Democratic National Convention '08

[scaeagles]

And regarding the whole college thing being discussed, while somewhat off the DNC subject, a recent article discusses the true value of college vs the cost.

Dr. Nemko says that worst of all is that few of these former college students, having spent thousands of dollars, wind up in a job that required a college education. It's not uncommon to find them driving a taxi, working at a restaurant or department store, performing some other job that they could have had as a high school graduate or dropout.

[Betty]

I love how you guys fight and make up.

[3894]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

And regarding the whole college thing being discussed, while somewhat off the DNC subject, a recent article discusses the true value of college vs the cost.

Dr. Nemko is a nimrod.

Signed,
Dr. 3894

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Because some people believe financial standing is not a measure of whether you deserve to receive health care, an education, and a basic standard of living.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Which brings up another point. College is not for everyone. Everyone should be able to attend a college but not everyone should. If your dream is to find a cure to cancer, college is the place to be. If your dream is to drive a truck Harvard would be a bad investment. There is the perception in this country that everyone wants to go to college and be a doctor or rocket scientist. That's just not the case. A very large number of people want to drive a truck or punch an eight hour day making car parts and go home. I know a lot of these people. They look at me with a blackberry strapped to my side 24/7, carrying a laptop with me on vacation and only saying in hotels with Internet access and say man, your life sucks (a direct quote).

Sadly to do nearly anything besides drive a truck or work retail you have to have a degree. It's no secret I hate school. The only reason I went back is so I could have that stupid piece of paper which in theory will get me more money. I work in IT, I am not learning one damn thing about IT in school. One could say I'm learning how to "multi-task" but I already knew how. What I'm really learning is I'm busting my ass and hating life so I can have a stupid piece of paper that has nothing to do with my field so I can then stress about getting a job that will pay me more money, since I won't be getting a raise from my current job after I graduate.

Vocational training is no longer acceptable in most places. Anything less than a Bachelor degree will put you at the bottom of a stack of resumes for a corporate like job, even entry level. Many companies are requiring a BA/BS to be hired on entry level.

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Sadly to do nearly anything besides drive a truck or work retail you have to have a degree. It's no secret I hate school. The only reason I went back is so I could have that stupid piece of paper which in theory will get me more money. I work in IT, I am not learning one damn thing about IT in school. One could say I'm learning how to "multi-task" but I already knew how. What I'm really learning is I'm busting my ass and hating life so I can have a stupid piece of paper that has nothing to do with my field so I can then stress about getting a job that will pay me more money, since I won't be getting a raise from my current job after I graduate.

Vocational training is no longer acceptable in most places. Anything less than a Bachelor degree will put you at the bottom of a stack of resumes for a corporate like job, even entry level. Many companies are requiring a BA/BS to be hired on entry level.

I think what you mean is that there are very few jobs you would want to do that do not require a degree. There is no end of jobs that do not require a degree it's just that most of them either pay poorly or are unpleasant.

You have chosen to better yourself. To take a shot a landing a job that not only pays well but that you actually want to do. You're not waiting for some government handout to pave the way for you. You're stressing and suffering now for what you think is right in the future. You have a vision and you are working towards it. Even allowing for the fact that what you are studying is not related to IT the journey of getting your degree shows a prospective employer that you are willing to preserver. It sorts you out from the chaff. You rock girl.

While you may not see it now, looking for a job with once you have experience AND a nice fresh degree in your hand is actually a lot of fun.

Then once you have made it through, you have the job of your dreams and you are making a good living (if just), how much of that are you going to want to give back to the government so that they can allow individuals without your drive or ambition to enter college? How many of them will fall by the wayside when the figure out what a pain in the arse it is to actually work for a degree?

[Alex]

Poverty is a moral failing? If you aren't successful it is just because you didn't try hard enough?

[Moonliner]

Originally Posted by Alex

Poverty is a moral failing? If you aren't successful it is just because you didn't try hard enough?

What is poverty? Are individuals trapped in it for life with no possibility of escape?

[Alex]

Pick a definition of poverty, the question remains the same:

Is a person's existence in that category a sign of their moral failing to try hard enough?

[Betty]

For some yes - for some no.

For those that are NOT in poverty, it isn't always a sign that they DID try enough.