Opinion of the UK's Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

[You kip if you want to...]

Freedom scheme.

It's a pity that it'll probably one of the first things that Cameron cuts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_Maintenance_Allowance

[k-onmmunist]

I'm on it.

Positive I guess, seeing as I can't get a job. Cameron better not cut it or I shan't be voting for him next time round.

[Franzl]

Doesn't sound that great to me.

[You kip if you want to...]

I'm on it.

Positive I guess, seeing as I can't get a job. Cameron better not cut it or I shan't be voting for him next time round.

I should be starting it next year when I start sixth form. I'm willing to give Cameron a chance, but I agree, if it's cut, then the Tories certainly won't be getting my vote in 2014/15.

[Franzl]

I'm on it.

Positive I guess, seeing as I can't get a job. Cameron better not cut it or I shan't be voting for him next time round.

I should be starting it next year when I start sixth form. I'm willing to give Cameron a chance, but I agree, if it's cut, then the Tories certainly won't be getting my vote in 2014/15.

Are you voting Tory this year?

[k-onmmunist]

I'm on it.

Positive I guess, seeing as I can't get a job. Cameron better not cut it or I shan't be voting for him next time round.

I should be starting it next year when I start sixth form. I'm willing to give Cameron a chance, but I agree, if it's cut, then the Tories certainly won't be getting my vote in 2014/15.

Are you voting Tory this year?

Neither of us are old enough yet, but we will be when the next election comes round.

[Franzl]

I'm on it.

Positive I guess, seeing as I can't get a job. Cameron better not cut it or I shan't be voting for him next time round.

I should be starting it next year when I start sixth form. I'm willing to give Cameron a chance, but I agree, if it's cut, then the Tories certainly won't be getting my vote in 2014/15.

Are you voting Tory this year?

Neither of us are old enough yet, but we will be when the next election comes round.

Oops, forgot to check the age

[You kip if you want to...]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDqCVh4_0-g

...okay...

[k-onmmunist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDqCVh4_0-g

...okay...

I'm going to start encouraging people to vote Labour or Lib Democrat.

[afleitch]

I administered the EMA scheme for my local authority; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

[k-onmmunist]

I administered the EMA scheme; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

I don't think you're considering the many who DO need it. My family are going through a rough time at the moment, and I need the money.

[afleitch]

I administered the EMA scheme; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

I don't think you're considering the many who DO need it. My family are going through a rough time at the moment, and I need the money.

Oh I do; it's an example of the EMA not being able to be used for what it was intended; I know it goes towards helping out teenagers and their families with bills and the household allowance; that's not what it's for. The government is relying on EMA to plug a gap in family finances instead of providing tax relief.

And for the record David Cameron on the 14th of this month re-iterated he is opposed to abolishing the EMA.

[Franzl]

I administered the EMA scheme; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

I don't think you're considering the many who DO need it. My family are going through a rough time at the moment, and I need the money.

Just out of interest, do you still so strongly oppose the NHS?

[k-onmmunist]

I administered the EMA scheme; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

I don't think you're considering the many who DO need it. My family are going through a rough time at the moment, and I need the money.

Just out of interest, do you still so strongly oppose the NHS?

Yes. It should be sold to the workers.

[Franzl]

I administered the EMA scheme; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

I don't think you're considering the many who DO need it. My family are going through a rough time at the moment, and I need the money.

Just out of interest, do you still so strongly oppose the NHS?

Yes. It should be sold to the workers.

But you do seem to have grown quite accepting of the general idea that government can actually be a positive force in helping people in financial trouble?

[afleitch]

I administered the EMA scheme; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

I don't think you're considering the many who DO need it. My family are going through a rough time at the moment, and I need the money.

Just out of interest, do you still so strongly oppose the NHS?

Yes. It should be sold to the workers.

So let me get this straight. You oppose the NHS because you've not had to use it, but back the EMA because you do. I take it if you break your leg you'll support the NHS because you had to use it, and when you're too old for EMA you'll oppose it

[k-onmmunist]

I administered the EMA scheme; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

I don't think you're considering the many who DO need it. My family are going through a rough time at the moment, and I need the money.

Just out of interest, do you still so strongly oppose the NHS?

Yes. It should be sold to the workers.

But you do seem to have grown quite accepting of the general idea that government can actually be a positive force in helping people in financial trouble?

Sometimes. I still think it has far too many flaws to be worth it though.

[k-onmmunist]

I administered the EMA scheme; one of the first jobs I had. It's not a fair system and the numbers of well off families who diddle the sums and definition of 'family income' to get money they simply do not need is getting absurd. Of course there is also the delicious irony of the EMA, in that it is mere tokenism given what fees are incurred by students who move onto tertiary education....

I don't think you're considering the many who DO need it. My family are going through a rough time at the moment, and I need the money.

Just out of interest, do you still so strongly oppose the NHS?

Yes. It should be sold to the workers.

So let me get this straight. You oppose the NHS because you've not had to use it, but back the EMA because you do. I take it if you break your leg you'll support the NHS because you had to use it, and when you're too old for EMA you'll oppose it

Nah. I'd prefer to use private if I broke my leg, but I think my parents would have something to say about that.