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re: Why do Louisiana conservatives like TOPS?
Posted on 6/24/18 at 11:52 pm to LSURussian
Posted on 6/24/18 at 11:52 pm to LSURussian
I have known someone who received most of his TOPs check, since his education was paid for by an academic scholarship. Any monies received over and above school expenses should have to be repaid to the state.
This post was edited on 6/24/18 at 11:56 pm
2
Posted on 6/24/18 at 11:55 pm to SaintsnTigers1
I'm going to believe the TOPS website before I believe your "I know a guy" explanation. But thanks anyway....
ETA: You edited your post that I replied to....
ETA: You edited your post that I replied to....
quote:TOPS money is paid by the state directly to the school not to the student.
Any monies received over and above school expenses should have to be repaid to the state.
This post was edited on 6/24/18 at 11:59 pm
Posted on 6/24/18 at 11:59 pm to Bjorn Cyborg
quote:Perfect. I don’t have to be ideologically inconsistent here.
If you are against Tops, then you must be against public education in general.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 12:07 am to GeauxxxTigers23
I'm not so much against public education, but:
1. Pay for your own kids' college and don't expect other taxpayers to foot the bill
2. Drastically cut state support for elementary/secondary schools and pass on to the parish level. The people at the local level can best decide how much they want to spend on public education (as is the practice in almost every other state).
1. Pay for your own kids' college and don't expect other taxpayers to foot the bill
2. Drastically cut state support for elementary/secondary schools and pass on to the parish level. The people at the local level can best decide how much they want to spend on public education (as is the practice in almost every other state).
Posted on 6/25/18 at 12:11 am to Lsujacket66
quote:
It’s literally socialized education and a ridiculous program with the requirements so weak.
Regardless of the level of merit required, it does require some merit and effort to get TOPS.
TOPS is one of the few things that is a positive use of tax dollars.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 12:15 am to The Pirate King
#1 it requires little merit to get TOPs
#2 it is a terrible use of taxpayer $ to fund this social program. A much better idea would be to cut taxes for those that pay taxes so the $ could be pumped back into the lousy LA economy.
#2 it is a terrible use of taxpayer $ to fund this social program. A much better idea would be to cut taxes for those that pay taxes so the $ could be pumped back into the lousy LA economy.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 12:20 am to bmy
quote:
Why is a capitalist system of education better than a taxpayer funded/socialized one?
All you have to do is look at public schools vs private schools. It's pretty simple.
Public schools aren't accountable to anyone other than the diversity mob, and the results speak for themselves. Liberals have turned many public schools into daycare centers for dysfunctional, low-IQ blacks and hispanics.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 12:21 am to SaintsnTigers1
Tops is a great equalizer to allow people from all financial standings to go to college.
Yeah, let’s take money from kids trying to better themselves and raise the education level of LA and give it to the taxpayers to frivously waste on cars and TV’s. Brilliant
Yeah, let’s take money from kids trying to better themselves and raise the education level of LA and give it to the taxpayers to frivously waste on cars and TV’s. Brilliant
This post was edited on 6/25/18 at 12:22 am
Posted on 6/25/18 at 12:31 am to The Pirate King
BUT you don't need TOPs as an equalizer; they are already in place. The poor can get need-based assistance. There are plenty of merit scholarships for the deserving. Those that are really benefiting from TOPs are the average students who come from middle to upper income families who would still go to college without TOPs. I repeat, TOPs needs to be eliminated and taxes cut for ALL LA tax-paying citizens. 
This post was edited on 6/25/18 at 12:38 am
Posted on 6/25/18 at 12:42 am to The Pirate King
quote:
Yeah, let’s take money from kids trying to better themselves and raise the education level of LA and give it to the taxpayers to frivously waste on cars and TV’s. Brilliant
1. It’s their money to waste. Not yours and certainly not some teenager’s.
2. Removing TOPS isn’t “taking” anything from anyone. It’s the exact opposite in fact.
This post was edited on 6/25/18 at 12:45 am
Posted on 6/25/18 at 12:48 am to Sentrius
quote:I mean some of that is on the state to make it more desireabel to stay in no?
I hate TOPS because it's abused by people who have no intention of keeping that taxpayer funded college education in the state of Louisiana to contribute to the betterment of Louisiana.
They get TOPS, graduate college with a marketable degree and then leave the state.
frick paying to educate another state's workforce.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 1:00 am to Sentrius
quote:
I hate TOPS because it's abused by people who have no intention of keeping that taxpayer funded college education in the state of Louisiana to contribute to the betterment of Louisiana.
You can contribute that to the shitty Louisiana job market. I'm sure many would like to stay in state but can't because no one is hiring.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 9:04 am to Scoop
quote:
TOPS is one of the few things that the middle class grinders that pay taxes actually get a return on.
Everyone wants their thing. For most people, that yearly TOPS scholarship, alone, is more than the LA state taxes you will pay for a year.
That's why we say there are no fiscal conservatives in LA.
That's ok... I totally understand that you see everyone else getting something and you want to get yours. Very natural.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 9:17 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:But I continue to pay state income taxes long after (and before) my kids graduated from LSU. TOPS is only granted for 8 college semesters not for lifetime.
For most people, that yearly TOPS scholarship, alone, is more than the LA state taxes you will pay for a year.
And now my kids are working in Louisiana and paying their Louisiana state income and sales taxes.
If they had gone out state for their undergraduate degrees there would have been little chance they would be working and paying taxes in Louisiana now.
I'm pretty sure they have already paid in more in total state taxes than they received in TOPS benefits.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 9:28 am to SaintsnTigers1
quote:
I have known someone who received most of his TOPs check, since his education was paid for by an academic scholarship. Any monies received over and above school expenses should have to be repaid to the state.
My understanding (though I could be wrong) is that they cap this at the “total cost of attendance”. You can receive a check every semester and still have it be part of your cost of attendance, which includes housing and textbooks etc.
Example: I had an academic scholarship at LSU plus the highest TOPS stipend. I received something like $250 every semester after my fee bill was paid, which almost covered the cost of textbooks.
TOPS allowed me to go to college without student loans. I have lived in the state ever since. From what I’ve read, there have been no actual studies on the percentage of TOPS recipients leaving the state after graduation. If anyone else knows of such a study I would be curious to see the data.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 9:51 am to LSURussian
quote:
But I continue to pay state income taxes long after (and before) my kids graduated from LSU. TOPS is only granted for 8 college semesters not for lifetime.
And you are getting benefits from your taxes each year.
quote:
And now my kids are working in Louisiana and paying their Louisiana state income and sales taxes.
That seems to be more the exception, than the rule, sadly.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 10:00 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:You were the one who brought up the amount of TOPS benefits vs. amount of income taxes paid, not me.
And you are getting benefits from your taxes each year.
quote:Nah. The last study I read showed more students who stay in Louisiana for their undergraduate degree will remain in Louisiana rather than leave the state after graduation.
That seems to be more the exception, than the rule, sadly.
That was in contrast to students who go out of state for their undergraduate degrees are much more likely not to return to Louisiana for their careers.
That study was about 3 years ago (when the legislature first started truncating TOPS benefits), as I recall. Maybe it's changed since then but I'd be surprised if it has.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 10:27 am to lostinbr
So, many ARE receiving checks to cover things over the cost of education, such as housing. I don't believe there are any 'checks and balances' to make sure it is actually spent on housing.
Posted on 6/25/18 at 10:29 am to LSURussian
Irrelevant. It's still a social program that taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for. Eliminate TOPs and give ALL hard-working taxpayers a tax cut as opposed to giving TOPs to most of whom who would go to college anyway.
This post was edited on 6/25/18 at 10:30 am
Posted on 6/25/18 at 10:35 am to SaintsnTigers1
quote:
Irrelevant. It's still a social program that taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for. Eliminate TOPs and give ALL hard-working taxpayers a tax cut as opposed to giving TOPs to most of whom who would go to college anyway.
Just pointing out that TOPS does eliminate the need for our public universities to provide as many scholarships as they otherwise would. We'd have a massive problem if most kids had to pay full price because they'd get scholarship offers elsewhere. Long story short, it wouldn't result in a $300 million windfall.
For example, I had the "Honors" level of TOPS (tuition plus stipend), and a small $1000 freshman-only scholarship for LSU. At the same time, I had a full scholarship offer to several other equally good schools.
There's no way in hell I'd pay almost full price for LSU over a free school somewhere else.
This post was edited on 6/25/18 at 10:40 am
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