Save education, fix tax code

University employees are not trying to fleece taxpayers or to gain personal profit. We believe that education and lifelong learning beyond age 18 benefit society in countless ways.

Further, we believe that there is not one path for everyone to be successful. In college, students can find their path, whether it be history, philosophy, science, education, health, security, engineering, the arts, law or government. A four-year degree, regardless of major, teaches students essential skills, such as critical thinking, communication and creativity, to succeed in the workforce.

There is a long history of publicly funded higher education in this country and that tradition is a large part of what has made us great. College should not be available only to kids who have trust funds or to those who are willing to sink themselves under a mountain of debt.

I love paying taxes so that kids who aren’t born into privilege can have the opportunity to go to college. I don’t like paying taxes so that corporations and theme parks can avoid paying taxes. Instead of creating an artificial financial crisis that stifles progress, perhaps the governor’s administration should try reforming the outdated tax code to solve the retirement system problem.

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Save education, fix tax code."