I have been wondering a little on how society values people.
For fifteen years I was unemployed and there was no point in me claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance because of my marital status. I was self-employed as a science tutor for five years. Despite having had what was on paper a good education, some employment track record and some 60 published papers I was unable to secure employment.
Being the last of the boomers (’64 vintage) I was lucky enough to have had a student grant and not a loan. The EPSRC research council paid for my Ph.D. living expenses. The stipend in those days was low. I had to work in a bar to cover my bar and weed bill.
A rough calculation of the time I was employed suggests that I may have paid something like £60 K in direct taxes only. This probably covers the financial cost to the exchequer for my after school higher education. I did not put much more back. Thus in terms of money invested in me by the UK government their return on investment for me was low if any. I was not employed at a high salary ever.
What money I earned went back into the economy and was indirectly taxed via VAT etc.
Other people give a lot more money back to the exchequer. They were/are better investments than me.
Although I was trained up I turned out to be surplus to requirements…no biggie. The best use was not made of that educational investment.
In spread sheet terms I am not direct “profit”. I am in terms of exchequer and discounting health, probably cost neutral.
Other people invested in a start-up and their investment lead to more tax income for the exchequer. Aside from initial idea, I had little input. The jobs were paid for by others.
We could say that my education was not a good investment nor was it hugely loss making…indifference.
I was not a huge burden on the state though in my dotage I might yet be.
When you look at balance sheets you can see the world through different eyes…
It is funny when you put an LSD {pounds shillings and pence} lens on…
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Are you a good return on investment for your government?
Are you a balance sheet profit or a loss?
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Dreamyoga 