Changing social scene

I have found some information about the upward trend of college costs.  Stanley Fish of the New York Times asked Archibald and Feldman about the changes in income distribution over the last 30 years. They contend that people with high levels of education have seen big income gains. Universities rely on highly educated people, as do hospitals, law offices and dental practices, to name a few. Rising income inequality is a force for rising cost in any industry like higher education. And rising income inequality also drives affordability problems.

I believe that this income inequality has created further cost issues for the low income student. Rising income inequality in the United States drives longer-term affordability problems as the unskilled fall further behind the well-educated. For these families, affordability is a real issue. Solving these real affordability problems is hard.

Because of the increasing affordability issues, President Obama has announced an American Graduation Initiative to produce five million more community college by 2020. There is even a popular television comedy, “Community,” set at a two-year college according to Tamar Lewin of the New York Times.
                                                          
It appears that the changing social climate will make it necessary for federal, state, and local interventions to ensure the continuing future of higher education for all people. The idea that education is a "right" can still have some merit, as long as there are those who work to make radical changes in funding.

                                                                       Reference

Fish, S.   (2011).  College costs, the sequel.  New York Times.  Retrieved October 29, 2011 from http://lclane2.net/college4.html