Free laptops and internet conection

[head_-_shot]

Im going to sound cold hearted on this but, not hard enough......

Yes very good points
But lets face it, if you unemployed before this Job crisis happened, how hard must it be now?
A guy I know has had 4 jobs but has been cut because cuts needed to be made...and he was he newest person so therefore cut
And its the same for loads ov guys, being cut because the company/store needs to do it.

And on the "free internet for everyone" .. there wouldn't be any point in that cos if everyone had internet... it would take 3 hours just to load googlge!!

 

[onasilverbike]

This isn't really anything new, the current administration has been trying to implement this in one form or another for some time now. Remember the HCI (Home Computer Initiative)? Whereby you could purchase a PC on an interest free credit agreement with the payments taken at source through your employer's payroll, fantastic, I got a high spec laptop, payment over 3 yrs, 3 yrs full warranty, VAT free, payments deducted income tax free (so the more you earned the cheaper it became), how happy was I? However, the scheme wasn't really aimed at me, it was supposed to make PCs affordable for those on a low income. The scheme was cut with little to no notice and the 2,000 or so jobs it created in the IT supply industry disappeared with it.

Now we have a new scheme in the wings, however this time the aim is to make PCs and internet connections available to underprivileged households where there are 7-18 year olds with the intention of making "England one of the first countries in the world where every young person can use a computer and internet at home for their education."

This is a scheme for social change, there was a similar backlash to the proposal of a National Health Service in the 50's. It is notable that the OP has done nothing but denounce this as a chance for the work shy to get a free hand out, whilst others have suggested that they will be converted in to cash for drink & drugs. There are no sources posted, just the link to a petition. It all smacks of resentment to me, I would hope that forum users reading this thread do a little bit of research for themselves and make an informed opinion befor jumping on the bandwagon.

 

[snax]

yes it is very judgemental but to be honest, Its there choice to do something so we why do we have to pay for their mistake's. Being only 17 i have yet many lessons to learn but the one i have learnt you pay for your mistakes, Re-reading the post on give them nothing etc i would like to retract as we should give them help but not a free laptop and internet connection, Advice and help and guidance which will help.

 

[campbell08]

They should just spend the money on the homeless or cancer research or helping the people comming back from the middle east with no legs who need electric chair lifts to go upstairs.

@bon, I think I saw the same program alot of people living off the doll also can get payed more for doing nothing than picking up a job so most of them just think fcuk it.

 

[onasilverbike]

yes it is very judgemental but to be honest, Its there choice to do something so we why do we have to pay for their mistake's. Being only 17 i have yet many lessons to learn but the one i have learnt you pay for your mistakes, Re-reading the post on give them nothing etc i would like to retract as we should give them help but not a free laptop and internet connection, Advice and help and guidance which will help.

As I stated in my post, the scheme is aimed at households where there are 7-18 year, to benefit their education. Just how many in that age group do you know who could fund a laptop and internet connection if their parents were out of work? To block it would be penalising these children for the failings (if indeed any, given the recent rises in unemployment due largely to institutional financial greed and ineptitude) of their parents, instead of giving them a chance to rise up from their circumstances and better themselves.

 

[snax]

Yeah, From reading the free post i thought it was literly giving a 40 year old man a laptop and internet for free, I do know someone at this moment who has come from a very rough household and did very well in his gcse's and his now in further eductation and im always keeping my eye for him, and were pritty good mates at this moment, He said to me he wants to do well just because when hes older he doesnt want his kids what he went through, and hes the sort of person you should be giving the laptops to.

Onasilverbike when i posted mine came below yours by look two seconds so when i posted in please take into account i was unable to read your post.

 

[niallist]

This isn't really anything new, the current administration has been trying to implement this in one form or another for some time now. Remember the HCI (Home Computer Initiative)? Whereby you could purchase a PC on an interest free credit agreement with the payments taken at source through your employer's payroll, fantastic, I got a high spec laptop, payment over 3 yrs, 3 yrs full warranty, VAT free, payments deducted income tax free (so the more you earned the cheaper it became), how happy was I? However, the scheme wasn't really aimed at me, it was supposed to make PCs affordable for those on a low income. The scheme was cut with little to no notice and the 2,000 or so jobs it created in the IT supply industry disappeared with it.

Now we have a new scheme in the wings, however this time the aim is to make PCs and internet connections available to underprivileged households where there are 7-18 year olds with the intention of making "England one of the first countries in the world where every young person can use a computer and internet at home for their education."

This is a scheme for social change, there was a similar backlash to the proposal of a National Health Service in the 50's. It is notable that the OP has done nothing but denounce this as a chance for the work shy to get a free hand out, whilst others have suggested that they will be converted in to cash for drink & drugs. There are no sources posted, just the link to a petition. It all smacks of resentment to me, I would hope that forum users reading this thread do a little bit of research for themselves and make an informed opinion befor jumping on the bandwagon.

Well said mate, nice one.

 

[Lovetone]

As I stated in my post, the scheme is aimed at households where there are 7-18 year, to benefit their education. Just how many in that age group do you know who could fund a laptop and internet connection if their parents were out of work? To block it would be penalising these children for the failings (if indeed any, given the recent rises in unemployment due largely to institutional financial greed and ineptitude) of their parents, instead of giving them a chance to rise up from their circumstances and better themselves.

I didnt have a laptop and i was one of the top 3 students (based on grades) at my school.

you dont need an internet connection at home to acheive at school.
most schools have the net and pc access at them, so use that? or public facilities / library. Im sure even on a paper route wage a kid can afford to use a cyber cafe for an hour or two a week, if they refuse to use the resources available at the school.

you dont need to fund a laptop, therefore the scheme is bs really and yes it is a handout, therefore people who work hard for their stuff will feel a resent towards it.

also an FYI, I funded a marshall amp and a gibson les paul (totalling about a grand) by doing a paper round and washing dishes.
so a £300 laptop and a couple years broadband is less money than that.

**** me, kids even get this EMA **** these days - paid to go to school!
I went cos I didnt....well...lol...want to have a free laptop given to me. I wanted a good education to then get a decent job and buy all manner of shizzle for myself, and in future, provide for my family.

 

[snax]

i get EMA, and alot of other people my age that play paintball also get EMA, Whats wrong with that?

 

[Lovetone]

AT the end of the day, that £300m could be far better spent on other things.

And like the late great mr hicks said:

"You know all that money we spend on nuclear weapons and defense each year, trillions of dollars, correct? Instead -- just play with this -- if we spent that money feeding and clothing the poor of the world -- and it would pay for it many times over, not one human being excluded -- we can explore space together, both inner and outer, forever in peace."

Now, start to substutute trillions for millions and defence budget for stupid government schemes, the olympics, free welfare and million dollar houses rented to asylum seekers, and you can start to see where we could actually do some useful stuff for the country.

like...paying people such as doctors, nurses, fire, police and servicemen and women a decent salary. cutting waiting lines for essential hospital care. actually make hospitals hospitable (!), put more funding into medical research and development, make a decent transport system (lower down my list)

theres more to life than broadband.
id rahter walk down the street and not be asked for change than know various "vinnies and debbies" of this world have access to a damn pc.
those people living on the streets, they are really poor, you know?