op ed final draft "Pay it Forward"

Amanda Dailey

October 9, 2012

English 2

Op ed

Pay it Forward

                The economic crisis can be felt throughout the country, but being a student in California’s state schools, you may feel the squeeze get a little tighter. In the past two years California has made over 30 billion dollars in budget cuts, during which public education took a hard hit. With 2.8 billion dollars being cut from California’s higher education alone, we are looking at 6 billion more dollars being gone by the next fiscal year. With these spending cuts California has been ranked 47^th out of 50 states in per pupil spending. This corner cutting not only affects the students, but faculty and teachers, followed by the quality of education provided to said students. With a budget this low tuition costs of UCs and CSUs are said to increase 10 percent to cover school’s debt, along with class cuts, and layoffs of faculty and staff. With California’s working force future in jeopardy, a new plan must be made.

One solution, proposed by Governor Jerry Brown would mean a tax hike followed by billions of dollars in revenue for our schools and public safety. Proposition 30, is a proposal for a temporary increase in income and sales tax for California state residents, with an increase of 1% to 3% tax rate on taxable income over 250,000 dollars, and a .25% tax hike on sales tax. Based on the California Franchise Tax Board, the tax increase is imposed on California’s top 3% of tax payers.  These tax increases are said to bring an estimates 6.8 to 9 billion dollars in revenue. Proposition 30 decreases class cuts, avoids tuition hikes, prevents a 250 million dollar cut to CSU’s , and frees up 5.6 billion in funding that goes to other public services. Proposition 30 guarantees public safety funding, which can’t be touched without voter approval, and restores balance to our budget, helping to pay off state debt. The Yes on Prop 30 official website goes on record saying “Prop. 30 funding is subject to an independent audit every year to ensure it is being spent only for schools and public safety”(yes).  With what seems like such a low cost for such wealthy California’s following the benefits that exceed all of us, I as a college student say, why not?

                In opposition by the Howard Arvis Tax Payers Association, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and countless other small business organizations, these tax hikes are said to be greatly inconvenient . Their informational websites do nothing more than low blow our current politicians “The politicians behind Prop 30 can’t keep track of the money they have, they award pay raises to staff, spend billions on the bullet train to nowhere, and refuse to reform wasteful spending”(Stop), and talk in circles of the tax hike. The only real information I could find in opposition of this grace saving proposition would be the tax increase on “all” Americans that they keep mentioning. This tax increase on all, is the state sales tax that would increase, inconvenient, but much needed.

What seems to be more prevalent in the research of Proposition 30 is not its benefits, or counter arguments, but the devastating affects if this proposition does not pass. Held over our heads is the dooming 6 billion in immediate cuts to schools from K-12 and state higher education.  The non-solution would propose grade schools to cut 3 weeks of school, and per pupil spending would go from a mighty low 1000 dollars to 700 dollars. These affects might feel more prominent to college students like myself, when state community colleges would be cut 338 million dollars in the middle of the year. Community colleges have already been asked to stretch a very thin dollar. Winter and summer courses are already a rare commodity where I’m from, and enrollment has only decreased more than 485,000 students. With class sizes and layoffs increasing while course selection and staffing decrease, what does this mean for our future as a state?

California’s community colleges provide the largest work force training in the nation. The Public Policy of California estimates “with enrollment decreasing nearly half of a million students in 3 years, by 2025 California will face a shortage of 1 million college degree and certificate holders needed to fuel its workforce”.  California’s community colleges educate 70 percent of our states nurses, and  train 80 percent of our states fire fighters, law enforcement, and medical technicians. But if you, like me, a student at a community college looking to transfer, you have nothing but more tuition costs to look forward to. Without proposition 30, students will be turned from the degree they want because of costs, which effects all of our future’s as California residents.

With students turning away from higher education, degrees and certificates in training, what will our future hold? As a 20 year old student, am I looking towards working more hours for lower wages? Our perception of the “American dream” stays the same with our reality contradicting it. America being an immigrant nation, my own parents came to California from Mexico with hopes for me and my siblings. Raised in a catholic home, attending private all girl catholic schools, I always understood the importance of education. I try to never take the opportunities in front of me for granted, but will mine and my parents plan of a degree, which I’ve had since grade school be diminished if my parents can’t afford to send me to the school of my choice. I’m sure there are a lot of families like mine in California that fall into a middle class range, who don’t qualify for state funded financial aid but are expected to pay the tens of thousands of dollars in university tuition. Its families like these that have the hardest time. We’ve all been taught to work hard and get what you deserve; well our current state budget contradicts that. I don’t think we should work hard our entire educational careers to pay more.

With our state schools feeling the budget cuts more than ever, we need a change this year. Proposition 30 seems like mercy to our already larger class sizes and smaller faculty numbers. With a promise to aid 6 billion dollars to our state schools and other public safety services, Proposition 30 becomes the lesser of two evils by only raising income tax on those who individually earn more than 250,000 dollars a year and increasing sales tax by only .25%. No other solution to our budget crisis, produces as much revenue with such little tax hike. Proposition 30 benefits all communities with guaranteed funding for public safety, and the future of our state with more education available and more students able to attend higher education. Perhaps you should vote yes on Proposition 30 because you, yourself are not in the top 3% of California earners, or maybe vote yes because you believe everyone deserves the opportunity to fulfill their dreams.

Bibiography

Yes on Prop 30. 2012. Yes 30 Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act. 1 Oct. 2012 < http://www.yesonprop30.com/>.

Stop Proposition 30 – The$ 50 Billion Tax Hike. 2012. No on 30. 1 Oct. 2012 < http://www.stopprop30.com/>.

Impact of Budget Cuts on the California Community Colleges & Value of the System to California. 2012. California Community Colleges Offices. 1 Oct. 2012 < http://californiacommunitycolleges.cccco.edu/PolicyInAction/KeyFacts.aspx>.

Bradley, William. "Jerry Brown: Gearing Up a Campaign at Last?" The Huffington Post. thehuffingtonpost.com, 22 Sept. 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

Pay it Forward op ed paper rough draft

Amanda Dailey

October 9, 2012

English 2

Op ed

Pay it Forward

                The economic crisis can be felt throughout the country, but being a student in California’s state schools, you may feel the squeeze get a little tighter. In the past two years California has made over 30 billion dollars in budget cuts, during which public education took a hard hit. With 2.8 billion dollars being cut from California’s higher education alone, we are looking at 8 billion more dollars being gone by the next fiscal year. With these spending cuts California has been ranked 47^th out of 50 states in per pupil spending. This corner cutting not only affects the students, but faculty and teachers, followed by the quality of education provided to said students. With a budget this low tuition costs are said to increase 10 percent to cover school’s debt, along with class cuts, and layoffs of faculty and staff. With California’s working force future in jeopardy, a new plan must be made.

One solution, proposed by Governor Jerry Brown would mean a tax hike followed by billions of dollars in revenue for our schools and public safety. Proposition 30, is a proposal for a temporary increase in income and sales tax for California state residents, with an increase of 10.3% tax rate on taxable income over 250,000 dollars, and a .25% tax hike on sales tax. Based on the California Franchise Tax Board, the tax increase is imposed on California’s top 3% of tax payers.  These tax increases are said to bring an estimates 6.8 to 9 billion dollars in revenue. Proposition 30 decreases class cuts, avoids tuition hikes, prevents a 250 million dollar cut to CSU’s , and frees up 5.6 billion in funding that goes to other public services. Proposition 30 guarantees public safety funding, which can’t be touched without voter approval, and restores balance to our budget, helping to pay off state debt. With what seems like such a low cost for such wealthy California’s following the benefits that exceed all of us, I as a college student say, why not?

What seems to be more prevalent in the research of Proposition 30 is not its benefits, or counter arguments, but the devastating affects if this proposition does not pass. Held over our heads is the dooming 6 billion in immediate cuts to schools from K-12 and state higher education.  The non-solution would propose grade schools to cut 3 weeks of school, and per pupil spending would go from a mighty low 1000 dollars to 700 dollars. These affects might feel more prominent to college students like myself, when state community colleges would be cut 338 million dollars in the middle of the year. Community colleges have already been asked to stretch a very thin dollar. Winter and summer courses are already a rare commodity where I’m from, and enrollment has only decreased more than 485,000 students. With class sizes and layoffs increasing while course selection and staffing decrease, what does this mean for our future as a state?

California’s community colleges provide the largest work force training in the nation. The Public Policy of California estimates “with enrollment decreasing nearly half of a million students in 3 years, by 2025 California will face a shortage of 1 million college degree and certificate holders needed to fuel its workforce”.  California’s community colleges educate 70 percent of our states nurses, and  train 80 percent of our states fire fighters, law enforcement, and medical technicians. But if you like me, a student at a community college looking to transfer, you have nothing but more tuition costs to look forward to. Without proposition 30, students will be turn from the degree they want because of costs, which effects all of our future’s as California residents.

With students turning away from higher education, degrees and certificates in training, what will our future hold? As a 20 year old student, am I looking towards working more hours for lower wages? Our perception of the “American dream” stays the same with our reality contradicting it. America being an immigrant nation, my own parents came to California from Mexico with hopes for me and my siblings. Raised in a catholic home, attending private all girl catholic schools, I always understood the importance of education. I try to never take the opportunities in front of me for granted, but will mine and my parents plan of a degree, which I’ve had since grade school be diminished if my parents can’t afford to send me to the school of my choice. I’m sure there are a lot of families like mine in California that fall into a middle class range, who don’t qualify for state funded financial aid but are expected to pay the tens of thousands of dollars in university tuition. Its families like these that have the hardest time. We’ve all been taught to work hard and get what you deserve; well our current state budget contradicts that. I don’t think we should work hard our entire educational careers to pay more.

No other solution to our budget crisis, produces as much revenue with such little tax hike. Proposition 30 benefits all communities with guaranteed funding for public safety, and the future of our state with more education available and more students able to attend higher education. In opposition, I understand how the Nation Federation of Independent Business California opposes Proposition 30, but I myself am not in the top 3% of income tax payers. I do not make over 250,000 dollars a year, but I think those who do, can afford to pay more taxes, because we all live on this earth, and we are here to help one another.

Proposal

     Our entire country is in an economic crisis, and one of the most important public services is suffering the most. Public education and Higher education in California are suffering from an extremely low budget with only more budget cuts to look forward too. A Proposition focusing on business owners and citizens with an income over 250,000 dollars a year may be the solution to pull our public education system out of the plunge. As a college student myself it is hard to ignore the state of our economy. Our state budget has an effect on all of us, even a middle class average student in Santa Cruz. Besides students, this proposition will benefit everyone in the state since it also gives revenue to other necessary public services such as public safety. Young people in California need to make a decision on Proposition 30, it will undoubtfully shape our future as a state and country.

     Not only am I a student at a California communnity college, but I also rely on state funded financial aid financial aid to attend school. I have a background of attending Private Catholic schools from first to tenth grade and have also experienced public high school and community colleges. I can speak as someone who has witnessed and experienced alterior forms of education.
Any reader could trust my judgement on our state's school system because I can contrast it towards other forms of education.
  
     My mother was an  immigrant from Mexico, her entire family moving to this area to pick and handle produce. Since childhood my mother has engrained in me the importance of education. My saintly mother also worked very hard to send me to the best private college - prep schools in her area. I recognize my mother and her strength, and understand how important it is to seek out my degree, and go for it. My own mother, a graduate from Santa Clara University, makes alot more money than her mother before her, but not nearly enough to afford the tuition of a UC or California state school. Will all of my mother's hard work be for nothing? Will my dream of obtaining a degree be unobtainable without Proposition 30?

     We are experiencing a budget cut already here at Cabrillo College - 400 classes have been cut already in the last few years. Proposition 30 based on a income tax increase on anyone earning more than 250,000 dollars a year, and in turn provides funding for K through 12th grade and higher education in California. If Proposition 30 does pass not only does public education benefit, but 5.6 billion dollars in funding is freed up and available for other public services like health care.
 I would hope that with these facts I have presented, the public wouldn't be able to ignore the potential gain that could come from the passing of Proposition 30, and would see it is necessary for our state right now.

annotated bibliography

Bradley, William. "Jerry Brown: Gearing Up a Campaign at Last?" The Huffington Post. thehuffingtonpost.com, 22 Sept. 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

This article was written by Bradley William and featured in The Huffington Post. This article was a good source because it explained in lamence terms the condition of proposition 30 and the effects it would have on people like me, while also providing video clips and information on other relating propositions. This article would be considered bias, because there was a sense of disproval on a proposition that would act as an "achilles heel" to the low income voter. He then goes on to explain how Jerry Brown will need to convince low income voters to "sacrifice for the greater good" in order for Proposition 30 to pass. Jerry Brown's past mostly being on the republican side of California's elections, this whole thing may be a move towards re- election.

York, Anthony. "PolitiCal." Business Group Endorses Proposition 30 Tax Measure. Los Angeles Times, 24 Sept. 2012. Web. 24 Sept. 2012.

This article was a very short, too the point, easy to understand source by Anthony York in The Los Angeles Times. The articles describes a boost in Jerry Browns campaign when Proposition 30 became supported by a Bay Area Bussiness group. They describe this as a change after he lost substantial support when he abandoned his plan of extending a series of tax hikes set up by Arnold Shwarznegger. Now many of the groups that once supported brown remain neutral. This Bay Area Bussiness group plans on accepting the new financial burden in hope for California.

RR

I read "Para Teresa" by Hernandez-Avila in our English 2 textbooks. Para Teresa was a poem written by a Hispanic woman in her 40's, who was addressing an issue she had when she was a child with another child. In the poem this woman is trying to explain herself to the other woman. She is trying to explain her own feelings, and explain that she understood the other woman's feelings as well. In the poem she recalling an incident that happened on a particular day, but is also adressing the animosity that this woman named Teresa had towards her. She describes her life growing up in a world where Hispanic people were obviously not viewed as equal, and how that shaped her. She speaks of this social taboo, but never really explains it to us.

In the second question, of the questions prompted after the texts, it asks, "What attitudes toward school and the majority culture do Teresa and the speaker represent?". I think the speakers views on education are pretty clear, but what wasn't said and was expected was this idea that her high view on education wasn't shared by everyone around her. The speaker elaborates on how she works hard in school, and how her family who also works hard everyday still helps with school. She talks about how much school matters to her family, "I studied for my parents and for my grandparents who out honor roll lists whenever their nietos names appeared. But she also says, which I thought was so peculiar was "I did nothing for the teachers, I studied for my parents and my grandparents". As if Teresa was accusing her of being on the side of the teacher. There is some form of defiance from Teresa obviously in that she doesn't go along with teachers, or her school work, and attacks other little girls in the bathroom at school. The speaker also has some form of defiance because she is going against what her peers, other Hispanic girls her age think is right. When arguing on both sides of rebellion, its hard to understand Teresa's side, in that I was never taught to go against education, I was always taught it was a valuable tool. Although I believe the poem was not so much about Teresa not wanting education or school, but more of a cultural struggle of the times, that we wouldn't understand.

In this poem the author is obviously using pathos to form her argument towards Teresa, the argument that "she understands". Her first stance in the poem begins with, in Spanish translated "to you, Teresa, I dedicate these words that explode from my heart." She is not trying to hide the fact that this is an emotional letter, and is hoping to use emotion to show Teresa that she is empathic towards her. In this poem though, she is also using ethos to establish her credibility in proving that her in Teresa are one in the same. So that she'll listen to her. She also trys to establish her credibility by in a way excusing her self for working so hard in school, by saying she worked so hard only for her family.

Week 1

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/16/local/la-me-brown-taxes-20120816

1.       In my opinion maybe “Para Teresa” was written in Spanish because it was a note to Teresa and she indicated they were both Hispanic. I think maybe she was trying to show her that they were one of the same, that they came from the same place. I first read the poem how it was, not noticing the translation in the foot notes. After I read it again in completion, in English, I loved it. I completely related to the girl writing this. I was raised the same way as the author, sent to private catholic school by my Hispanic family, wanting me to go further in school than they were able to. I was also raised not allowed to wear makeup or dye my hair, I wasn’t allowed to paint my nails til I was 16! Also like the author, I never resented my family for it, I accepted my family for who they were and loved being apart of it. I think the author was trying to explain herself to Teresa, to make her understand that she understood her.

2.       This poem was written reflectively, much later than when the event in the bathroom occurred. Both girls were in elementary school, but it had a lasting impression on the author, for her to be writing about it when she was already 28. She says in her poem, in Spanish “Because I recognized a great truth then that made me a rebel” I think that “great truth” stuck with her, her entire life and she was just now expressing it. Now able to express what she couldn’t as a child. In elementary school she probably had no words to explain what education meant to her and why she was doing what she was, she was just a child being attacked in a restroom, but as an adult she not only understands herself and Teresa, she accepts her, and what happened. She ends the poem, in Spanish “And do you know what, I understand you. Even more, I respect you. And, if you permit me, I name you my sister.”

6.       The article I found on Proposition 30 was from The Los Angeles Times on August 16, 2012. The title was “Gov. Jerry Brown formally kicks off Prop. 30 tax hike campaign”. This article focuses on the governor of California Jerry Brown beginning his campaign for proposition 30, which is a 1 to 3 percent tax increase for residents earning more than 250,000 dollars a year, which in turn should give about 8 billion to public schools and universities. In Jerry Brown’s words about the proposition “It’s about taking money from the most blessed and giving to the schools”. The article goes on to describe an opposing proposition, prop 38, which vows to earn more money for schools than prop 30, but there is a tax increase for anyone earning more than 7,316 dollars a year. Which is everybody!  Concerns from the community, mostly local business owners, making more than 250,000$ a year, saying that this “presentation is a shell game” that the money won’t be used for schools. In my opinion, hiking taxes for the people who earn that much money a year, couldn’t be a bad thing.

I am

My name is Amanda-Elizabeth Stewart Dailey, and I am in an English 2 class at Cabrillo College. I am a 20 year old artist, daughter, sister, neice, and aunt. I am apart of a huge close family, and wouldn't have it any other way. What I could bring to a class room, what I would consider a gift is my openness, my friendliness. I am a very easy person to talk to, I am social, and a leader so in any group activity or class discussion I love to speak my opinion, and listen to others. I'm interested in the thoughts of all my great peers and cabrillo, and hope my open minded - ness will contribute to this exciting class.