[NormsRevenge]

It's an election year and a primary looms.

No mention of all the illegals and how they might be impacted.

[HolgerDansk]

"Westly!"

[Political Junkie Too]

Westly said the cost of attending the state's 109 community colleges has increased 136 percent in the last three years, to about $800 a year for a full courseload. Attendance has meanwhile lagged, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

So then what happens when non-college bound people ask for an in-kind $1,600 subsidy for vocational training. It's not fair for only the community college kids to get the handout.

-PJ

[paul51]

I think California should by every emoployed person in the state a house. After all, we contribute to the economy and pay taxes. Also, a car. If we have a car, we will buy gas and pay taxes on that. Groceries too. How can we work and pay taxes if we don't eat well? Don't forget health care. The healthier I am, the harder I can work and the more taxes I'll pay. An while we are at it, get rid of all those scary guns!

[Mogengator]

No mention of all the illegals and how they might be impacted.

Why, of course they will get free education too. Paid for by taxes on the rich (anyone with a job).

[Carry_Okie]

For once I'm going to break with standard conservatism and suggest that if this idea applied only to subject matter wherein there is a real prospect of a job, then subsidizing the education could well pay for itself with the taxes on higher wages an AA degree might bring. Obviously, if the coursework is in race studies, anthropology, or queer lifestyles, then it's a loser. Unfortunately, Westley doesn't make a distinction there. So what will likely happen is to delay the comeuppance on how bad California education really is by keeping borderline dropouts in school for two more years.

Considering what we waste on illegals, $200 million is a pittance, especially with the financing structure Westley suggests and the potential revenue from a more educated workforce. Not a bad try for a liberal; too bad there's a devil in the details.

[Amerigomag]

Westly's suggestion is curious. We have all but abandoned the community college theory in California. Why the emphasis?

California today has opened their public, postsecondary educational system up to anyone in California who has a perceptible temperature and casts a shadow, with only one exception. Those applicants who can't read, speak or write English must first take a year of remediation in the CSU system before being accepted to the UC system.

This pandering probably won't net Westly too many new votes. If he should promise to wave tuition and entrance requirements to both the CSU and UC systems to anyone certified by the local, Mexican Consulate he'd win by a landslide. The Mexicans would love him and the press would promote his great gesture of brotherhood.

A win-win deal for both the Mexicans and Westly. I'll contact his campaign.

[FreedomSurge]

California should defund all university liberal arts programs and use the money to fund this program. Community colleges are the most important aspect of today's education. They are the high level trade schools of our time. With males being forced out of the university system, community colleges are becoming more important.