Mike Meeropol wonders: >But the average student that I've taught has bought the "anyone can make it" >ideology lock, stock 'n' barrel! > >I can't believe it's that bad at state supported institutions where there's >more solidly working-class students. At least I hope not! Um... I'm afraid you're neglecting the gigantic increases in the costs of so- called 'state-supported' institutions. Maybe it's different elsewhere, but I'm not sure I'd call UMass a 'working class' anything at this point. But you're basic point is well-taken. It occurs to me that one of the un-fortunate consequences of the passing of generations who lived through the Great Depression is that Americans have forgotten what was painfully obvious in the 30s: that capitalism can't employ everybody, that left to its own devices it's prone to self-destruct, and that many people are ruined through no fault of their own by the workings of the economy. yours, --Mike Parkhurst [EMAIL PROTECTED]