Love cats, might get some more sometime
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Back on topic, I think capitalism is ultimately to blame for falling education standards especially in the western world, & especially when times are economically bad. Corruption features smack bang in the middle of this & while things are bad, somehow politicians & corporations are getting richer - but conditions for Joe public are getting worse.
In the world of politics, spending has become a dirty word - yet it is OUR money they'd be spending, on things that need spending on!!! They promote work, to the extent of persecuting those who don't & we pay taxes. Surely we should get what we pay for!!! This is because the world of politics & the world of corporate greed are now one. It's all one big melting pot of corruption where corporations, banks & politicians are all living by the same standards of profit, for THEMSELVES.
Just to reiterate the point - the world is in financial crisis while the rich are getting richer. Unfortunately, education comes under public spending & they don't want to do that. The only times politicians will give big money out is to save face or risk losing elections. We've seen it ourselves already - in some natural disasters they'll respond accordingly, whereas in other places they'll not bother & let it all go to ruin. We are still paying for this!!!
Most western governments rule over us due to our own apathy, it's much better for them that we are loyal Labradors who roll over for the belly scratch rather than being blood thirsty baying wolves. For that reason I believe we don't actually get our vote, it's just a poll - but when things get too obvious they have to go along with it ~
just to keep us in apathy ~ *cough* coalition government *cough* (yeah, right

).
We pay taxes... for what?