Stop the Cuts - National Demonstration

Here's what I see: You arguing it's not comparable -

Yep.

You arguing it's not comparable because one group can opt out, and therefore it's not the same.

No.

The optional or not point is subsidiary.

My original point is that if people were expected to take a hit like the students are, they would also be very angry).

Is this fair?

It's fair in the respect that I recognize it as, generally, the idea you are putting forward, but as I have said I don't think the thing you used to illustrate the 'take a hit' part ("everyone in the UK, poor-to-rich [having to] fork out 18k") is comparable with the way tuition fees are implemented.