"If It's a Social Contract, We're in Breach of Contract"

"It wasn't until much later that I came to fully appreciate the value of those two years at Diablo Valley College, and I think it's fair to say that the state of California got something in return. Like millions of others who have passed through the community college system, I became a contributing taxpayer, supporting the public institutions that serve all of us.
"But the grand master plan that once set California apart and helped drive its economic engine—a strong K-12 commitment and a high-quality college education accessible to just about everyone—has unraveled."

Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times worries what will happen to California's community colleges if Proposition 30 does not pass on Tuesday.