Ah yes, the thriving "explain-your-political-ideas-to-a-bunch-of-lefties-on-a-Diplomacy-site" industry.

The "let your spine turn to ooze because you don't really believe in anything" troll.

ooooooooooooooooooh. You gonna take that TB?

Crazy. I could *swear* we had firemen before we had CEO's ...

I was debating whether to reply or not, but I decided that it just wasn't worth it to -

Oh, who am I kidding. This is too much fun.

The "I don't have to listen to anyone who disagrees with me because my opinions are absolutely faultless" comeback.

@TB
Right? He's the worst offender of that one
Ive pointed that out twice to him now and his hasnt addressed either

CEOs contribute more to society than firemen because they pay more taxes? Then why don't we increase the contribution of CEOs by taxing them more? Then they can get that warm fuzzy feel people get when they do something good.

Have we actually established what TC's job is yet? I heard a rumour he worked in a think tank - if so funded by government money?

I'm a twenty something (admittedly late 20's) I have 2 degrees, one of which was a postal degree taken while in full time work. I've been in employment since I was 16 (the legal age for a full paying job in the UK) I've lived on my own since I was 17 and never taken any form of benefits. Bearing in mind the tax structure of the UK, I probably pay nearly as much as TC does. YET I still amazingly find time to play Diplomacy online, on a laptop I paid for myself, on an internet connection I pay for. I also did this right the way through high school and university.

Way to generalise TC. I also sympathise with the people who today (in the UK) are getting there A-Level results, many of them are now having to make decisions regarding which courses to take and what to study purely on the basis of financial support available. (and yes before someone yells at me - I know its still cheaper than the US!)

P.S. +1 to Major Lemon

How do we know he's not on the dole? Wouldn't that be just perfect?

Actually, by calling all undergraduate leeches on society, you did identify me with those things.

But that's not what's bothering me. What's bothering me is that you haven't explained why playing diplomacy is a privilege and not a right. You just said that it was a privilege, then referred to the self-entitled youths' expectations. That doesn't explain what your point.

Pjman, thank you for supporting my point. You point out that playing diplomacy online is a privilege that you take advantage of because you are not a burden on society. I appreciate you pointing that out.

Your argument about choices in higher education being based on cost in the UK doesn't surprise me. The UK has a crippling tradition of privilege for the aristocratic upper class and the utterly useless monarchy that as an American I find ridiculous.
The cost of education is so much less in the United States and without a doubt I believe it has much to do with the absence of the wasteful inefficiency of traditional British society. If Brits feel that they should continue to waste funds and social resources on a monarchy, House of Lords, and other anachronistic social privileges then so be it, but it makes their complains about the cost of anything hypocritical to me.

Give me an American society based on meritocracy every time.

"The cost of education is so much less in the United States" (Tettleton's Chew). Did you even read what pjmansfield99 even said - "I know [the cost of education in Britain] is still cheaper than in the US"? The cost of education, both undergraduate and graduate, is vastly cheaper in the UK than it is in the US - even for foreigners. In particular, all the masters degrees that I have looked at (in international relations, for anyone who wants to fact check), are about 40% of the cost of those in the US. Partly this is because their programs are only one year long, however, even when comparing tuition and living expenses for one year between the programs, those in the UK are still less expensive than in the US. And compared to other European universities, the UK seems quite expensive!

*In regard to my last comment, "And compared to other European universities, the UK seems quite expensive", I meant on a year by year basis, not on the accumulation of various years.

Geowiz, you are crazy, The cost of education in the UK is vastly more expensive because of the tax rates.
It's convenient for you stupid big government statist to claim educations costs are cheap, but only when you ignore the taxes rates the poor Brits have to pay for that "cheap" education.

How ignorant are you people?

I really like the statment that "living expenses" for one year are cheaper in the UK.
Housing, clothing, food, and gas are all more expensive in the UK.
And that is after you pay the taxes. Don't forget the VAT either.

What fools to make such preposterous claims.

I'd be interested to see a comparison of the cost of education for different countries that takes into account the amount payed through taxes, if you know of such a study.

Great site lets you compare the cost of living in various international cities.
Comparing London to Los Angeles.
London food is 21% more expensive, housing 14% more expensive, clothes 49% more expensive, transportation 149% more expensive, entertainment 32% more expensive.

Basically London is 49% more expensive than Los Angeles. I guess you'll have to rething that statement that living expenses are cheaper in Britain.

Don't even try to compare rural Britain with America. It's even worse. '

Yonni, do you not know how to find one? Aren't you receiving a Master's? What did they teach you?

i was just in the top 4 out of 400 for a job. too bad that doesnt come with a salary. Anyone looking keep your head up and keep the apps flowing, all we can really do

Here is a link to an excellent study of British higher education subsidies from the London School of Economics.

http://econ.lse.ac.uk/staff/nb/BarrJohnston_Interestsubsidies100528.pdf

Here is just a taste.

This paper discusses the problems that arise from interest subsidies in the UK system of student loans....the opening section sets out the broader context in order
to establish the educational importance of the issue, not least that the cost of interest subsidies is a contributory cause of the current shortage of university places. The second section explains why the interest subsidy is a major distortion with strategic and unintended illeffects.

Sounds like a great system you have there pjman and Geowiz.
Sorry to dig up some facts on the cost of living and the massive subsidies involved.

Don't try to claim Britain's has lower subsidies than the US unless you present per capita subsidies.

I'm busy moving apartments so I don't have much time right now. Also, I didn't think it was unreasonable that in your line of work, you may have the paper already. Especially because you made the statement with such certainty. No need to be so hotheaded.

Also, I think you forgot the link. And to post a comparison of education. No worries if you don't have it - just wondering if you did.

Do you have links to any papers that suggest that playing diplomacy is a privilege and not a right?

Ah, missed your post by a minute.

Oh the excuses put forth by the helpless.

I have a masters degree and 2 undergraduate degrees, total cost £19000. Or roughly US$31000 at current exchange rates. How do US students feel about that? Oh and the masters...... Is in economics. Regardless of living expenses I reckon we're up on that

I went to school for my masters without funding, it would have been a major mistake if I didnt pull down funding for 3/4 of my semesters by pure luck. at this point I believe that getting a graduate degree full price is a mistake unless it unlocks new career opportunities (ie. doesn't just make you look more attractive on the job market)

Curious that TC was online at 10.23 (my time) when I posted this and has yet to respond over 4 hours later, although he has responded in various other threads since then? Could it be that with out being at his "think tank" postion he is unsure how to respond??

On that note - 2 questions....
!)does anyone studying in the US believe they have a better deal thatn $31000 for 2 degrees & a masters
2) Have we found out what TC does for a job yet??? Is he really on the dole?Or is he going to give us "the excuses put forth by the helpless??"

I have a stalker? PJ now follows me from across the pond.
PJ, I own a company with a partner. I employ people.
Do you? I didn't think so

TC, I own a nation by myself. I enslave people
Do you? Technically, yes. BUT NO!

Hey TC, I am now officially stalking you! Yay me! Nope, I make no claims to employ people, I work for a company, but now I'm really curious is their job to hang out on websites and attempt to subvert hard working liberals?