Measure 30’s failure means lost hope
Since the fall of Measure 30 I’ve been struck with a feeling of lost hope. As statistics prove, a large majority of voters are college-educated. Among other statistics, this stands out the most to me in light of the surcharge tax increase proposition because those in opposition to the measure were the ones most affected by it, those with money to lose.
Currently being enrolled at the University, I’ve tried to view my education as something more than a means to future financial stability. Each class has something to offer me as I begin to take part in the sculpting of not only my future, but the future of every generation to come. With that I find that I am directing my studies more towards the good of humanity than personal success as defined in our current materialistic media. I had hope that others who have graduated from colleges all over the United States have discovered this same attempt at generosity, at directing individual efforts towards the community, city and nation as a whole.
This idea has been kicked down, and my gut aches as I slowly understand that even a college education doesn’t produce advocates of a progressive society, not in large part anyway. I thought that maybe a college education helped people understand inequality and lack of equal opportunity, and encourage people to help out when they have the means.
Not only am I questioning the purpose of this education, now I’m even questioning whether I have the right priorities … maybe achievement is defined in monetary value.

Nicholas Wilbur

sophomore

pre-journalism