Things that are concerning me

[athena25]

A bit of a drive-by posting, but I've finally removed my head from the sandpit that is theatre and looked around to see woe blossoming elsewhere. I suppose it might be heartening to think that not only is my own personal empire being screwed over by the current status quo but that we are all in it together*.

So, I am worried. I'm worried about the

Comments

[littlebus]

Well, Fiji has been naughty recently - they were expelled from the Commonwealth Of Nations and the Pacific Islands Forum in 2009 over voting irregularities.

On the otherhand, just because you can beat some to death with a pair shoes does not make wearing shoes a bad idea.

[tyrell]

Must make a SHUT UP WILLETS! tag.

[mr_h_r_hughes]

Lots of people are undecided and will stick with what they know as a result, I don't think AV has much chance of winning and yes the No campaign's advertising has been shocking. That said AV *is* somewhat rubbish and not the wonderful alternative to FPTP that some think it is, in fact I've heard many very pro-voting reform types saying "don't vote for AV".

Also politically Labour being split doesn't help.

[renniek]

I'm pro-electoral reform but anti-AV. I think both campaigns have been rubbish and offensively patronising (from what I've seen).

[mr_h_r_hughes]

Quite

[stsquad]

A little unfair I feel. The Tory (mostly settled) position is they support FPTP but they knew they had to offer some sort of electoral reform to get the LibDems on board. In their mind AV was the least objectionable alternative they could offer and still have a chance of forming a government.

You can't complain if Cameron campaigns against something he doesn't want. He was good on his word in providing the referendum, the rest in in the lap of the electorate on May the 5th.

[renniek]

The tuition fees will also have a serious impact on postgraduate studies, hence the research that an advanced economy needs (and there's no way the UK can compete with China on basic level manufacturing). Who in hell is going to be willing to go even further into debt to study a masters degree or PhD?

[renniek]

Interesting. From mine, I funded my MSc using a career development loan - converting the upfront fee (much smaller than the fees now proposed) into monthly repayments. I then worked for some years, and paid off my debt before I felt in a position consider a PhD. My original comment was only based on undergraduate fees as I don't know what system will now apply for postgraduate study. I am concerned about the effect on scientific research, as those doing a science degree will often be those who have to repay the full fees, and the UK already struggles to attract students to these high workload courses. From what I've read, the monthly repayments aren't what I'd describe as small, and the size of the debt that students will incur is daunting. A new funding system was necessary. Forcing it through in this rushed manner was not, and I believe the end result has significant flaws, often born out of hastily patching in ill-considered "concessions" in an attempt to quell opposition.

[renniek]

Oh, and anyone doing postgraduate study puts off repaying their debt, which now incurs market interest rates, growing even larger.
Knew I'd forget at least one reason!