news and are all over the tabloids. Seems that this has become a psychological tactic to getting the message to the masses.

[sandyRoe]

It shows an imaginative and creative use of the language. I think it may well be a classic.

[Sqad]

sandy....I agree with JTH....the degree has been devalued due to the Labour edict that all are equal and nobody should be failures.
Nonsense..........in life today there are winners and losers, workers and slackers and providing that everybody gets an opportunity to got to University and make the best use of it when they get there, then I have no problem.

[Davethedog]

Please be rational here 99.9% of the students on this demo have been peacfully excercising thier democratic right and are as appaled as anyone over the vandalism.

It is also worth remembering that the vast majority won't be affected by this as they will have gained thier degrees by 2012.

Be "outraged" but perspective helps.

[Bobbisox]

I sincerely hope their rage filled faces are all over the tabloids tomorrow and they are arrested and dealt with accordingly but as I said earlier, the ones responsible for the anarchy, have covered their faces because they are classic cowards

[cazzz1975]

enjoying is nice yes, but a university education is a priviledge and does comes at a price, if you really need that degree you will go for it because long term its the right choice, if you are there to avoid getting a job or are bored or really really like being a student so you can 'study' fish psychology or paper mache weaving then this may provoke you to get yourself into the real world

[Bobbisox]

yes Dave I know but who will be getting the publicity?

[sandyRoe]

Sqad, I can't believe that you really think that in our day everybody with the talent to go got the chance of a place at Uni.
If the price of a wider student base are degrees in media studies and the like, then so be it.

[Sqad]

Dave.....if I take you literally, then please forgive me........are you saying that only 1in a1,000 of that demonstration caused the problems?

[Davethedog]

Bobbi trust me they will get caught - if they are the crusty brigade they will be known and if they are students they will be tracked.

Cazz you do realise that they already pay for thier education and come out of it thousnads of pounds in debt? By the time they add fees + accomodation some are into the teens already.

My daughter is at uni she has been to 5 days of lectures in the last 3 weeks unis choice.

They should have menu pricing for unis so they pay for what they get. My daughter is paying a huge amount already for what i see as very little.

[Sqad]

sandy....that is exactly what I am saying.

"Broader base" is a euphemism for turning Polytechnics into Universities.