From HP:
An Arizona House committee passed a bill last week that would require every student at a public college in the state, regardless of economic status, to pay a minimum of $2,000 in tuition.
As Think Progress noted, nearly 100 Arizona students attended the committee hearing to speak out against the bill, HB 2675, expressing concern that it would make it more difficult for many students to afford college. Rep. Michelle Ugenti (R-Scottsdale) responded bluntly in favor of the new measure: "Welcome to life."
Rep. Matt Heinz (D-Tucson), who voted against the bill, criticized his Republican colleague for her remarks.
"I feel these students are being greeted with open hostility," he said.
Rachel Maddow makes a valid point on her commercial for MSNBC. We have spent the last 10 years spending trillions on war while other countries have invested in infrastructure and education. But, then again, we also have the republicans.
The attitude of the GOP (or, for that matter, a portion of the rich as well as the ignorant) is that we're completely on our own in this rat race. Now, once you're an adult, sure, nothing is easy and no one promised you a rose garden. But our kids? Please.
The fact that an education has become a case of "survival of the fittest (i.e. those with money to pay) is appalling. This country has slid so far down the scale of quality living over the Bush decade that the extreme positions most republicans take is evidence enough that our education system is in tatters. We've got enough ignorant, angry, self-centered people in this country. What we need are educated, optimistic folks who want to make a difference, otherwise we will become the China of 20 years ago and they will become us.
I truly hope the Republican party withers away. They're perspective on what the world should be is poisonous. The fact that these people believe in their convictions with such certainty is ugly.