I wrote this revised version of an earlier rant for my journalism class.
I believe in socialized education. I moved to California to take advantage of their well-reputed state schools. But education is swiftly falling to the wayside in the state budget; funds are being diverted elsewhere burdening students financially.
In 1999, my non-resident tuition at UC Davis was roughly fifteen thousand and by my forth year tuition nearly doubled to over twenty-four. The fees have gone up sharply for locals as well. Over 40% of Americans get their college education from state universities, average state tuition increases nationally have been 8% a year according to USA Today. In California, students have seen 20-30% tuition increases over the last year making these state schools among the most expensive in the nation.
While students are seeing tuition increases, the middle class are losing financial ground. Income redistribution has helped the wealthy, with policy makers in Washington favoring tax cuts and reducing student aid. While education costs are going up, aid and income are going down. Degrees are a must to succeed in modern America, the middle-class are most hurt by current policies.
California has always been a lead-by-example state and shouldn't change now. The triple car tax was originally repealed during a budget surplus but a policy that favors owners of expensive vehicles and high-incomes should not be maintained. Schwarzenegger must consider the future of the state and spend funds accordingly. College students are California's hope for future financial success and must be valued over Hummers for the wealthy.