Gordon Brown is pissing me off now

[FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010]

Free laptops and broadband for lower income families. Labour is the part of aspiration.

FFS lower income families need help with necessities like food, decent shoes for their kids, support, not fucking laptops and broadband.

"Free laptops and broadband for lower income families. "

I seem to remember this in their 1997 manifesto. Nothing like recycling I guess, but they haven't managed it in 12 years what makes them think people will believe them now?

Oh yes, the poor are gullible.

SGM,

I agree with you but the government have not invested in IT in schools as much as it should have and that is the tragedy.

They pulled this two step back in 1997 do you really believe they will honour this now if they are elected?

I agree with SGM - I think it is a great social and educational isolator if you do not have access to the web. Just think of all the cheaper deals you get on line for utilities etc. never mind all the educational tools that are available. I think it is imperative that people now have access to the web.

Smallwhitecat - I did my first degree with no computers etc but having recently finished a masters, I can categorically state that things have changed. For the better. The quality of information and ease of information is amazing. I think it is credited for being part of the reason why kids get better exam results.

yes and they can buy essays on the net, if they're loaded

Can smell the desperation wafting from his pores!

Really if he thinks that this is going to change peoples views of him and his crap government he should be much mistaken.

And all the people that go to work to earn and pay tax are going to be well and truely pissed that they will now be paying for free laptops for kids whilst the economy and debt is through the bloody roof!

I am not sure that is true swc for GCSE level information.

I agree specialist information is generally on subscription only but for more general GCSE level information, the net is awash and I think schools have subscriptions to sites that can help.......so if you do not have internet access, you are instantly isolated.

terrible idea
how dare thay try to improve the lives of the poor

"how dare thay try to improve the lives of the poor "

they haven't and thats the big problem.

Yes, a computer and internet can greatly improve lives and help learning. And selling then can mean you can eat for another week. I hope I get my government funded laptop soon so I can sell it and use the money for gas.

We had this thread in chat last week.

I think it's a good idea. We just bought ds a lappie; he's 12 and was using mine, which was driving me up the wall.

I think SGM is spot on.

Someone else last week made the point that people on a low income will always have priorities other than buying a laptop, which means it will be put off infinitely, which means dc in lower-income families are educationally disadvantaged.

Because education today is already geared towards electronic resources, will be more so, and could be even more so. BUT unless every child has equal computer access, it actually holds back state education utilising a great resource.

It's a laudable idea but

a) recycled
b) unaffordable

We are as a nation scrambling down the back of the sofa for loose change - a fact that GB STILL seems to be in utter denial of.

I'm waiting for "we'll give £50 to everyone that votes for us."

Can't be long surely?

A free laptop would be great, I would'nt say no, however, a new bed each for dts is needed more, good for thier posture, health, rest, my peace of mind, and probably about the same price as a laptop.