We all benefit from higher education – so why should only students bear the costs? | Brief letters

"Taxpayers should foot the bill for higher education"

It's not just students who benefit from higher education, but also the broader society. From safe infrastructure to healthcare and scientific innovation, the benefits of a well-educated workforce are immeasurable. Yet, when it comes to footing the bill for these benefits, many feel it's only fair that those who don't attend university should bear the costs.

Economists argue that higher education is a public good, one that enables the UK's creative arts economy and drives innovation. It's a matter of fairness that taxpayers who fund public services also benefit from them. The idea that those who don't attend university are paying for others to do so is unfair and outdated.

The notion that only students should pay for higher education is a relic of the past. In reality, we all benefit from a well-educated society. By taxing those who can afford it and providing funding for universities, taxpayers are investing in a better future for everyone.

It's time to rethink our approach to funding higher education and recognize that it's not just a privilege for students, but a public good that benefits us all.
 
I got some issues with this idea... 🤔 They're saying we should make all taxpayers pay for uni, even if they don't attend themselves? That sounds like we're being forced to subsidize other people's education, which doesn't seem right to me. I mean, not everyone needs or wants a degree. What about those who are trying to start their own businesses or work in a specific field that doesn't require a uni degree?

I get what they're saying about how uni benefits society and all that... but does it have to come out of our pockets? Can't we find other ways to fund it, like raising taxes on corporations or wealthy individuals who can afford it? I'm not sure this is the best solution. 🤷‍♀️
 
I'm so down with this idea! 🤩 We often think of higher ed as just for those who wanna get a degree, but the truth is, it affects everyone in the long run. I mean, have you ever thought about how much our public transportation systems are improved because of all the engineers and tech folks we have? It's huge! 💡 Not to mention the better healthcare and safer communities we have thanks to well-educated people working in those fields.

I do think it's time for us to shift our perspective on this. Instead of just making students pay, let's make sure everyone contributes, regardless of whether they're in uni or not. It's all about fairness and recognizing that higher education isn't just a student thing, but something we can all benefit from as a society.

We should be taxing those who can afford it more, so it's fair for everyone else to get a good education too. Let's rethink this approach and make sure our future is brighter for all of us! 🌟
 
I think the gov's stance on higher ed funding is kinda outdated 😒. We're always told that those who don't attend uni are paying for others, but I mean, what about those who do attend and still have to pay loads in debt? 🤯 It's like we're not thinking about the bigger picture here - a well-educated workforce = better future for everyone! 💼 Plus, it's just common sense that those who can afford to contribute should do so 🤑. We need to rethink our approach and make sure everyone benefits from this public good 💡.
 
I totally get why people think higher ed should be student-only, but I think they're missing the point 🤔. My grandkids are always asking me about the future of work and how we'll adapt to AI taking over some jobs. It's scary, but it's also kinda exciting! The thing is, our current system is already showing us what happens when we don't invest in higher ed – there's a huge skills gap and not enough workers with the right skills 🚨.

I've seen it firsthand in my own career – people who have taken the time to upskill and reskill are always in high demand. It's like they're speaking a different language or having superpower skills 🔥! And let's be real, all this innovation and creativity that comes out of universities has a direct impact on our economy 🚀.

It's not just about fairness – it's about making smart investments for the future. By taxing those who can afford it, we're spreading the risk and making sure everyone benefits from a well-educated society 💡. I'm all for making education more accessible, but I don't think that means we should leave those who aren't in university to foot the bill 😐.
 
are u kiddin me? we should be makin ourselves rich off university fees 4 those who actually wanna pay 2 get an edn! if everyone gets a free ride, the quality suffers n we dont get innovators 2 push boundaries. besides, dont think for a sec that only wealthy ppl benefit from universities... there r plenty of low-income students out there doin their thing.
 
I don’t usually comment but... I think this idea is kinda crazy 🤯. What if you're like me and your parents didn't have the cash to send you to uni? You'd be paying more taxes now and still wouldn't get any of the benefits 😕. It's not fair to just assume that everyone who doesn't attend uni is already making a certain amount of money, 'cause let's face it, most people aren't 💸.

And another thing, what about all the universities in the UK that are already super expensive 🤑? If they're already charging students thousands of pounds a year, how can we just expect everyone to chip in more without any help from the government 👀? I don’t know, maybe I'm just not seeing the full picture here 🤔.
 
I mean, what's the point of even paying taxes if we're just gonna say "oh, you didn't go to uni? Sorry, buddy, now you gotta foot the bill" 🤷‍♀️? It sounds like they're trying to shift the blame from the system that makes it hard for people to afford uni to those who can't afford it in the first place. And what's with "those who don't attend university are paying for others to do so"? That's just a nice way of saying "you're basically being penalized for not having a degree". 🙄 I get that education is important and all, but come on, can't we just make it more accessible and affordable for everyone? 💸
 
I think its pretty common sense - the more you benefit from society, the more u should chip in 🤑. The idea that only those who go to uni are contributing is old news. Without educated folks, were stuck with sub par infrastructure and innovation 🚧💡. Its time for a change and rethinking how we fund higher ed, rather than relying on those who can't afford it ⏱️📚
 
I don’t usually comment but... I think this is so true lol 🤔. Like, yeah we all benefit from having educated people in the workforce, right? And those who can afford to pay more should definitely be contributing more 💸. But at the same time, it feels like some people are saying only students should pay for university because they're not getting a "direct" benefit... but what about the infrastructure and services we need for them to have an education in the first place? 🚧💡. I think there's gotta be a way to make it more fair for everyone, you know? Maybe look into different tax brackets or something 🤷‍♀️.
 
I think it's a given that higher ed is a public good, we're basically all benefitting from it, right? 🤔 I mean, who doesn't want to live in a society with well-educated people and good infrastructure? But the thing is, if taxpayers are already funding those services, then why should they have to foot the bill for higher education too? It just seems like double dipping to me. 🤑 And yeah, it's not like students are the only ones who benefit from higher ed, there are all these other industries and areas of research that rely on a well-educated workforce. I'm all for making sure everyone contributes, but let's be real, it's not just about fairness, it's about efficiency. We can find ways to fund universities without making everyone pay more. 💡
 
Imo 🤔, the gov should make uni more affordable for everyone, not just rich folks who can afford it 💸. It's like, we're already paying taxes, so why shouldn't we get some sort of free uni education in return? 🤑 Plus, think about all the skilled workers we'll have in the future, making our communities safer and healthier 🏥🚧. And let's not forget about all the innovative tech companies that will be created... it's a win-win! 📈
 
dunno why ppl think uni is like a playground for some rich kids lol ... its not! Its actually a huge investment in our future 🤑. Thats why we should be taxing those who can afford to pay more and putting the rest towards uni fees. I mean, how many times have u heard of a successful startup or innovator who dropped out uni? Never! So if ur rich u get to pay more tax on ur wealth & we can fund those who cant afford it 🤝. Its not that hard
 
I think this is such a fair point 🤔! I mean, who doesn't want to live in an infrastructure that's safe and well-maintained? Or have access to top-notch healthcare? It's not like the government's only providing basic services, right? 🙄 And let's be real, some people are just way more likely to use those services than others. Like, I'd totally be willing to chip in on my taxes if it means I get to enjoy better roads and schools for everyone 🚗💻. Plus, it's all about investing in the future, right? 🌟 And if we're gonna say that higher education is a public good, then we should be prepared to pay for it too 🤑. It feels like we're already doing it through taxes anyway...
 
The UK is gonna hike taxes again 🤦‍♂️💸. Like, can we afford it? I'm all for better infrastructure and healthcare, but more tax means less cash in our pockets... and let's be real, who really gets the benefit of all that fancy edu 📚👀? Not everyone's lucky enough to get a 6-figure job after uni, so why should they pay for those with degrees? It just seems like another way to make the rich richer 💸. And what about student loans and debt?! Not exactly a silver lining for anyone... 😬
 
🤔 I've been thinking about this a lot, and I think what's really important here is that we're all connected, you know? We can't just isolate ourselves to our own little lives and expect everyone else to foot the bill for ours. 🚫 It's like, have you ever noticed how one small action, like someone learning a new skill or something, can have a ripple effect on so many people around them?

It's not just about the individual, it's about the community, the country, the world! 🌎 By investing in education, we're investing in each other's futures. And yeah, it might seem unfair at first, but think about it this way: who do you think is really paying for those public services you rely on? It's not just the people using them, right?

It's all about perspective and empathy. We need to start seeing ourselves as part of a bigger picture, where everyone's success is tied together. 💡 So yeah, let's rethink this whole funding thing and remember that education is for everyone – not just those who attend university! 🌈
 
🤔 I feel like we're still stuck on the idea that uni is just for the privileged few. Like, what about those who don't wanna go to uni but still want to learn new skills? 📚 We should be supporting lifelong learning and skill development, not just uni degrees.

And yeah, it's true that higher education has a huge impact on society, from healthcare to infrastructure. But do we really think it's fair to charge those who don't attend uni more taxes while they're stuck in a low-skilled job? 🤑 It just doesn't sit right with me.

I'd love to see a system where everyone contributes to the funding, regardless of whether they go to uni or not. That way, we can ensure that everyone has access to education and skills training, and we can build a more inclusive economy. 💪
 
I mean, come on 🤣, can't we think outside the box here? If taxpayers are already paying for stuff like roads and hospitals, why not let them decide how their cash is spent? I'm all for people who don't go to uni having a say in the funding too. It's like, if you're not contributing to the pot, shouldn't you get a say? And what about those who can afford it but still want to contribute? It's just not fair to say they have to shell out even more. Plus, I've got a mate who dropped out of uni and now works for Google... that sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me! 💸
 
I think this is so true 🤩. I mean, we're already spending so much on infrastructure and healthcare and stuff, why shouldn't the people who are contributing to the economy through taxes be able to get some of that money back in return? Like, just because you don't have a degree doesn't mean you're not paying into society. We need to think about this as an investment in our collective future, rather than just some special perk for students 🤑. And it's not like we can't afford it - the benefits of higher ed are so huge, from healthcare innovation to more efficient infrastructure 🚧. I'm all for rethinking how we fund higher education and making sure everyone benefits from it 💸.
 
omg i think its so unfair that ppl who dont go 2 uni r expected 2 pay fer every1 els 🤑 idk wot u mean when u say those who can afford it shd be taxed lol thats jus not how it works ppl from all walks of life benefit from edn but we dont get charged thru the nose for it 🤷‍♀️ i think its time 4 us 2 rethink our funding system & make edu accessible 2 every1 regardless of wut they can afford 💸
 
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