OT - Coming to a college campus near you...

[tornado]

More protests...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/03/protest-rallies-planned-at-college-campuses-around-the-state.html

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/pennsylvania/20120302_Hundreds_of_students_call_for_lower_tuition__debt_forgiveness.html

On the surface it looks reasonable -
They seem to be saying "we just want quality education at a decent cost..." -- right??

NOPE -- read carefully -- they want one of life's MOST valuable and expensive commodities, something many of us have paid hundreds of thousands for or mortgaged our futures for...

AND THEY WANT IT ALL VIRTUALLY FOR FREE!!!
They want the students to opt out of every paying for their tuition or their loans...!

Prediction - these protests, just like they have in Europe will grow and get more violent as the spoiled Generation-XYZ want everything for free and expect everyone else who took care of their own debts to pay for theirs, too...
This is the ultimate end result of what we get when he have an entitlement society and freebie-handout policy from the government.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/nov/10/student-protest-fees-violent

[Canton BU fan]

http://the53.tumblr.com/

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

There are several issues with the "occupy" protests. I (and probably most people) agree with their main points. Large business and obscenely wealthy individuals hold too much political interest, and education costs are increasing far too rapidly, which is partially (mostly?) due to easy loans.

Their "demands" on the other hand are outright crazy.

[tornado]

"Free College Education" is on the list

http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/occupy-wallstreet-list-of-demands

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

"Free College Education" is on the list
http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/occup...ist-of-demands

I saw that a long time ago. I don't want to defend "occupy" at all, but that was just a person posting a list of "demands." It gained a lot of attention, but it's completely unrealistic.

[tornado]

I saw that a long time ago. I don't want to defend "occupy" at all, but that was just a person posting a list of "demands." It gained a lot of attention, but it's completely unrealistic.

it couldn't possibly ever be "FREE" -- someone would have to pay for it...
so then it's a matter of deciding who pays for all the "free" college educations that people want, or squander....

There isn't enough money in existence to provide everything for free that some lazy and selfish people want for free.....

[FlyingSpaghettiMonster]

it couldn't possibly ever be "FREE" -- someone would have to pay for it...
so then it's a matter of deciding who pays for all the "free" college educations that people want, or squander....

There isn't enough money in existence to provide everything for free that some lazy and selfish people want for free.....

Again that list of demands is impossible, and it completely detracts from the main issues. Many of the faces of "occupy" have the same problems. It's impossible for me to respect them.

The video on this page is really good: http://articles.businessinsider.com/...olitical-humor

[AZ BU Fan]

What I find amusing is the 1%, or extremely wealthy, that the far left and media bash, never include the part of the 1% that are entertainers, musicians, athletes, politicians...and certainly not the CEO's/top execs raking in obscene money from stock options/IPO's in the entertainment industry, PC industry, video game industry, or the illegal drug war lords for that matter.

An earlier poster hit in on the head, the proliferation of college loans, the funneling of lottery money into school systems, the here-to-fore unlimited funds from states/federal gov has created more and more demand....resulting in higher and higher prices for a resource that is limited...and higher and higher pay to admin/educators/staff....Simple capitalism at your local university... unlimited demand, unlimited resources, and limited availability = higher prices and profits....(which with unions/tenure also = higher wages/compensation)

[DUBrave5]

It looked like there was an "Occupy" Olin Quad last week but I think it was extremely small and just one little tent or something, I didn't drive by so I can't be positive. But the thing that gets me upset is when people who chose to go somewhere get upset about the costs when they could have gone somewhere that isn't so expensive.

Yes it sucks that Bradley's tuition has gone up and as a recent graduate I am having a ton of fun paying back my student loans and what not. But I chose to go to Bradley, so why would I sit there and protest costs and salaries and stuff like that? I could have easily gone to another school that didn't cost as much money. And honestly, if they can get into Bradley, I'm sure their credentials are good enough to get them into schools that cost less money.

[Hello Newman]

it couldn't possibly ever be "FREE" -- someone would have to pay for it...
so then it's a matter of deciding who pays for all the "free" college educations that people want, or squander....

There isn't enough money in existence to provide everything for free that some lazy and selfish people want for free.....

What is more "selfish"......spending and saving all of your own money on your own personal endeavors or using it to help others who are less fortunate? WWJD?

[DUBrave5]

What is more "selfish"......spending and saving all of your own money on your own personal endeavors or using it to help others who are less fortunate? WWJD?

Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day, teach him how to fish and he'll eat forever.

A lot of those people are using their money to help others, they just don't do it in a public way so they'll never get recognition for it. They don't need it because they aren't doing it for a good image in the public eye.

Worst thing I saw was a guy who was at an Occupy whatever and when he left he got into his shiny silver Mercedes and drove off. What does he have to be occupying about?

[tornado]

What is more "selfish"......spending and saving all of your own money on your own personal endeavors ..

that is not what we're talking here..

we are talking saving $$ then spending it on your own kids to get them the education that they need to be productive and not leech off the government dole..

I can think of no better way to do exactly WWJD than to "train up a child in the way he should go" and then pay for a good college education so they are sufficiently set for their future and will be able to earn a decent living and have some funds to support the poor.

BUT in the end - never once did and religious leader I know of preach that we should ask the government to pay for things for us and dump our own needs and dependencies upon others who may also have their own needs.

[Chico]

What is more "selfish"......spending and saving all of your own money on your own personal endeavors or using it to help others who are less fortunate? WWJD?

What is more "stupid"... not spending and saving all of your own hard earned money on your own personal endeavors and instead using it to help others who all they know is gimme, gimme. Myself, I give to who I believe deserve it and it's no one else's business who I give it to.

[Hello Newman]

To whom much is given, much is expected.

[tornado]

agree completely...
and even the "poorest" of people in the USA are vastly wealthy by the standards throughout most of the rest of the world...

I have dealt day to day with people from other nations who see Americans and are amazed at how much they complain when they have everything!
How even the ones who whine about not having anything and who claim to be poor still eat plenty and often "overeat" - if you know what I mean, they own cars, TV's, air conditioning, and have many other physical blessings, and even if they lack anything they just hold out their hands and the government comes through and gives it to them - even free birth control so they can live whatever lifestyle they want...

so those very people whining that they "want the 1%" to give more
are hypocritical - because almost all of those other "99%" - also have far, far more than they will ever need and should shut their mouths and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing with their money and give a little themselves.

I agree with you completely Newman..it isn't between the haves and have nots, nor the 1% and the 99%
It is between the ones who "much is given" to and the One who has given it to them...