I am not happy that the Tories are in (though lets not forget they are being aided and abetted by the Lib Dems). I will happily admit to being naturally left of centre, but I am not a die-hard Labour supporter and never will be.
I don't disagree with everything the Coalition are doing, and although painful in the shorter term, I think in the longer-term it could have some very positive results. What worries me is whether the collateral damage that could be done in the meantime. So many people are going to be badly hurt. A lot of them will have done everything right, but still see their lives turn to shit. Do the ends justify the means?
We do live in one of the most meritocratic countries in the world, but that does not mean everyone and anyone can make it if they just work hard enough.
Apart from fees (there weren't any) I paid my own way through university. I used to work 60-hour weeks as standard. I had to change my career when I became a single parent, because I couldn't juggle both on my own. I can't retrain because I cannot afford it. I can't go in at a lower level in a new field and offer to work for reduced payment in order to acquire skills and qualifications because I have to feed my DC and keep a roof over their heads. I can't do extra work around my current job to pay for retraining because I can't get enough childcare (no family, friends all working). I can't pay into a pension because after paying for professional childcare for my current full-time job I am left with the same money as someone on benefits.
I will turn this around, but I will have to wait for about 10 years TBH before the dependency of my children will allow it. I have just started doing some voluntary work in a sector I would like to move into because it is the only way I can choose the right number of hours at the right time of day to fit around my current commitments and finances. This will allow me to get some experience so I can hopefully shift into paid employment in 10 years time. By then, of course, I will have lost out on a decade's chance of career advancements and pay.
To anyone who calls me lazy, unmotivated and that it would all be ok if I just worked harder - I'm sorry but you have no idea what you are talking about. None. And it is deeply offensive.
And the really sad thing is that I actually have some considerable advantages - my health and a good education. What about those whose own health, or partners/child's/parent's health prevents them for chasing the £££s? What about those who do really important jobs (HCAs for example) who will never earn enough to pay for a decent pension?