[Pierre]

I know you've being having a good ding dong with ignitionnet, but allow me to jump back in.

Originally Posted by Mr Angry

I think an important and oft overlooked part of the student position is that they have seen that a banking system was let run riot and bring the UK to the point of bankruptcy.

The reality is that as a result and consequence of those actions they, and indeed many others whom I have no doubt will follow suit in the coming months, are angry that they are having to pay for those mistakes whilst the banks continue, largely unpunished and true to form, refusing to lend to increase the buoyancy of the market and blackmailing the "Government" with odious threats of taking their business elsewhere if they are not allowed to continue to speculate and gamble, at a whim, the future of the entire UK economy, education, and employment.

I don't think it's overlooked, and I agree it's important, however, what make students more aggrieved than anyone else.

The fact regarding the banking crises are there for all to see, the effects of the resultant recession are felt by us all.

I haven't picked up my pitch fork and marched on parliament.

The financial meltdown happened over two years ago. The financial markets were allowed to run riot on Browns watch.

Don't forget Brown had "eliminated" bust, from the Boom and Bust days of the Major government.

Had the Brown government managed the economy better whilst we're riding the crest of the wave, our deficit would have been much lower, and we'd have come out of this recession much sooner and these rise in fees may not have been necessary.

However, the coalition have to play the hand they've been dealt.

As I have posted earlier, the 9,000 figure is not a flat figure across the board, and many students from poor backgrounds will get the first 1 to 2 years free.

Nothing can be said to defend the actions of the rioting students.

As I have stated previously, if the future academia of the UK are prepared to protest and risk a criminal conviction in an effort to stand up to austerity cuts what might we expect from those who themselves think they have nothing to lose - like the disabled and the unemployed who are in the crosshairs?

One could ask them to do some real research into why the country is in its current state, and although the financial meltdown was the major catalyst, they would be suprised at:

A) How it was allowed to happen
B) Government spending before and during

The reality is that not all students are as short sighted / stupid as many posters in this thread would like to believe.

Don't be emotive, as you know no one is directing this at "all" students.

But as you and I both know (being once a student, and I'm assuming you were one too), that there are militant groups out there that love a good ruck and they whip up others around them.

What they did is indefensible, no matter what.