Liz Hodgkinson

VAT goes up to 20% and one thing is certain -- it will never come down again. When VAT was first introduced, it was 8% and has steadily risen to its present rate. Not only that, but VAT has been gradually levied on an ever wider range of goods and services, such as gas and electricity. Another thing is certain and that is that governments will take ever more money off us. It was not the fault of the great British public, or American public, or French public, that we now have such a huge deficit. Although there are many factors, a lot can be blamed on governments allowing banks to get away with what is little more than organised, sanctioned fraud or theft. What can we do? Very little, it seems -- as whichever party is voted in, the same thing happens. University fees were going to rise, whichever party gained power but perhaps we should be asking what all this university education is for? Is it any more than containment of so many young people? University education used to be for a privileged elite and has gradually become available to ever more people -- but nowadays, at huge price. There is no evidence that a degree will increase earnings, unless you qualify as a doctor or lawyer, for instance. Instead of concentrating on university education, we should be making sure children get a good education from the age of five, and can read, write, spell, add up and speak a foreign language.