Student privileges, the principal, the agent and a pint of beer
Students are represented by a students' parliament in Slovenia. It is elected democratically, each school contributing according to the number of students, each political party represented according to the number of votes they get at each school. A very nice side effect is that political campaigns are held at each of our schools every 2 years (used to be every year) and while it can be annoying to be told to vote blue 15 times in the time you need to come from the entrance of the building to your classroom, there are also positive side effects. Political parties know very well that nothing buys students’ votes quite as nicely as free beer. Very democratic, all in all. Different kinds of beer are represented, according to voters’ desires, so there is no coercion whatsoever involved.
While we’re all fans of democratic process, it can get worrisome when the people elected actually need to represent your rights. Most of the time, it’s not a problem. State doesn’t bother with students, we complain on average level, just to keep in touch with our young rebellious side and the emo anti establishment sentiment. Sometimes, however, the government makes a big mistake and has a new plan on how to limit the rights of students some more, and students, of course, to keep it all in good spirits, organize demonstrations, that include some thrown tomatoes at the parliament building, some non violent demonstrations and, of course, free beer. It’s all jolly good.
Problems arise, however, when a government has a set of arguments, and students have counter arguments and contrary to common belief government actually makes a good faith effort at negotiations. In situations like that I would, if I was naive, expect the elected representatives to do everything in their power to protect my rights reasonably. I am not that naive, however, and therefore I’m worried. One of the plans of the government is to limit privileged students' work (a change I do not agree with), which directly funds the work of students parliament and therefore the work of our elected officials. I am slightly worried that no amount of democratic process will be enough to make sure our elected officials consider students' rights before their right to get their salary, which they, doing the hard work, taking care of our rights, so rightfully deserve. Besides, they need it for political campaigns, and there’s not much point in students' housing, if you don’t get free beer.
While we’re all fans of democratic process, it can get worrisome when the people elected actually need to represent your rights. Most of the time, it’s not a problem. State doesn’t bother with students, we complain on average level, just to keep in touch with our young rebellious side and the emo anti establishment sentiment. Sometimes, however, the government makes a big mistake and has a new plan on how to limit the rights of students some more, and students, of course, to keep it all in good spirits, organize demonstrations, that include some thrown tomatoes at the parliament building, some non violent demonstrations and, of course, free beer. It’s all jolly good.
Problems arise, however, when a government has a set of arguments, and students have counter arguments and contrary to common belief government actually makes a good faith effort at negotiations. In situations like that I would, if I was naive, expect the elected representatives to do everything in their power to protect my rights reasonably. I am not that naive, however, and therefore I’m worried. One of the plans of the government is to limit privileged students' work (a change I do not agree with), which directly funds the work of students parliament and therefore the work of our elected officials. I am slightly worried that no amount of democratic process will be enough to make sure our elected officials consider students' rights before their right to get their salary, which they, doing the hard work, taking care of our rights, so rightfully deserve. Besides, they need it for political campaigns, and there’s not much point in students' housing, if you don’t get free beer.
posted by Sergej at 11:23 PM
2 Comments:
LOL. Bemocracy ( = Beer + democracy)
Could you please explain why you don't agree with limiting "privileged students' work" ?
Because it is an established way of how some people fund their studies. It is not a particularly good way and is often abused, however taking it away without an alternative funding plan takes away the possibility of studying from people that are attending the university now. I believe that is a bad thing.
Post a Comment
<< Home