Income Caps for Hope Scholarship (Atlanta, Decatur: middle-class, how much, attorney)

[LovelySummer]

What I do not understand is why it is being said that the Hope is disproportionately being given to kids in the North metro. The question is, is it being denied to the kids that are applying in the south metro and other areas? If it is not and kids in the south metro are getting it, then no big deal who else is getting it. Who cares?

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by LovelySummer

What I do not understand is why it is being said that the Hope is disproportionately being given to kids in the North metro. The question is, is it being denied to the kids that are applying in the south metro and other areas? If it is not and kids in the south metro are getting it, then no big deal who else is getting it. Who cares?

I think that argument may have merit, but it's simply pointing out the problem with the Hope Scholarship. It's a redistribution of wealth from the poor to the middle class. It's not big deal politically, because it's a middle class tax cut, funded by the poor, and like all welfare the recipient never considers the source. Now, if it was a tax on vacation homes, mansions, income over 500k, it would be called socialism. Notice the people on the board who want to keep the status quo, ask them to define the economic class.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by LovelySummer

What I do not understand is why it is being said that the Hope is disproportionately being given to kids in the North metro. The question is, is it being denied to the kids that are applying in the south metro and other areas? If it is not and kids in the south metro are getting it, then no big deal who else is getting it. Who cares?

No, I do not believe that any qualified student is being denied. Perhaps it's as simple as the possibility that there are fewer applicants in the south metro.

[10 feet tall]

Originally Posted by ATL Golfer

I grew up in a middle class area with also a fair amount of wealthy people. I don't know one person who had to take out a student loan or pay for their schooling and 90% of my friends went out of state including myself...Hope was just starting. I know a few folks who had to supplement their living expenses by taking jobs on campus and such, but no one had to bare the full freight....Their parents had the money and they paid for their college.

Out of touch much?

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by onemanarmy

I think that argument may have merit, but it's simply pointing out the problem with the Hope Scholarship. It's a redistribution of wealth from the poor to the middle class. It's not big deal politically, because it's a middle class tax cut, funded by the poor, and like all welfare the recipient never considers the source. Now, if it was a tax on vacation homes, mansions, income over 500k, it would be called socialism. Notice the people on the board who want to keep the status quo, ask them to define the economic class.

How exactly is it funded by the poor? Only poor people buy lottery tickets?

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by Mattie

How exactly is it funded by the poor? Only poor people buy lottery tickets?

"Only" is an absolute term and easily refuted, but the answer to your question is primarily. Lottery tickets are purchased primarily by the poor or working class, funding a lottery system that primarily awards Hope scholarships to children of parents who otherwise pay or contribute to their children's education.

It's such a hard concept to swallow, because no one cares where the money is coming from, until it runs out. Like I said earlier, it's not really the rich who are benefiting from Hope, it's a middle class tax break funded by the poor.

[ATL Golfer]

Originally Posted by 10 feet tall

Out of touch much?

No actually. I fully realize that is not the norm across all income levels. Just an observation that parents who have the money will pay for their child to receive a higher education. The point I'm trying to drive home.

My continued point, the parents are the beneficiary, not the child in situations where the income level doesn't warrant any type of financial assistance.

There may be a few tough love situations out there where the child's parents don't anti up, but that is certainly the exception and not the norm among families who can readily afford college.

How exactly is it funded by the poor? Only poor people buy lottery tickets?

Seriously?

[Ant131531]

Originally Posted by onemanarmy

"Only" is an absolute term and easily refuted, but the answer to your question is primarily. Lottery tickets are purchased primarily by the poor or working class, funding a lottery system that primarily awards Hope scholarships to children of parents who otherwise pay or contribute to their children's education.

It's such a hard concept to swallow, because no one cares where the money is coming from, until it runs out. Like I said earlier, it's not really the rich who are benefiting from Hope, it's a middle class tax break funded by the poor.

And the middle class also get hit the hardest by taxes in other areas. Middle class people are paying for a lot of the lower class welfare.

[ATL Golfer]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

And the middle class also get hit the hardest by taxes in other areas. Middle class people are paying for a lot of the lower class welfare.

Do you feel the lower class welfare folks owe you something and HOPE fills a part of that?

[onemanarmy]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

And the middle class also get hit the hardest by taxes in other areas. Middle class people are paying for a lot of the lower class welfare.

So you are agree the lottery is a tax on the poor. I think you are validating my point, everybody likes handouts that hurt the poor. However, if you say.. make the rich pay for it, people say.. Noooooooooo that's socialism, I'll be rich one day. (although it's unlikely won't).