Rigonomics:

The people pushing Proposition 92, a.k.a. “Community College Governance, Funding Stabilization, and Student Fee Reduction Act,” must think that the public is deaf, dumb and blind if they really believe they can hoodwink the electorate into amending the California Constitution to, in their words, “stabilize funding” and lower student fees $5 per unit for community college students. They are, in fact, just lining their own pockets.

First off, if anyone decides that without the $5 per unit reduction in fees, they cannot afford to go to a community college then please don’t go! The good citizens of California are already giving you a $5,500 gift for your future, and if you do not think the extra $75 bucks per semester (full time) is worth it, then maybe we shouldn’t either. The student fees going full-time is $320 per semester. Not only will the state taxpayers completely subsidize your education, but if you really do not have the money, the feds will give you a grant to pay your fees and books.

There is no reason why anyone, no matter how poor, cannot afford a community college education. Try this — you can pay for your complete education by just brewing your coffee at home and passing on your daily Starbucks (OCC has one on campus). It is just about choices.

Before anyone says that I am just bagging on our local Coast Community College District, I am not. I may not agree with them when they basically gave away a $32 million TV station to a bunch of wealthy donors. But that only speaks to how they value taxpayer resources. I do not want to mix the good mission of the States Community College system with how some of the districts handle their finances.

With that being said, the fact that they now want the citizens of California to change the State Constitution so that they can forever lock in an ever-increasing percentage of the state treasury with no accountability is a bit more than this former community college student can take.