The UK Tuition Hike Protest Violence & Royal Pains

The UK's coalition government just won, by a 'narrow margin', the vote to hike student tuition fees up to a maximum of £9000 per annum. The run up to the vote was punctuated by student protests and moments of violence, vandalism and disorder. The latest round of protests included an 'attack' on Prince Charles and his homely consort-cum-wife, Camilla, an incident apparently worth more attention than the hypocritical turnabout by Lib Dem, Nick Clegg, and the Conservative Government, that both promised not to do what they have just done. 

A case for violence

The protests are a democratic right, and the violence debatable, however, Western action and philosophy provide for violence when there is no other recourse, and often when there are a myriad of other options. The United Kingdom uses violence against other nations at will and with little cause - and has done for centuries. Iraq is the latest and best example, but the Falkland Wars will do nicely as well. 

But when 'the people' become violent it indicates a profound societal issue: nothing else works. What became obvious in the run up to the vote and the vote itself, is that students and parents had absolutely no say. The only place a student voice could be heard was through the media, and that could not guarantee that those who 'mattered' were listening.  Based on the outcome of the vote, they definitely weren't and that is a genuine and disturbing problem in an allegedly democratic nation. This is an excellent object lesson for both the people and the Royals - now they have first-hand knowledge of potential causes of violence in third world nations: when one feels helpless to act, any action will do.

That said, the hypocrisy of the coalition government continues as they self-righteoulsy condemn the student violence and attempt to get the attention away from their broken promises, all while the UK continues to ravage Iraq and search for a pretext to invade Iran.

Importantly, PM Cameron noted that it was a majority of protestors that engaged in violence, it was completely lost on him that this may indicate something about the decision. Majority, it is widely believed, is an important element in democracy. But democracy may not be so important in the UK. 

Getting what they wanted

The irony, however, is that 'the people' got the government they voted for. Albeit a coalition, that it is Conservative heavy is no secret, and neither is the elitist leaning of the Conservative party. Historically, Conservatives favour the rich and exploit the 'commoner' - should the people really be surprised at the sudden 180 degree turn of their Government of choice? 

There is no debate that the budget needs to be trimmed, but why education should suffer and not defence (what with troops allegedly scheduled to pull out of Afghanistan next year) is an argument that never occurred, but should have. The fact that the Government didn't even consider a delay of the vote suggests the outcome was a fait accomplis. 

In the end Great Britain, be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Well, you just did.