Right - time to get out your crystal balls

[Auran]

I was going to put this in the question time forum as this is technically a political question. But I'd like this to be a bit more of a lighthearted discussion if possible Though I'm sure certain people will weight in with some serious arguing - they can't help it, eh Rave

Anyway, having just got the election over with which returns "Pants on Fire" back into goverment for another 4-5 years. What do people will think will happen in these intervening years before the next election battle?

1. The health service will deteriorate even further, such that "British Health Tourists" become a problem for mainland European governments

2. We win the rugby world cup again, having not won the football world cup (going out to Germany on penalties) - finally proving that Rugby is the better sport and that football is for girls

3. Alan Duncan becomes leader of the conservative party, creating wide scale panic amongst the blue rinse brigade; sshhh - he bats for the other side

4. My parents finally realise that there is more chance of the next pope being a woman than there is of me settling down and having kids. So they'll finally shut up about "grandkids"

[Zedmeister]

As I gaze into the wonder that is my crystal ball, I predict:
More Blairite bollocks
More Howard halfmeasures
More Kilroy-silk crap (Manure hopefully)
More UKIP s**t
And more Chat shows from charlie

[Nick F]

I can see there being another war between between the UN and America against North Korea if they dont start letting people in to look at there new weapons program.

[Auran]

You forgot;

More comedy from Clarke

[Spud1]

More victimisation of students and people with money..

Taxes will go up for higher earners, helping chavs and working class people to populate the earth...Ok so as i student thats good for me at the moment, but in 5 years time or so when i'm on a proper wage thats gonna suck..

Students will continue to be victimised - top up fees, probably no more interst free loan (since grants have already gone, next step is to make loan taxable income or something, since labour seem to hate students)

Generally a bad thing all round I can only hope that next time the tories get in to limit the damage to the higher tax bands

[Grey M@a]

My crystal ball is telling lie's, it says John Prescott will do some work for a change

Oh and Spud, there isn't a no interest loan for students I finished Uni 2 years ago, and I am paying off my student loan with 3.4% interest on it. Its only interest free whilst you are studying :/

[directhex]

george bush will pass an ammendment to the constitution, allowing him to run for more than two terms as president

[Trippledence]

I can see borris saying someting stupid. Ow no thats on tv now not in my cirsital ball.
I can see all public spending be squanderd on stupid EU things that no one else in the worlkd gives a sh'' about.

[Allen]

I can see there being another war between between the UN and America against North Korea if they dont start letting people in to look at there new weapons program.

If that does happen I can see the start of WWIII. Those Koreans are crazy at the best of times, I don't think they would hesitate to retaliate strongly.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4536181.stm

BUT, saying that, Korea doesn't have any oil... so...

[Nick F]

The UN will class Korea as a rouge nation and a threat to worldwide secutiry (much like Bush) then attack it. WW3 here we come

[Sair33]

Well, I'm reading 1984 at the moment... lets just hope whatever happens, we don't end up like that!!
Who knows... all seems scarily unpredictable to me :/

[5lab]

students dont have an interest free loan at the moment - you are charged interest from the second you get your s- its just low interest. i strongly doubt it will be taken away.

anyways, i recon we'll end up with more speed cameras, maybe another war, and probably more of the same.

[Spud1]

its effectivly interest free..all we pay is the rate of inflation at any rate its very low interest - but it *should* be interest free - isnt the government supposed to be encouraging education not discouraging it by making it very very expensive?

More speed cameras aint a bad thing, but thats a separate debate

[5lab]

its not that low, trust me. at 2.3% (i think that its that at the moment).. on £15k that works out at ~ £350 a yeah, which is a quid a day! thats 3 pints a week!!

[Allen]

thats 3 pints a week!!

Typical student thinking...

And 2.3% for a loan IS low, it's lower than inflation so logically they are giving you money!

[Stewart]

More victimisation of students and people with money..

You can count on it mate... well, from me anyway.

Taxes will go up for higher earners, helping chavs and working class people to populate the earth...Ok so as i student thats good for me at the moment, but in 5 years time or so when i'm on a proper wage thats gonna suck..

Ah, so it’s a case of 'pull the ladder up Jack and sod the rest'? Happy for high earners to pay taxes to fund your greasy student existence, but not so keen to pay up your own taxes when you are earning?

Students will continue to be victimised - top up fees, probably no more interst free loan (since grants have already gone, next step is to make loan taxable income or something, since labour seem to hate students)

Very amusing.

You *chose* to go to Uni, where you will be educated to a very high standard, probably getting the qualifications you need to walk into a 30k a year job at some stage, whilst eating Rice Crispies from the box, watching 15-to-1 and generally being a studenty student, and then call the fact that *shock, horror* you might have to *pay* for all this education, 'victimisation'.

So, you want what, exactly? Free education, then you walk into a 30k job, the Uni says 'thank you very much for honouring us with your presence' and you have it away on your toes?

Perhaps if, as seems to be the norm, students didn't tend to spend their grants on a new mobile phone and 700 packets of maltesers, 38 JD and Cokes and an Ant Farm with digital camera built in, you'd be in a better position.

If you think you are being victimised, then drop out and go and work in the local chippy for minimum wage.

Bloody students...