<p>Right now this is only a PROPOSAL. It has not been approved or confirmed. If you read the e-mail again, it only talks about the “potential” for this to affect you. That is why they want you to write your legislator: To make sure they vote against these cuts. Schwarzenegger always proposes some draconian cuts and then the legislature lessens the severity of the cuts. I know it is a frustrating time to go to be looking at funding your education, but please remember that these are only proposals at this point.</p>
<p>I spent my Cal Grant on a golden bathtub that is filled to the brim with dollar bills.</p>
<p>Hell, I didn’t even receive a Cal Grant. Mine was competitive and is based on some obscure point system that takes into account how long I’ve been out of high school, my HS gpa, college GPA, etc. Apparently I’m too old to get a cal grant. Even though my mom paid taxes and I’ve paid taxes, I’m not allowed to get the same opportunities for education as a fresh off the boat freshman!</p>
<p>I say down with the state and its stupid politicians who apparently don’t know how to balance a budget! Down with the governator!</p>
<p>Ok, I’m done ranting. Where’s the petition? ^_^</p>
<p>If we’re going to get political, I would just like to say: This is not only the fault of elected officials. California voters refused to approve new tax increases and refused to free up state funds in the May 19th election. Schwarzenegger is taking this as a “cut spending” mandate. </p>
<p>Also: California voters have a history of approving new spending while cutting taxes with the many propositions we have voted on over the years. This has lead to a really messed up budget situation and the legislators hands are literally tied by all of the propositions that we the voters have voted on! It’s not really fair to blame this 100% on the politicians, because California voters have had a lot of input in to the budget over the years.</p>
<p>you’re right usdenick. I was making a silly rant and other people are just upset.</p>
<p>The problem is with the demographics of our state. We either have too many conservatives and too many liberals and they balance each other out. One side votes for no new taxes like crazy. While the other side wants to just spend as much as possible. So I say…</p>
<p>DOWN WITH THE VOTERS!!</p>
<p>^_^</p>
<p>usdenick is right. This state has taken democracy to ridiculous levels. They put almost everything up for voters. Look at all the crap we voted on back in November. Money to spend on children’s hospitals, money for prison guards, money for a new rail system, all left up to voters who don’t have any clue of the real impact on what they are voting for. Most people just think, “Oh, I’d like to give prison guards more money” or “Children’s hospitals are good, I’ll vote in favor of that” or “It’d sure be nice to have a train from the Bay down to L.A.”. Elected officials need to do their jobs, and not leave every single thing up to voters.</p>
<p>Seriously. Ours is NOT a direct democracy. It is a representative democracy. Why else do we vote these people into office? They are supposed to be smarter or at least more experienced than the average joe. We can’t leave crucial budget votes up to a populace that cares more about Brangelina than the North Korean missile crisis.</p>
<p>Look what happened with Prop 8. We’ve reverted to 1950s discriminatory practices because the voters are afraid of change and actually think marriage through the state means something important to a higher power.</p>
<p>DOWN WITH THE VOTERS!!</p>
<p>^_^</p>
<p>I nearly projectile vomited when both prop 8 and prop 2 passed. Apparently, the welfare of chickens is more important than the happiness of human beings in this state.</p>
<p>This is the way Dem Bones thinks… i sent him a private message asking him to be mature about my asking people to help by e-mailing our legislators. he replied with ( i called him a spoiled brat btw).</p>
<p>“I’m the spoiled brat? I don’t sit around crying about something that isn’t going to change. You’re the one expecting handouts from the state. Plenty of states don’t give out grants, yet somehow their citizens manage to attend college by some incredible miracle. I served 5 years in the military to earn money for college. I don’t plan my future based on people giving me free money. You know perfectly well that you’ll survive just fine on loans, but you just want the extras like a big spoiled baby.”</p>
<p>I was born in Ecuador and grew up in poverty. I lived on my own since i was 17 and supported my self through community college. My mother a single parent cannot afford to help me financially. Ill be attending UCSD in the fall and as it is Ill have to take out loans to cover costs. There is a lot of people that could use these cal grants. If you think these people consider the cal grants “extras” you need to get in touch with reality Dem Bones.</p>
<p>@Baseness- Me too :(</p>
<p>There’s a reason they’re called <em>private</em> messages, comfy.</p>
<p>yeah, wth? why are you making this a public argument? Anyway, I still stand by what I said. The state’s out of money, and I’m sure you’ll manage fine on a deferred student loan. I could use a grant too, my parents aren’t giving me any money for college at all. They’re broke, so I found a way to get money without relying on a bankrupt state to give me a grant. I’m sure you can find a way too, comfycouch. Quit crying about it.</p>
<p>Here’s how I feel.</p>
<p>Because the state takes its funds per force, it’s my opinion that the burden of proof is on those advocating that the money of others should be spent. So far, I haven’t seen that burden taken up.</p>
<p>I’ll grant that the state should have some role in subsidizing education, I don’t think that’s at issue. But then how much? Can anyone make a case that education should be free? And if not free then how much? Certainty flows from analysis, not from guesses. So where is the analysis that we’d be better off with Cal Grants?</p>
<p>I’m definitely not rich. I’m also a vet, and I more or less make my own way. And I expect no more or less than I’ve been promised in writing. I also live well enough within my very humble means that I’m not substantially affected by either higher taxes or reduced aid. But if you expect me to take action, I expect a good case behind it vice emotional appeal.</p>
<p>Boooooo! Cry me a river with “working your way through it”. Whoop de ****ing woo. Don’t take action. I’ll find other ways to feed off the system while you “find other ways to manage”. Go right ahead. </p>
<p>I mean really, like someone said, I know this is really just a scare tactic by the governor, so he can get us to respond and force the legislature to cut other programs they have been refusing to. So, I will make sure to take extra delight when I get that 8000 and think about how you unwillingly paid for it with your taxes.</p>
<p>Hey, if you don’t like America… you can get out.</p>
<p>I guess i have to understand that people are going to have different view points…States out of money but why make cuts on our education? sorry i shouldn’t have posted that Dem Bones but you gota understand that taking out loans is the last thing people should have to do. Military is a great way to finance your education but its not for everyone. Your right in that everyone will find a way to pay for it… im just saying its backwards thinking to make cuts on education. Other countries have insane taxes yet education is free and they’re given a stipend while at school (Denmark for example). Just shows how different people value education. im sure someones going to tell me to get out of America and go to Denmark now lol…</p>
<p>(:</p>
<p>Actually, I can totally understand that viewpoint. Like, ideally I’d like free education. I think that some changes would have to go in hand with that, though, because right now education is a very student driven product. And I’m afraid that, even now, some people are taking advantage of education subsidies without much of a vision for how they can help improve the world or even their local economy. If you can justify your future value to the community, then I support you asking for subsidies 100%.</p>
<p>One thing to note, is that funding is not completely going away so much as responsibility is being shifted to the UCs. The recent UC opportunity grants–whatever they’re called–coupled with the tuition hike might mean that the UCs are going to be able to take on that burden. It puts the burden on wealthier students and their families, but at least it doesn’t leave poorer students out in the cold.</p>
<p>Good luck with your education. (:</p>
<p>–Joe</p>
<p>The State of California has been paying for our, well most of ours, education for the last 13 plus years. Free of charge. Higher Education is a privilege. Pay for it. Plus, think of it this way, by taking out loans, private loans, you will be stimulating the economy by providing banks with much needed capital off your future interest. </p>
<p>“It puts the burden on wealthier students and their families, but at least it doesn’t leave poorer students out in the cold”</p>
<p>-that sounds unfair</p>
<p>Oh, I didn’t say that it’s fair. I didn’t say that I like it. (: I just pointed out the benefit. At the cost of being, what you and I both consider more unfair, it also makes the UC system into a more self-supporting entity. So at least if it’s redistributive, it also comes closer to jibing with my libertarian ideals.</p>
<p>^i got ya.</p>
<p>wasnt trying to put words in your mouth…just making an observation.</p>
<p>Awesome. (:</p>