Pell Grants Response

Published on November 27, 2004 By iamheather In Politics

Since I cannot comment on another user's blog about cutting Pell Grant funding (seems I was pre-emptively blacklisted), I would like to offer an opposing point of view.

While I commend anyone who rises above the difficulties life has dealt them, giving credit to government programs diminishes that person's achievement. I, too, came from a low-income family. College was not an option for me unless I earned it. Instead of applying for a government grant, I strived from my very first day in school to keep my grades up. Eventually, upon graduating from High School, I had full academic scholarships to several universities. In both my case and the example of the person who utilized Pell Grants, it was our tenacity and achievements that enabled us to receive a college education.

Having said this, let me clear up the "cut in funding for Pell Grants." This is a mistatement. Funding was not cut for Pell Grants. Pell Grants will have no less money than last year. The increase in the annual funding was lowered. The funding will still increase, just at a lower rate than some wanted and expected. Please see the below chart:

The President's proposal increases funding for the Pell grant program by $800 million and sets aside $3.7 billion in mandatory budget authority to eliminate the Pell Grant shortfall. However, it will keep the maximum grant award at $4,050 for the third consecutive year.

And for the first time, recipients of Pell Grants will be allowed to receive up to three grants a year. In the past, applicants only qualified for one grant a year.

Fiscal restraint is the mantra repeated by both sides of the aisle, but no one will ever agree on "things we really need" vs. "things we just want." In the new FY05 budget, some people were upset with the cuts in the National Science Foundation.
Federal air traffic controllers produced a scathing ad against Bush for proposing to cut some of their funding. Other education advocates immediately jump on Pell Grants. What about the environment? Global warming is a huge issue for some people.

Beware congressional leaders, in the spirit of fiscal restraint, cut too much and suddenly legistlators are lableled selfish, heartless, self-serving Republicans taking checks from Seniors, lunches from school children, destroying our environment, and denying minorities and low-income Americans educational opportunities.

Comments (Page 5)

iamheather

on Nov 29, 2004

LittleWhip

If you have the only product in town, and your pay is guaranteed by the govt...and your customers are forced to consume it because its the only thing the govt will pay for, (out of taxes involuntarily confiscated) what incentive do you have to improve conditions? None, nada, zilch.And frankly, dear Scarlett, this is why our schools dont give a damn.

OOoooohhhh you are so smart. I love the way you put it in simplistic terms, so that even the simple minded can understand.

As a side note, i think it makes little difference to dabe how much school vouchers make sense, Republicans like the idea so its automatically wrong in her mind.

Unfortunately, you are probably correct. Sad actually.

cactoblasta

on Nov 29, 2004

That really depends on the quality of your government. Back in 1996 the Australian government cut staffing in most departments by up to 20%. They didn't reduce funding, but the end result was that much of the dead weight was hacked out. Every generation needs a purge to keep the workers working hard or otherwise they get complacent as you describe.

cactoblasta

on Nov 29, 2004

So you're willing to put up with gross incompetence in your governments? Personally I think regular purges are essential or otherwise your taxes are being used to pay people to play solitaire. Cutting funding without laying off staff is a waste of time. I would argue that most of the wasteful programs are wasteful because they are overstaffed or wrongly staffed. Send in a few brutal consultants (as they do in big business) and you might see some improvements in efficiency.

dabe

on Nov 29, 2004

As a side note, i think it makes little difference to dabe how much school vouchers make sense, Republicans like the idea so its automatically wrong in her mind.

School vouchers make no sense at all. And, it's not because republicans like the idea, therefore I don't. You got it wrong. It's a lousy idea, so republicans just love it.

I just posted a new article called, of all things, School Vouchers Link

Draginol

on Nov 29, 2004

The bigger the government the more incompotence there is. Actually the bigger the organization you have the more incompotence there is. Australia has a population of what? 20 million? You can't compare the two. I suspect we could look at states that are demographically similar to Australia and show a good result too. The problem has to do with certain parts of the country really.

cactoblasta

on Nov 29, 2004

The problem has to do with certain parts of the country really.

So you'd rather blame geopolitical and socio-economic differences than do something that might help even a tiny bit? That's a tad defeatist.

LeapingLizard

on Nov 29, 2004

Draginol

When something becomes a "right" the quality of it seems to go down. Our high schools suck. That's because there's little competition involved. They're "free" so there's less concern about the quality.

Some High Schools suck because teacher education programs suck.

The more I read about this the more enraged I get. I'd like to know how many people who are ranting, raving, name calling, etc on this thread have even taught in schools. It's real easy to sit back and participate in meaningless commentary.

On a spereate note, I can't even believe stuff like this is allowed up here. I don't mean to pick on you LW, because I know it shows up all over the place, this just seems excessive, Where the heck are the moderators?

BITCH, you have no fucking idea what ive fought my way through in this life, though many that have been reading my blog for the past 6 months do. I dont expect you to bother. I dont expect someone as shallow and narrow minded as yourself to take the fucking time to ever see me as anything or anyone but the "enemy," since youve already stated as much in your " I hate the GOP leadership" thread.

The title of that thread is a LIE, btw, because youve made it more than clear that its not just the leadership you hate, its every freaking Republican in ths nation, and in JU. You run your mouth all over the damn place and then blacklist anyone who just MIGHT present a decent rebuttal to your hysterical bullshit.

Im gonna fight this disease? Hah, what have YOU fought, dabe, other than your own demons that make you think anyone not on your side politically is a waste of flesh?

Oh dear, you had a "shithead" husband....My heart bleeds for ya, i had one that cut my damn throat, cracked my ribs so bad he almost punctured my heart, and kicked half my teeth out of my face, hows that for a shithead? I endured for 15 years before i could make a break..have you survived sich a thing? I have.

Ever slept on the street, literally? I have.

Ever overcome drug addiction? I have.

Ever had to break the law to buy health care you required to save your freaking life, and paid the price for it? I have.

Oh man, imma quit before i truly lose it, but dont you fucking tell ME about fighting a goddamn thing. Eat shit and die.

(my apologies to both heather and the mods, if i get sent to my room, so be it, i just cant stand this utter bitch another minute.)

This is an embarassment.

LeapingLizard

on Nov 29, 2004

A second post:
A lot of us grew up on the poverty line, always scrap by, nearly die, overcome our demons, whatever. The arrogance that surrounds posting and nearly bragging about these things is sick. Just sick.

iamheather

on Nov 29, 2004

Leaping, did you read the post that prompted that response? You might have a little more understanding. LW was simply addressing an accusation that she was a deadbeat who didn't try to fight her illness.

LeapingLizard

on Nov 29, 2004

Yeah...It wasn't even a direct comment to LW. I just remembered because I saw it here. I've seen it around quite a bit here and there. It just seems like people use their struggle to justify things. It just wrong. When people start doing that, the struggle and the knowledge people gained through the struggle loses it's meaning and importance. I know it's off topic. You can delete if if you want.

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