help?

[Ele'ill]

So I'm 24 and trying to go back to school. I applied for financial aid and am independent and of the lower-working class. Previously I failed a class or two while going to school part time. I was younger but living alone and working 70+ hours a week at a job that I needed to survive. I also did very well in several of my classes.

The problem is that the last two times I tried going back to school I had to drop classes that I had A's in, in order to keep my job that didn't have flexible hours. I am now being denied financial aid because my gpa isn't high enough. I cannot afford classes without financial aid.

I am also considering community housing or food stamps. What are your thoughts?

[pusher robot]

So I'm 24 and trying to go back to school. I applied for financial aid and am independent and of the lower-working class. Previously I failed a class or two while going to school part time. I was younger but living alone and working 70+ hours a week at a job that I needed to survive. I also did very well in several of my classes.

The problem is that the last two times I tried going back to school I had to drop classes that I had A's in, in order to keep my job that didn't have flexible hours. I am now being denied financial aid because my gpa isn't high enough. I cannot afford classes without financial aid.

I am also considering community housing or food stamps. What are your thoughts?

What kind of school are you trying to go back to?

[Ele'ill]

I'm trying to go back to college.


I guess the purpose of this post is to get feedback. I attribute many of my political/social beliefs to anarchism and in order to move ahead with my life and get my head above water I have to break some of my moral laws. Should I feel bad about using government (the people's tax dollars) so that I can live while going to school (community housing etc)?

Or maybe I'm asking, 'what would an anarchist do?'. Which implies I'm a life-stylist. I see a lot of talk about global issues on this forum but I have not seen a lot of personal issues brought up.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

So I'm 24 and trying to go back to school. I applied for financial aid and am independent and of the lower-working class. Previously I failed a class or two while going to school part time. I was younger but living alone and working 70+ hours a week at a job that I needed to survive. I also did very well in several of my classes.

The problem is that the last two times I tried going back to school I had to drop classes that I had A's in, in order to keep my job that didn't have flexible hours. I am now being denied financial aid because my gpa isn't high enough. I cannot afford classes without financial aid.

I am also considering community housing or food stamps. What are your thoughts?

If you're eligable, go for it. Turning down handouts that one is qualified for is simply insane.

[Jazzratt]

I'm trying to go back to college.


I guess the purpose of this post is to get feedback. I attribute many of my political/social beliefs to anarchism and in order to move ahead with my life and get my head above water I have to break some of my moral laws. Should I feel bad about using government (the people's tax dollars) so that I can live while going to school (community housing etc)?

Or maybe I'm asking, 'what would an anarchist do?'. Which implies I'm a life-stylist. I see a lot of talk about global issues on this forum but I have not seen a lot of personal issues brought up.

Oddly this "you rely on the government" thing is generally raised as a criticism of unemployed anarchists (and I know all about the criticisms levelled at them...) by the ignorant. It's perplexing because the eventual goal of anarchism is to have a society based on cooperation where everybody looks after everybody else (more or less, that's a very quick way of explaining it - but going into exactitudes misses the point of this thread) and at the moment the closest thing we have to the help of the rest of society is government (specifically taxes). Government is also the thing that makes capitalism bearable - it sure as fuck ain't bosses setting minimum wages and ruling that firing people for being in unions is unfair dismissal.

(Obviously this doesn't imply an endorsement of post revolutionary statism, just pointing out that the state in its own way has been progressive but will be rendered obsolete (oppressive even) by revolution).

[pusher robot]

College is overrated. Ask yourself if it is really what you want to be doing. Might not your time be better spent, for example, learning a skilled trade or developing a latent talent into mastery?

[Bud Struggle]

College is overrated. Ask yourself if it is really what you want to be doing. Might not your time be better spent, for example, learning a skilled trade or developing a latent talent into mastery?

Pusher Robot speaketh sooth:

Interesting article: America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree

http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i34/34b01701.htm

[IcarusAngel]

Well, I was prepared to flame you two, but that is an interesting and sad article.

I'm in an engineering field (although it's not actually engineering really, more theoretrical, CS), and I've seen a lot of engineers flunk right out. The professors know this, and sometimes I've heard them remark things like "well, looks like half the class has given up" as the number of students dwindles down.

It is sad to see families spending so much money, only to see the kids not make it. On the other hand, college is challenging and you actually can learn a lot of value about the world. College can encourage you to push yourself.


As for this crap about anarchism, you have to wonder if the guy is a serious anarchist to begin with if that's his biggest concern about taking money.

As any anarchist knows, in a capitalist society, nearly everything is connected with the state. Every single industry. You couldn't breathe if you tried to avoid the state.

Many anarchists have also been part of the University systems, or were scientists.

The way to "live anarchist," or communist, if you must, is to try and minimize the harmful effects of your actions on workers. Taxation is actually one of the smallest areas workers are hurt - if anything, they benefit from such a system, because the "lower castes" are given opportunities other caste-like societies didn't have - the chance to more easily move up into the higher castes.

[redSHARP]

hit up the local communisty college. if that fails, try a trade job and join a union, some actually might pay for schooling. if that fails, join the military.:rolleyes:

night classes are a fine way to go, but i dont know how things work in PA. even if you get an associates degree through the mail, you are slightly better off.

take the aid no matter what, but check if there are strings attached.

[Bud Struggle]

Well, I was prepared to flame you two, but that is an interesting and sad article.

Well, thank you. :) The situation here is a 24yo with no cash that needs to go through 4 years of college to become....what at 28? What can she study to become some sort of professional? It's too late for the History, English, Philosophy route--she needs to make money. Best to go to a CC and get an AS degree as a (for example) dental hygenist who can get a job in a heartbeat--that is something better than a history major with no hope of a job and 50k in debt.

I'm as much a fan of a "educational" college degree as the next guy (Georgetown, AB Classics :rolleyes:) but unless you are prepaired to make your own way in the world--it's a bit too risky. There are lots of really rewarding careers just under the skin of the "college graduate degree."



The way to "live anarchist," or communist, if you must, is to try and minimize the harmful effects of your actions on workers.

As to being an "anarchist"--at 24, it's time to grow up. :(

[Dr Mindbender]

So I'm 24 and trying to go back to school. I applied for financial aid and am independent and of the lower-working class. Previously I failed a class or two while going to school part time. I was younger but living alone and working 70+ hours a week at a job that I needed to survive. I also did very well in several of my classes.

The problem is that the last two times I tried going back to school I had to drop classes that I had A's in, in order to keep my job that didn't have flexible hours. I am now being denied financial aid because my gpa isn't high enough. I cannot afford classes without financial aid.

I am also considering community housing or food stamps. What are your thoughts?

do you have mail order courses in the states?

I would recommend doing one while getting yourself a modest job to support yourself while you get the qualifications to get a decent 'career' type job.

That is my strategy, at least.

I dont know about the states, but over here we have this (http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/index.htm?KWCAMPAIGN=zed_Brand_Exact&keywordid=ggluk_open_university)

[pusher robot]

As to this:

I'm trying to go back to college.
Should I feel bad about using government (the people's tax dollars) so that I can live while going to school (community housing etc)?


I wouldn't feel too bad about it. If you become a working, productive citizen, you'll end up having far more stolen from you by the government than you'll ever receive from them. Think of it as trying to win back a portion of what has been and will be stolen from you.

[Dr Mindbender]

As to this:


I wouldn't feel too bad about it. If you become a working, productive citizen, you'll end up having far more stolen from you by the government than you'll ever receive from them..

what do the public services in america run on? Sunshine and lollipops?

[Jazzratt]

As to being an "anarchist"--at 24, it's time to grow up. :(

So this guy is an example of somone who never "grew up"?:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Rudolf_Rocker.jpg/225px-Rudolf_Rocker.jpg

Attack anarchism as the sole province of frustrated teenagers is intellectually dishonest.

[Bud Struggle]

Attack anarchism as the sole province of frustrated teenagers is intellectually dishonest.

Yea, I sounded a bit harsh.

I probably should have said that if you try to live your life like you were living in "some other society" with different rules and structures--you are bound to have a lot of frustrations and difficulties. Idealism of one's youth sometimes must bend to the pragmatism of life in the society that exists rather than the society that we wish for.

That Rocker guy is pretty interesting--I actually never heard of him before. I read the Wiki article--I'll look for more info. Thanks for the heads up on him.

[pusher robot]

what do the public services in america run on? Sunshine and lollipops?

Nope. Cold, hard, cash, stolen from those who have it and spent on or given to those who don't. I think we're both making the same point, mate! Cheers!

[Dr Mindbender]

Nope. Cold, hard, cash, stolen from those who have it and spent on or given to those who don't. I think we're both making the same point, mate! Cheers!
you're implying that it's a waste of money.

How do you know mari3l isnt dependent or at least a regular user of public services (as im sure a lot of low income americans also are)?

Next time you need a cop car or fire engine will you be asking for a refund rather than their service? I somehow doubt it.

[Jazzratt]

Nope. Cold, hard, cash, stolen from those who have it and spent on or given to those who don't. I think we're both making the same point, mate! Cheers!

:laugh: "stolen" :laugh: God you whining rich types really fucking crack me up.

[pusher robot]

you're implying that it's a waste of money.

How's that? Emphasizing that it is acquired by force doesn't say anything about whether it's used wisely. Are you suggesting that if a mugger steals your wallet and spends your money better than you would have, it wasn't stolen?


How do you know mari3l isnt dependent or at least a regular user of public services (as im sure a lot of low income americans also are)?


I don't, i.e., my qualification, "if you become a working, productive citizen...."


Next time you need a cop car or fire engine will you be asking for a refund rather than their service? I somehow doubt it.

Obviously not, since I don't have the choice. It would be as futile as nicely asking the mugger for your wallet back.


:laugh: "stolen" :laugh: God you whining rich types really fucking crack me up.

Laugh all you want. Try not paying every penny the taxman demands and see how voluntary it is.

[Demogorgon]

Laugh all you want. Try not paying every penny the taxman demands and see how voluntary it is.
It does not follow from it not being voluntary that it is theft. The reality of society is that we all must do certain things that we would rather not. It is called social responsibility.

[Qwerty Dvorak]

So I'm 24 and trying to go back to school. I applied for financial aid and am independent and of the lower-working class. Previously I failed a class or two while going to school part time. I was younger but living alone and working 70+ hours a week at a job that I needed to survive. I also did very well in several of my classes.

The problem is that the last two times I tried going back to school I had to drop classes that I had A's in, in order to keep my job that didn't have flexible hours. I am now being denied financial aid because my gpa isn't high enough. I cannot afford classes without financial aid.

I am also considering community housing or food stamps. What are your thoughts?
It's your own damn fault you bum. Stop being such a communist and face your destiny!

[Dr Mindbender]

Obviously not, since I don't have the choice. .

the same applies to wage slavery. The Randists, Lassaiz faire economists and liberals claim that it is my choice to do a crappy job yet i have no choice due to accident of birth.

If some asshole breaks into your house and steals your flatscreen tv a working class person could equally argue why should he pay taxes to help the cops track down the culprit?

Stop crying and get over it. Taxes arent nice, but theyve gotta be paid and everyone uses public services, i dont care who you are.