I was thinking about this too today
Basically everything costs money.

So going to university costs £23k - £30k at the moment

In the past I can understand that having a degree = higher wages = more tax = more money back to the government = win. But this doesn't really work. Those that don't go to university shouldn't be paying for those that do. (Not really my view)

So how do we recoup the cost of universities without unfairly taxing those that don't go or leaving those that have gone with crippling debt. Surely a simple graduate tax of 1%-2.5% for everyone that has been through the university system would bring in enough revenue over a long period of time to pay for the universities and provide grants for students.

Maybe I am being too simplistic, but knowing I would be losing 100th of my future earnings over a 40 year career is a lot more manageable then here is your certificate and 30k of debt. It also means I am contributing even if I am earning very little.

I d wonder how come Scotland can offer free Universities but England can't?
(Little Animal Disaster isn't finishing what he started, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 22:58, 1 reply)

To all intents and purposes
the current system is essentially a graduate tax isn't it? The difference being that the takings are targeted more to the universities that people chose to attend rather than going into a big pot. At least that's how I understand it, anyone who knows better please correct me if I'm wrong.

As for how Scotland affords it, I don't know. I know one argument is "they don't, England pays for it", but I'd wager that's a borderline xenophobic oversimplification.
( pixel_fucker is going to need a bigger brush, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 23:07, closed)

no idea
how we pay for it, but we do. And as for England paying for it, my defense to this line is that a significant proportion of top end businessmen/women and entrepreneurs and people who are in positions of high authority and making a success of things, particularly in London, seem to be Scottish. So even if England is 'paying for it', a lot of this investment ends up down south to contribute to the nation as a whole.

I'm not saying we're keeping England's boat afloat at all, but there's definitely a major contribution coming from Scotland. Free education is a good thing, and if its worthwhile (i.e. not David Beckham studies, and not openly given away to fairly self-indulgent tv/media studies courses) then uni education should at least be affordable to all.
(ComradePotato, Fri 12 Nov 2010, 0:28, closed)

Here's a big clue, England pays for it
Also, by a significant proportion you mean Duncan Bannatyne, you can take him and all the Scottish pissheads of Holloway Road and fuck off back to scottishland
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Fri 12 Nov 2010, 9:06, closed)

We pay for uni in Scotland
By means of a Graduate Endowment.
(dna_girl, Sat 13 Nov 2010, 23:25, closed)

Scotland.....
Traditionally, the culture and history of education is different. Most specifically, the Scottish egalitarian tradition in education, which goes back to the Reformation, and advocated free, universal education for all.
The Scottish government therefore allocates more capita per head for further education than England and the Universities are expected to prove their worth with useful research etc.
Now fuck off you racist fuck!
(bettyginger and no-one else wanted to play in my cannibal cafe, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 17:51, closed)

errr... England pay for it.
in the grand scheme of things, scotland is a net receiver of taxes. in exactly the same way that london is a net payer of taxes. The only way scotland can pay for free higher education and free care for the elderly, is because it is propped up by england. So when english kids are going to be paying off loans for their whole lives, scottish people, will not have to, and will then get exactly the same privileges as those from england.

Not sure about wales.

Very nice of you to give a philosophical answer as an excuse though, no matter how pointless.
(The Kwyjibo A big, dumb, balding North American ape., Tue 16 Nov 2010, 18:16, closed)

Actually...
Scotland doesn't have free care for the elderly. It has free personal care which accounts to less than 7% of the overall over 65 care costs. The majority being residential care (which is capped in Scotland - therefore limiting the market and making it less likely for private individuals/companies profiting off other people's misfortune)

Actually, I've just looked it up. England also has free personal care to the over 65s.
(bettyginger and no-one else wanted to play in my cannibal cafe, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 18:32, closed)

Going off topic
I'm not disputing the fact that London (as our nation's capital) generates the largest amount of income and indeed, props up the majority of the country. My point is that Scotland has a different cultural background from England. As does Wales and NI.
I just feel it is rather unfortunate that *some* people believe the myth that England supports everyone who isn't English.
(bettyginger and no-one else wanted to play in my cannibal cafe, Tue 16 Nov 2010, 18:48, closed)

but it does.
If the North East of England, also a net receiver of taxes, decided that students could get their university fees paid for, there would be outcry. Similarly, if people from Edinburgh were charged for university fees, people would not be very happy.

Scots get exactly the same benefits of having a degree, but none of the downsides. It is not fair, and the whole argument about tuition fees is about fairness, so let's start here.
(The Kwyjibo A big, dumb, balding North American ape., Tue 16 Nov 2010, 19:10, closed)

I agree that free education is a good thing
Ideologically I'm all in favour of free higher education for all. I'm just aware the money's got to come from somewhere and this seems like a perfectly reasonable solution to the problem.
( pixel_fucker is going to need a bigger brush, Fri 12 Nov 2010, 9:09, closed)