I'd be genuinely interested if you can provide an example of a country
that has a properly democratically elected government, a safe and stable economy, and the same level of HE participation as the UK, that still has a fully state funded HE system. Seeing as how (looking at Europe at least) I think I can rule out every country on the basis of at least one of those four points.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:19, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

you're making the mistake of allowing facts to get in the way again

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:22, Reply)

Seriously
I hate the way the HE system is here, but I'm pretty certain the reasons are much more deep seated than a generic "blame the government again" ... So I am genuinely interested in an example of how it can work and be free. I just don't think there are any. It's very easy to talk about the grass being greener when you can't actually see the other grass.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:25, Reply)

I can see the other grass
I studied in Spain, as did all my friends. None of them were rich, we were all medium-low incomes. I got a bit of a reduction on my fees for being in a big family and for having good marks, but I know other friends who didn't. None of us or our parents had to get into debt to pay for uni.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:28, Reply)

Spain is ruled out
both on the grounds of lower % HE participation and on not even being close to having a stable economy. Sorry. It's all very well slinging public funding at education but if you bankrupt the country and the Eurozone has to bail you out, that's what's known as a technical fail.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:29, Reply)

Spain is not in bankrupt
at least not yet, no one has bailed Spain, and, as I've said before, the problem with our debt is the corruption and the millions that go to politicians for doing nothing; as they can have 2 public salaries (unless everybody else), don't pay taxes, get a fixed pension after 8 years of work...

But yes, lower %HE helps too, and I think that's right. And I think that's why the UK is having so much trouble. Too many people going to Uni.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:35, Reply)

not yet, no. but there is a major emphasis on "yet"
but, regardless, Spain doesn't really count on my conditions above. Although I see advantages in proportional fees system like in Spain. We used to have something similar here, but it's very expensive to manage and very easy to defraud or exploit (kids of rich divorcees tended to get full grants, for example) ... but if you can get round that, it's a good system.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:47, Reply)

Not full state funded HE system
but people with lower incomes do get it for free. People with the highest marks get it for free too. Mediocre and rich people pay for everyone else to go to Uni.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:26, Reply)

you know that we have that here, too, right?

( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:28, Reply)

However
you complain that people with medium incomes have to pay the same as people with high incomes. If you're good or poor you get it for free, then the people who pays is who has to pay.

Problem is that, as I see it, you have to be very poor to get it for free here, and if you go past the mark, you have to pay the full bill.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:36, Reply)

that, I agree, is a bit of a problem.
I think it is to do with ease of adminstration of the system, but that doesn't make it right.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 27 Apr 2011, 10:48, Reply)