I went to sign up for school today, it is my second semester at a small community college in central North Carolina. I ran into a little snag with my residencies here in N.C., and they said that I need to pay out of state tuition, which shot my price up from $700 to $3,500. I am realy trying to wrap my head around that jump, why where I live really determines how much I pay?
Here is the question. If our taxes fund these schools, state university's and community colleges, why do we have to even pay for them? Is it or is it not a wise investment to educate your citesines, to give them a hand up(not a hand out)when the top 10 growing occupations in our country require a education? That is a shot in the arm of economic steriods for that state, or country, or whatever. The army has so many programs to reimburse the soildiers school cost, that a 4 year degree would cost you nothing, and after you got out you still had the GI bill or the Army College fund, or if you were smart both, totaling over $60,000, just for school! Go be a doctor!
I have heard that the reason there is a in state and out of state difference is because people would send there kids to other states schools that were considered better. But the rise of community colleges across America has really leveled the field at least for the first 2 years of school. So why am I, a native N. Kackalacky, a man who left the state to join the army, then lived in Florida for 2 years, moved back, bought a house, and has always had a N.C. drivers licence, have to pay out of state prices for a school that is a part of the states education department, which i have supported through my taxes? I don't, because the school has ways around those guidlines, which are quit easy.
But the question remains, why do we have to pay for school that we already pay for? Why do we have a system that will put people into dept that is the size of a mortgage, before they even have a job? Because if there is a item in the world that you need to improve your life, there is also a person or company that will turn that need into an industry which they will charge you out the ass and then claim that it is nessicary as per how the market reacts to supply and demand! I call bullshit, education is a investment that always gives a return, and will always improve the quality of life for that person.
All things in life are going this route, be it health care, electricity, food, gas, or heating oil. If there is to be a deferrence made that can halt that, it is the in the idea that if you help everyone, everyone will be helping you. Yes, socialism, but not. Do it through goverment, use the taxes, and then release thes educated people into the capitilist market, but keep certian things at low cost or at no cost, and watch the people rise! Sounds like the new deal, huh?
My radio station got a magor boost today. Yes, I got a microphone!
Have fun, Learn facts, Yours truly, The Drunken Democrat.