" In the context of a collective social or socialist democracy the gift of a good education confers on the donee the obligation to use that gift for the benefit of the wider community. "
Yes, I'd agree with that - however, there is no gifting in a loan to repay tuition fees, or a loan to live on. That's a commercial transaction. That doesn't confer an obligation, it teaches you that everything has a price, and only an idiot pays more than they have to. Which contributes to the mind-set that avoiding tax is a moral duty.
I don't agree that giving a student grant is like dipping into the joint account for a present. It's closer to an investment - giving someone the tools which might let them pay society back by paying more taxes, or by passing on useful skills, or becoming teachers in their turn. Granting these things is an investment. Strangely, the current system recognises that you start to repay your student loan once you become eligible to pay a certain rate of tax. Surely it's better to realise that the higher rate of tax IS your repayment?
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timeasmymeasure
Re: If I Had A Million Dollars, I'd Be Rich.
Date: 2012-02-06 11:00 am (UTC)Yes, I'd agree with that - however, there is no gifting in a loan to repay tuition fees, or a loan to live on. That's a commercial transaction. That doesn't confer an obligation, it teaches you that everything has a price, and only an idiot pays more than they have to. Which contributes to the mind-set that avoiding tax is a moral duty.
I don't agree that giving a student grant is like dipping into the joint account for a present. It's closer to an investment - giving someone the tools which might let them pay society back by paying more taxes, or by passing on useful skills, or becoming teachers in their turn. Granting these things is an investment. Strangely, the current system recognises that you start to repay your student loan once you become eligible to pay a certain rate of tax. Surely it's better to realise that the higher rate of tax IS your repayment?