There has been a lot of talk in the opinion pages recently about the Quality Education & Jobs Act, which seeks to adequately fund K-12 education, universities and children’s health care. A lot of the criticism comes from lobbyists who represent special interest groups, rather than the interests of real Arizona parents and students.
As a native Arizonan and college student, I know this grassroots initiative will solve a lot of the problems facing college students. As it stands now, state-based financial aid only accounts for 1 percent of the total aid awarded to students, which means students disproportionately turn to student loans. Such tremendous student debt loads mean that students like me will have to delay major life decisions like buying a house or a car. The Quality Education and Jobs initiative brings something monumental to students — $150 million worth of financial aid for students.
Arizona is at a crossroads: We can either support this initiative that brings real solutions or we can do nothing and watch Arizona fall even further behind.
Megan Riley
Mesa
chatmandu002 posted at 4:15 pm on Tue, Apr 10, 2012.
NO to this initiative, more money is not the answer to better education.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 4:28 pm on Tue, Apr 10, 2012.
Excuse me but when did Arizona's young people become...."ENTITLED"....to a free-bie university or college education ???
America is not a............."SOCIALIST or COMMUNIST"............Nation.
Just like Americans aren't....."ENTITLED".....to having a car....a house....food on the table....a 48" HD-LCD television set....an I-pod.....braces.....contacts...manicures...haircuts....even air-conditioning where they live.
AMERICA IS A LAND OF ......"O.P.P.O.R.T.U.N.I.T.Y"...........NOT......"E.N.T.I.T.L.E.M.E.N.T."
If you want a university or college degree then go out and get a job and save for it yourself.......why should hard-working Arizona Tax-Payers who don't know you from Adam.........PAY FOR YOUR FREE RIDE.
STOP WHINNING AND START WORKING FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT IN LIFE............WE ALL DID IT.
DemocraticDad posted at 10:42 pm on Wed, Apr 11, 2012.
Thank you for your excellent letter Megan. The future economy of Arizona depends on the quality of the K-12 and university education that we offer our students. Short changing that education, or saddling university graduates with insurmountable debt, will be detrimental to both the individual student as well as to the economy of the entire state. Those who are too short sighted to understand this concept will lead the state of Arizona into further demise.
VofReason posted at 12:35 pm on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Yes, we all know that education at all levels operates with streamlined financial efficiency. Therefore, there is no budgets that can be trimmed and the only possible answer is to get more funding from the state- ergo higher taxes. Yes Megan, this may surprise you, I care little that you may have to pay for your own education and may have to put off buying a house or car becuase of it. I have a few kids of my own however that I am putting away money to (gasp) pay for their education. By the way, have you ever heard of an educator that thought that had enough money to run their institution? Right.......
DemocraticDad posted at 9:01 pm on Thu, Apr 12, 2012.
Vof wrote, "By the way, have you ever heard of an educator that thought that had enough money to run their institution?"
Not anymore than I've heard of businesses, even multi-billion dollar mega ones, that weren't still looking for more tax breaks!
And by the way Vof, I paid for my 2 son's college education in full, in cash. I would never have been able to do that if the taxpayers hadn't FULLY paid for my college education being that I was a poor kid from the inner city. But you know what? The benefit to the country and the nation's economy for the paying for my college education was ENORMOUS in the return that they got from the taxes I paid, the houses I bought, the new cars I drove and the vacations I took.
You know Vof, sometimes you've got to spend money to make money!
VofReason posted at 12:41 pm on Fri, Apr 13, 2012.
"You know Vof, sometimes you've got to spend money to make money!" This is absolutely true. But why does it have to be someone elses money that is spent to make money. Don't you think there is additional motivation to do well in school if you are paying for it yourself? How many taxpayer dollars are spend when the institution hand out money to everyone and half or more never follow through or graduate? DD sounds like the system worked, how many times does it not work and we get the tab?
DemocraticDad posted at 4:43 pm on Fri, Apr 13, 2012.
Someone else's money? I see it as America's money to benefit America, don't you?
sockratties posted at 11:41 pm on Fri, Apr 13, 2012.
I went to college with the help of the G.I. bill that made low interest loans available. They didn't just send me check for each semester like they do now, though. I had to maintain a certain grade level to get the next check and they paid the school directly except for a small amount I received for books, etc.
I felt lucky to get it and it took me about six years after graduation to pay it back. It wasn't a freebee. As they say, it was a hand up, not a hand out. If I hadn't spent time in the service it wouldn't have been available. It was one of the goodies they were offering as part of the recruitment program. I also got a G.I. loan when I bought my first house. The government actually made a little money on both my loans and I didn't have to beg for something I didn't earn.
Perhaps young people should have to serve their country for a few years before they can expect something from their country. People usually care more about the well being of something if they have an investment in it. It's the same with our country. Join up, then go to college when you get out as a mature individual ready to assume responsibility for your own future.