Thanks PA!

I think I have a right to complain about the grants.

For one the lions share of my educational costs are covered by loans. I've worked since I was 15 years old and I've paid a lot of money in taxes, and a lot of money in taxes to the state for the seven years I've lived here. Last year it was two grand in taxes as a matter of fact.

The fact is instead of raising sales tax in PA they cut education. Instead of taxing drilling they cut social services and job retraining programs when our unemployment is at 10% - all the while encouraging new natural gas drilling (which they won't tax) in PA state parks.

PA cut public library funding by 5.4 million dollars but is spending 20 million dollars for a personal library for Sen Specter. - lol wut?

So if I'm on an educational path that will eventually have me pay in WAY more in taxes to the state and to the government that I used to it only makes sense that they should see a positive ROI there.

Yeah I should totally work harder and not complain about my "hand out."
 
So let me see if I can get this all straight.... because YOU think it would be a better investment they should give you more money. Even though you already say that the "lion's share" is covered by loans and that its only a measly 170 bucks they're "shortchanging" you that they should tax the hell out of everyone, yourself included... so that they can inturn pay YOU (and I would assume people like you) more money for school so that they can tax you more in the future? This is all okay because you paid some taxes and Senator Specter is getting a library. You shouldn't have to work harder for what you want... because there is a means by which you can accomplish the same thing without having to work harder.

The simple fact remains though, that you're funding is cut... and now you have to do something to supplement it. So what will you do? Aside from bitching about not being able to get an easier ride or a hand out? I would imagine you would need to get a job... get more loans... or just... quit?

I dont know... just a little less complaining about how you're not getting something for nothing anymore and a little more "this is how I plan to make ends meet got any ideas?"

Also... this is good training for real life... where people have to make it on their own paying into the system while undeserving people take the "lion's share" of your hard work.

:thumbsup:
 
I enjoy cooking. But aside from that... does my job effect my argument that greatly? And I suppose my past has no bearing on my argument either if in fact it effects it at all. Perhaps a person's job effects their ability to reason or make sense. What is it you do again?
 
I'm a student of Philosophy and English Literature who has published as an undergrad. My success has all been made possible by government grants!

It is precisely the "handouts" you're railing against that have allowed me to become more successful than you can even dream of being.:D
 
So I'm sure you can respect how much hard work an dedication it takes to get where you want to be. Perhaps with your wealth of education you can also see that if given a hardship you must simply make the best of it and do what it takes to make ends meet now so that you can be where you want to be in the future. If one of your grants had fallen through what might you have done in order to accomplish what you have?
 
Many of my grants have fallen through. I simply got another grant through another organization. It wasn't terribly difficult with my track record. Again, my education is made possible by free money.
 
I've never been against social programs ever.

I believe fully that it is in the best interest of a country to grow and promote it's people so they can advance as a group. People in Denmark pay roughly 70% of their income in taxes but they also have universal health care, and higher education.

I would most definitely be willing to pay more for the advancement of people. The problem is the Protestant work ethic and the roots of capitalism and instead of looking at the long term picture and approaching every situation in an individual case we instead apply generalizations, "Oh get a job, you're not working hard enough, etc, etc."

I'm 32 years old. You know how rare it is for people my age to go back to school? I do this with mounting home responsibilities and I have a child entering high school and one going into second grade.

Other than my small grants I receive no assistance from any public program. No energy assistance, no child care assistance, no food stamps, no public health programs, nothing socialized other than the utterly shitty public education my kids get. (Which as a home owner I pay 1800 dollars a year in school taxes for) Sure I could go back and find an office job that used to pay 35k a year for maybe 12 an hour now and stay in the same cycle forever, doing totally nothing with my life but what would be the point of that?

So I could puff out my chest and say, "Look at how hard, yet totally idiotically I worked?"

Didn't you say once that you didn't even pay taxes?

I'm already 24,000 in debt for school - this is something that makes sense, it is a positive ROI.

If you're going to be a condescending asshole at least try to be funny.
 
Being a student of philosophy I'm sure you know that success is measured by the individual. So there was really no need to even say this. You see your life as a success and I see mine as a success, it would depend on what we want that would measure our success.



This is fine and dandy, you had a problem and you found a solution. All I'm trying to do is offer solutions that are in line with my political thought. Obviously if I take issue with government handouts it would be a bit unintelligent to suggest to seek out another handout.



Your situation obviously limits the alternatives available to you, I wasn't aware of your exact situation and assumed you were a younger person. There still must be options available to you like them or not. You could drop a class to lower your tuition costs or see about getting some sort of work where what you're going to school for may help pay for costs while affording you practical experience in whatever your chosen field is.

I'm really not trying to be a dick or even turn this into a political discussion. My mainline argument is that your education is not that greatly hindered by not getting the handout and there are solutions to your problem if you look for them.
 
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