I just read this article about a man who shot at the FL school board. In the end, he was the only fatality. However, the article quoted his Facebook page which it appears he started only days before to leave a message. In his message, he says he was born poor in a land where the rich rule (not a direct quote). However, I could not disagree more with that statement. Maybe I could agree that the power is in the hands of the rich but I certainly don't think being born poor in the USA is irrreversable. Sure, money makes it easier to get ahead but the USA is one of the most upwardly mobile countries I know. Taxes are relatively low and even the poorest of the poor have more opprutunities than people living in several other ocuntries. Education is free and even though University is expensive, there are many opprutunities for need and merit based scholarship. In my experience, it is easier to jump income classes in the US as compared to Europe. In fact, on a daily basis, I notice that most of the students I meet at University here come from priveledged backgrounds and/or educated parents.
It really frustrates me when people blame thier status in life on thier parents or upbringing. I firmly believe in the self made man. American was built by the self made man so it especially baffels me when Americans feel they are restricted based on class. I believe you do need a certain level of internal motivation to suceed and a willingness to leave your comfort zone and comform to accepted norms but if you really want to make something of yourself, money and the financial status you are born into should not be a glass celing. Is this too idealistic of a view? I'd love for opinions, even if they disagree with me.
5 comments:
I don't know the system in the US in detail, but compared to the stories about people in the US who go in debt to study, I like the German system:
All schools and universities are free of charge, and if you want to study but you and your parents can't afford the costs of living (!), you get BAföG up to 650 Euros (ca. 850$) per month, only half of which you have to pay back later (without interest or fees)!
Perhaps in Mannheim in BWL there are many "rich kids", Mannheim has a certain reputation :), but here I would say that students come from all parts of society ...
Maybe Universities were free when you studied but tuition has been initiated since. Although, Americans would laugh at the 500 EUR per semester fee, it'S kind of a big deal to some Germany, especially those who are in their 7th year of studying!
It depends on the state (Bundesland) whether there's tuition, see http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studiengeb%C3%BChren_in_Deutschland :O); for example in Schleswig-Holstein we only pay about 100 Euros per Semester for administrative stuff and a ticket for all busses and ships as well as some trains in Kiel.
Sorry, if my earlier commend sounded like I was attacking you, I just reread it when reading your response and didn't like the tone. Ultimately, I agree that tuition in Germany is negligable and does not result in outrageous student loan repayment when you're done.
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