European Activism vs American Apathy… Why are we lazy? –SMZ
Since 1982, college tuition in the United States has increased by 439% which is more than 4 times the rate of inflation.Until 1997, British students paid next to nothing to attend a university. In 1998, Parliament began instituting small tuition fees which have been steadily increasing. In 2009, it cost a British student $5,000 a year for an education. In December of 2010, the British Parliament passed a bill that trippled the tuition to $15,000- peaceful student demonstrations against the proposed bill quickly exploded into chaos and destruction once the motion was executed. Students were smashing windows, peeing on Winston Churchill, ripping down the Union Jack, and even attacking the car carrying Charles and Camilla. The Brits are ballsy- they even messed with royalty. In America, $15,000 a year for school would be considered a “bargain” by most with our college price tags running upwards of $50,000 a year. Why are we so lazy and accepting of being slaves to money?
Students of the Arts and Humanities worry that huge price tags on education will push people to study engineering/medicine/more lucrative jobs and subsequently force the arts schools to shut down. Students all over the UK feel as though they have been severely betrayed and are fighting to maintain a democratic society. One of the student protestors, Nina Power, told The Guardian that “It was a protest against the narrowing of horizons; a protest against Lib Dem hypocrisy; a protest against the increasingly utilitarian approach to human life that sees degrees as nothing but “investments” by individuals, and denies any link between education and the broader social good.” http://www.alternet.org/economy/149398/why_aren’t_us_students_rioting_over_crazy_tuition_hikes_like_college_kids_in_europe
Deep down in the heart of every American, the belief of a greater social good and investing in the future must sound important right? Doesn’t that sound logical in order to increase the well being and greatness of a country? The Vice Chair of Swedish National Union of Students, Robin Moberg was distressed by the decision made by Sweden to charge non-EU students (EU students are still free) due to the economic downturn because his country believes “higher education is fundamentally apart of society.”
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1976724,00.html
As a student wishing to pursue art, I acknowledge that its my dream and not my reality. I somberly realize that I’ll most likely have to sell my soul and work in Advertising or Public Relations or another unsatisfying job to pay off the exorbitant amount of debt I’m already in at the age of 21. It sounds like a sob story- I know not everyone gets to follow their dreams but in other countrys they at least have time and freedom to realistically try. Also as an artist, if I go too long without creating I become anxious and depressed. As a person with passion and conviction, I become filled with anger at the thought of doing something out of line with my moral compass and social values. Colleges are no longer enabling greater democratic citizenship- they are instead producing wage earners. My life plan is proof positive of this.
Europeans pay far more taxes than we do but we still pay as much as we did when education was considerably more affordable 30 years ago- when someone could actually wash dishes to put themselves through school. Fifty cents of every tax dollar is spent on our military industrial complex- the money doesn’t benefit our soldiers before people get all self righteous and scream about how they have family who are serving- the money goes to corporations. The idea of a public university supported by tax payer money is an ideal that no longer exists. In 2009, the University of Virgina received 8% of their funding from the state. Umass Amherst receives 24% of its funding fron the state of Massachusetts. How do we get our money? Well they keep raising our fees every year for starters. I work at the Annual Fund raising money for the school- last year we raised over 2.6 million dollars by harassing our hardworking alumni. They are often confused and say “But I pay my taxes and Umass is a public school?”- the lie runs deep. Additionally, the distribution of wealth needs to be considered when examining student debt/budget cuts. In 2010, President Wilson received a compensation package of $546,000 ($425k salary) which is up from 07/08 where he received a compensation package totalling $473,200. Chancellor Holub received a compensation package of $420,00 in 2010. These guys are getting pay increases when they already make such a large amount while we have to fork over more money for a worse education than we were getting before (budget cuts= program cuts and larger class sizes). How is that democratic?
UMass Amherst student protest last March- notice the discrepencies in size/unity/passion compared to London campuses.
British students felt defeat but feel that the war is not over. American students rarely do anything about their bleak circumstances. The new bill in Britain will be effective in 2012- along the 200% increase in tuition comes a change in when students are expected to start paying their loans. Previously, students had to start paying when their salary reached $21,500. This has been increased to $33,200. Numbers wise, its not exactly inline with the increase but its still better than our situation- in America it doesn’t matter if you went to a university for $50,000 a year and can only land a job at McDonalds post graduation- tough shit, you better pay up.
Recently, the University of California system increased their fees by a whopping 32%. Student outcry was statewide but still not quite as intense and largescale as that of London.
**FOR PRESENTATION- 1:04**
Note how the reporter states that they must be inspired by the recent arab uprisings… Oh really? What about the recent student uprisings in Europe? Nevermind England, Italian and Austrian students have had just as big protests as in the UK. Massive student protests in Austria in 2009 were in response to underfunding, corporatization, and overcrowding. StudentActivisim.net blogger describes the incidents as almost completely absent from the English speaking media.
http://studentactivism.net/2009/10/30/austria-protests/
The corporate and government controlled media breeds disinformation and shallow reporting that neglect issues that are of the utmost importance. News organizations don’t investigate where our tax money is going or where our tuition money is going for that matter.
We could do so much better. There is this illusion that America is the best country in the world- a great super power full of opportunity- the American Dream. The reality is that the United States almost never reaches the top 10 in studies measuring happiest countries. In a Gallop World Poll evaluating subjective well being and overall happiness/satisfaction, the United States comes in at #14. Sure we’re the richest in terms of GDP but when we’re all on our death beds with our lives flashing before our eyes, is it going to matter if our country technically was the wealthiest when we’ve spent 66 years slaving away at an unsatisfying job? The United States placed 62nd in feeling well rested.
In happiness studies, Norway and Denmark are almost always in first place. All of the top 10 are borderline socialist states with generous welfare benefits, civil liberites, redistribution of wealth, and excel in securing entrepreneurship/opportunity.
If social democracies are so successful in producing a populace of happy and educated citizens then why shouldn’t our country get off its corporatist high horse and give it a shot?
Apathy in this country is deep seated especially in the youth. People who are activists, often set their sights over sees- on the problems of other countries. The people who are making the most noise are the misinformed/ the ignorant/ the Tea Party. We need to overcome this apathy with first educating ourselves. Seek truth. We must empower ourselves with hope and unacceptance. This isn’t just the “way it is”- there are things that made it this way and there are things that can unmake it.
To be fair- the costs of higher education in the US have been rising more steadily over a longer period of time than that in some of the European countries. It might contribute to the lack of outcry from students as they sign their lives away at the mere hope of getting a job.
We must have open discussions about our higher education system and the overall state and priorities of our nation. Silence is deadly.
Imagine.
GENERATION DEBT 