...."We're owed financial aid. We deserve that financial aid," Ruh said.

Jeff, I too feel the pain of students left out due to budget problems (and their own late financial aid applications), but "owed" is a pretty strong word. Financial aid is a great thing to have in our state - both gift/grants and repayable loans - but it isn't really a right that is "owed" to anyone. No more than "free" health care, "free" transportation or other "free" programs that, of course, are not free at all... just the result of tax revenue being redirected. Don't get me wrong, I hope they can fix the budget issues and release funding for students. But please remember that it is a privilege, not a right.

As far as the tuition freeze and future 4% cap go, both admirable thoughts, but that would come with program cuts, frozen or reduced salaries, a halt in construction and repairs, and caps on financial aid and enrollment. A pretty big pill to swallow and a LOT of people to convince. I guess students, like the rest of us living in an expensive world, will have to find additional sources of income. It IS hard work.

I agree with you that it's a privilege, not a right. I think what Jeff meant was that he was banking (no pun intended) on the aid for the school year. I myself have received aid each year of my education, and it becomes something that you rely on. Perhaps a better solution would have been to warn those students who receive aid in advance that their aid may be limited or nullified completely, so that they then had at least some time to remedy their situation.
I'm not sure if this was even a possibility, or if there were time restraints that would have hindered such a warning. Regardless, it came as a shock to many students.

True enough. But who can predict (or sadly, maybe it is EASY to predict) that the budget would get held up the way it has. And it's somewhat ironic that much of the hold up in Madison is due to arguing about entitlements and how much of a free ride is too much. Health care is a huge issue, but let's face it, free health care isn't free. It's just that someone ELSE is paying for it. Slippery slope when compassionate thinking (nothing wrong with that...give to all the charities you can) leads to outright socialism and thinking that "you over there have too much...I say you give it to them over there with less." Been tried in the world with lackluster results. Let's hope they pass the budget and get back to accepted financial aid levels so we don't pull the rug out from under those who had planned on getting it. I have two in UWEC right now that rely on it...but they ALSO have other jobs. If it went away, they would have to make social choices and extend their work hours. But some notice would be nice....

"Slippery slope when compassionate thinking (nothing wrong with that...give to all the charities you can) leads to outright socialism and thinking that "you over there have too much...I say you give it to them over there with less." ~ Wisabe

I agree overall that socialist thinking isn't exactly appropriate for government. I think social issues like poverty, drug addiction, etc. would be better dealt with by private organizations funded by their communities. That way those areas where people whined the most about helping their neighbor could see all the people sleeping in boxes and maybe have the hypos thrown in their yards.

Financial aid makes it possible for many to go to college and get themselves out of poverty. Being poor is a cycle that perpetuates itself if there is no outside intervention (aka help from fellow citizens).

In the US, it is rare for anyone to experience the type of hunger experienced in 2nd world countries, and the starvation experienced in 3rd world countries is unheard of here. The ONLY reason this is true is because of social support systems.

Obviously our systems aren't entirely effective, and definitely are in need of reform. But financial aid is probably the only program that actually helps the poor increase earning potential. Everything else pretty much just makes sure they aren't out where the rest of us have to see them starving and sleeping in the streets.