Those voices don't speak for the rest of us

[Rita]

Take this as a compliment.

If your daughter's grades and test scores are better than those of the kids who won the need based scholarships

and she comes from a supportive family with enough resources to make her ineligible for the need based awards

then I am so not at all worried about her or her chances for success.

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Me neither. We started saving for her education before she was even born. She has thanked us and will hopefully follow our example. In trying to make her feel more wanted we point out to her that she declined 2 large scholarships to University of Illinois. She is where she wants to be and if she proves herself can obtain scholarships/internships down the road.


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[Teresa]

I was taught that even though some people get some help I don't, I still come out ahead - because my life without that help is a hell of a lot better then theirs with that help.

And who knows - I might need that help someday too. Sheet happens.

I can think of 467 worse things to spend tax money on than helping a hard working person get an education, children or the elderly get medical care, and a starving or homeless person get food or shelter.

And I bet everyone biatching about government handouts is still taking every single one THEY are eligible for or feel they are entitled to. They just call them stimulus jobs, scholarships, homestead exemptions, student loans, tax credits, and tax refunds instead of handouts.

thanks for this post scootypants. It is completely wonderful and correct, at least imo.

 

[idlewind]

I have zero problem with private schools issuing scholarships on whatever criteria they choose. Public schools should be merit based as they are using taxpayer funds and there should be no discrimination.
Pell Grants should be based on need as long as the student meets a basic standard of performance. I understand those who believe tax dollars should not be used to fund a private activity, but I view education as an investment in the future of our country. Government wastes money on many things and education IMHO ranks right behind national security/public safety and infrastructure as legitimate government expenditures.
Affirmative action is simply reverse discrimination and should be abolished. People should be judged on the content of their character not their racial genetics.

 

[idlewind]

I was taught that even though some people get some help I don't, I still come out ahead - because my life without that help is a hell of a lot better then theirs with that help.

And who knows - I might need that help someday too. Sheet happens.

I can think of 467 worse things to spend tax money on than helping a hard working person get an education, children or the elderly get medical care, and a starving or homeless person get food or shelter.

And I bet everyone biatching about government handouts is still taking every single one THEY are eligible for or feel they are entitled to. They just call them stimulus jobs, scholarships, homestead exemptions, student loans, tax credits, and tax refunds instead of handouts.

I for one will readily admit that I take every dime I can legally get from government and do not lose one bit of sleep over it. That is called self interest. But I know that many of the things government spends money on, even those I benefit from, are bad policy and bad for the country. We as a people must accept that nothing is free and everything has a cost. We must understand that no government can do all things for all people and no government can insulate us from all calamities and difficulties of life. We must learn that taxes leech off of the economy and therefore should be as low as possible while providing for a few narrow functions that government must perform. We must accept that it is morally wrong to obligate our children and grandchildren to huge amounts of debt because we refuse to excercise fiscal discipline. We must learn to put national interest above self interest. Any less will sentence us to continue down the path of self-destruction as a society.