Can Baptist Institutions Solve This Riddle

[Stephen Fox]

And schools previously Baptist and their Sister church related schools.

What are Wake Forest, Samford and Mercer, as examples doing about it

http://community.nytimes.com/comments/w ... sions.html

[Stephen Fox]

Charting a New Course

See Mark Kelly's piece in the Spring 2011 Furman Magazine, Page 24. You may need to enlarge the script to read. Bullet Point 8 is noteworthy'

http://www2.furman.edu/sites/fumag/Docu ... Spring.pdf

[KeithE]

This is truly a sad state of affairs even in state subsidized universities.

My son Todd (with ~1/2 scholarship for being a ministerial student, various part-time jobs, and some our help) managed to get through Samford's high tuition in 2001 and then through Seminary with full scholarship. But these days it would be more difficult; this does represent a bad national problem where only the wealthy or highly gifted/motivated can afford a college education especially at private schools, be they Baptist or not.

BTW, just yesterday Todd (32) and family began moving out after 3 years of living with us due to various financial issues they have faced (one being Christy's - his wife's - student loans). They both get pittants for salaries each being non-senior ministers (one Methodist and one Christian Church). But they will still be close in Hunstville (and our house will be quieter! w/o their 5 year old Carter who is having his typical wake-up issues as I type).

The point is for young people, the challenges do not end with college unless they choose ludcrative careers.

On our cruise I managed to talk with people (or listened to tourists guides) from Faroe Islands (part of Denmark), Iceland, and Halifax Canada. All pay income taxes ranging from 35-50% and those countries (along with all the other Scandavian countries) have free chld care(if needed), free education through PHDs (if wanted and pass tests), universal nearly free health care for life, and retirement income for life as a result of those higher taxes. They without exception (of those I have talked with) love it and would not want the America system. Very proud and happy to be living where they do. Faroe Islands particularly impressive.

So there are very acceptable solutions (multiply proven) to the high cost of advanced education for America (whoops the USA - Canadians bristle at the USA using the term "Americans"). It's just that the RW, the corporate controlled media, and pandering politicians do not give this possibility a fair hearing. Quite frankly I'd retire to one of these countries except for son and daughter and their families are both in Hunstville and my wife likes hot weather.

[Gene Scarborough]

All things human and political have their pluses and minuses, as Keith clearly points out.

What troubles me right now is the angst associated with Social Security and Obamacare---as if they are terribly "evil." We need to step back to the founding of SS as a Trust Fund where loaned money would appreciate in value and keep up with inflation. During the Viet Nam War it was sucked into the General Fund to cover deficites generated by that costly war.

Now we have another financial crisis as a country involved in a more costly war in the Middle East---with control of oil as the real motivational factor.

In addition, there is a world-wide banking crisis thanks to poor regulation under the various governments involved.

Capitalism vs Communism / Socialism is an empty rhetoric of the politicos. A compassionate Capitalism SHOULD always be superior to forced equality. Right now I think the tax system and failed regulatory environment is forcing a modern slavery on too many citizens of this country. It is our own fault for glorifying a lavish consumer lifestyle. We complain about having not enough money, but fail to consider we don't really need a TV (flat screen of course) in every room in the house nor the luxery leather interior of our car---now costing more than my first house in 1970.

Does America have the "inalianable right" to live in luxery and gluttony as a majority of this world lives in poverty and starvation?

Why do we bitch and moan when government can help people with jobs and a reasonable retirement?

Other countries give people a month of vacation / public health care / resources to be comfortable after retirement. Oh--I forgot---we are founded by the Puritans who believed than anything having to do with joy and happiness was "of the devil!"