I realize that when I talk politics, my focus is usually on the United States of America. It is, after all, where I want to end up living so I have a vested interest in how it progresses as a society. I am, however, a product of British society and British politics. The political climate of this country has certainly left its mark upon my life. Welcome to David Cameron's Britain.
The economy was admittedly bad when the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition took power (amusingly labeled the Con-Dem-Nation by one British tabloid), but what has been done to improve things? From my perspective, the cuts and austerity measures put in place in order to "balance the budget" (a rallying cry of conservative politicians worldwide it seems) have hit the poor and the young the hardest. For the older, rich members of society a slight rise in VAT, or fuel costs, or university tuition fees will go relatively unnoticed.
Without meaning to sound selfish I would like to ask: What about me? When I say "me" I mean the poor, the young, the students, the graduates, the early school leavers and many others. These groups are feeling the full force of these cuts. University will soon become so expensive that only the rich, privileged few will be able to attend. Is that really what education should be? Something for the rich to enjoy? I thought it was to raise the standard of intellectual experience. To help social mobility. To improve people's lives, regardless of their parents incomes.
The British politicians of today all came from a society where higher education was free. Absolutely free. They paid nothing for an experience which landed them important, high paying jobs and what do they do to show their gratitude? Burn down the ladder they climbed. It is shameful. I realize that more people are going to university these days and costs are a problem, but surely the answer is not to punish those who wish to improve themselves? Why do conservative politicians complain about "punishing success" whenever someone suggests making corporations pay their fair share of tax, but are happy to heap the financial burden on students?
Even for those who have gone through the university system are suffering. I personally have several thousand pounds worth of debt. I have earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree. Where has this got me? An important job in London? A nice place to live? An expensive car? Hardly. I am part of the nearly one million people between the ages of 16 and 24 in the unemployment line. I have more education than anyone else in my immediate family, yet I am the only one without paid employment.
The media has started to refer to my generation as "the lost generation" and I could not agree with the label more. It feels like the lines we were fed about the importance and benefits of education were all a lie. I was told that a university degree would set me on the pathway to a nice job, house and car (among other things). I realize that this sounds material but I currently find myself unemployed, living at home with my parents, with debts, no spending money and a 13 year old car.
It feels like the dream I was sold will be out of my reach forever. I read a statistic which said that a long stretch of unemployment in a person's youth can leave a "wage scar" for decades. The wages of someone who experiences unemployment in youth can expect their wages in 20 years time to be around 15% lower than they would otherwise be. So there you have it, if I ever cease to be another unemployment statistic (which feels increasingly like a personal failure, despite the circumstances) I can expect to be earning less than I otherwise would have.
Cameron's Britain has made this a reality for thousands of young people, yet their focus is the protection of corporations and banks who earn obscene amounts of money. Some priorities. History, if there is even the slightest justice, will look back in horror at what the coalition has done to its young population. The sad part is that I will simply be just another statistical casualty of this government. A government of privately educated millionaires protecting their friends.
The economy was admittedly bad when the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition took power (amusingly labeled the Con-Dem-Nation by one British tabloid), but what has been done to improve things? From my perspective, the cuts and austerity measures put in place in order to "balance the budget" (a rallying cry of conservative politicians worldwide it seems) have hit the poor and the young the hardest. For the older, rich members of society a slight rise in VAT, or fuel costs, or university tuition fees will go relatively unnoticed.
Without meaning to sound selfish I would like to ask: What about me? When I say "me" I mean the poor, the young, the students, the graduates, the early school leavers and many others. These groups are feeling the full force of these cuts. University will soon become so expensive that only the rich, privileged few will be able to attend. Is that really what education should be? Something for the rich to enjoy? I thought it was to raise the standard of intellectual experience. To help social mobility. To improve people's lives, regardless of their parents incomes.
The British politicians of today all came from a society where higher education was free. Absolutely free. They paid nothing for an experience which landed them important, high paying jobs and what do they do to show their gratitude? Burn down the ladder they climbed. It is shameful. I realize that more people are going to university these days and costs are a problem, but surely the answer is not to punish those who wish to improve themselves? Why do conservative politicians complain about "punishing success" whenever someone suggests making corporations pay their fair share of tax, but are happy to heap the financial burden on students?
Even for those who have gone through the university system are suffering. I personally have several thousand pounds worth of debt. I have earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree. Where has this got me? An important job in London? A nice place to live? An expensive car? Hardly. I am part of the nearly one million people between the ages of 16 and 24 in the unemployment line. I have more education than anyone else in my immediate family, yet I am the only one without paid employment.
The media has started to refer to my generation as "the lost generation" and I could not agree with the label more. It feels like the lines we were fed about the importance and benefits of education were all a lie. I was told that a university degree would set me on the pathway to a nice job, house and car (among other things). I realize that this sounds material but I currently find myself unemployed, living at home with my parents, with debts, no spending money and a 13 year old car.
It feels like the dream I was sold will be out of my reach forever. I read a statistic which said that a long stretch of unemployment in a person's youth can leave a "wage scar" for decades. The wages of someone who experiences unemployment in youth can expect their wages in 20 years time to be around 15% lower than they would otherwise be. So there you have it, if I ever cease to be another unemployment statistic (which feels increasingly like a personal failure, despite the circumstances) I can expect to be earning less than I otherwise would have.
Cameron's Britain has made this a reality for thousands of young people, yet their focus is the protection of corporations and banks who earn obscene amounts of money. Some priorities. History, if there is even the slightest justice, will look back in horror at what the coalition has done to its young population. The sad part is that I will simply be just another statistical casualty of this government. A government of privately educated millionaires protecting their friends.
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