I teach at a state university in Illinois. We market ourselves as a "cheaper" college in the state. However, a freshman on campus this year will fork out at least $21,000 in tuition, room and board, fees, books, and other expenses. So, if you choose to live on campus for four years, the bill is at least $84,000. The cost is becoming prohibitive for average families. Meanwhile, our enrollment has dropped 15% in the last six years. Not surprisingly, the biggest enrollment drops have come in departments like art, theater, communication, sociology, etc. Parents & students are becoming wiser shoppers and are turning away from majors that have limited job opportunities beyond the walls of academia.

People are using SNAP to get "essential food stuffs?" Here are just some of the "essential food stuffs" I've seen purchased with EBT cards where I shop (and I'm sure most of you can share similar stories): Cream-filled cupcakes... Flavored bottled water... Crab legs... T-bone steak... Ten big bottles of soda... chocolate-covered pretzels... all varieties of brand-name products instead of the cheaper generics... lots of potato chips... a shopping cart filled with hundreds of dollars worth expensive cuts of steaks, chops, etc. ... Yesterday, I had to bite my tongue as a young woman in front of me used her card to buy two candy bars, a big pack of gum and a bottle of Gatorade. Yup... essential food stuffs.

All of these numbers show why so many people have been talking about secession lately. These people don't hate America. They are people who deeply love this country and are saddened by this rapid descent we're taking. The way we're going, it seems like secession is the only way to start over and get back to the founding principles of liberty and responsibility that made this country great. I'm so tired of the politicians who create a massive hole and think the answer is to just keep digging.

I've worked in union and non-union shops. The union shops are always less productive and more expensive. I currently work at a unionized university in Illinois. The union constantly pushes for more pay for less work... or for getting paid for any little extra thing you do. They love to nickle-and-dime employers. Several years ago, a janitor changed a light bulb in my office. The bill... $60! Only a union person may change a light bulb, and at their ridiculous rates. I'm not even allowed to hammer a nail into my office wall to hang a picture. In fact, the union confiscated a hammer we had in our office because "only union janitors may use hammers on campus." The fee for hammering a nail to hang a picture? $50.

To get the truth, look at the numbers behind this 7.7% number. 146,000 jobs were added but... * 540,000 dropped from labor force last month. * The labor force participation rate dropped to 63.6%. * There are now 88,883,000 who are NOT in the labor force.

I covered a town hall a few years ago by Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa (I'm a TV news reporter). Harkin constantly had to turn to his aides to get answers to questions. It was clear he didn't know what was in the bill, but he was voting for it! Afterward in the hallway, and I asked him, "You talk about 30 million more people getting health insurance, but where are the extra doctors coming from?" His answer: "We're going to increase grants for medical students to encourage more people to enter the medical profession." I responded, "How can you guarantee that will even work?" He evaded: "I'm sorry. I have to go." I then asked, "Won't insurance costs go up as well?" Answer: "Thank you. I have to go."

My doctor told me two years ago he would leave his practice if Obamacare became law. He told me many of his family doctor friends were considering the same thing - that they would either choose to specialize or go into another field or retire early.

I thought of this exact quotation last night as I watched our country vote itself more free stuff.

My gut feeling (and I hope I'm right) is that this feels a lot like 1980 and 1994 - when the media and pollsters missed a strong undertow of disgust with the party in power. Also in both years, they failed to account for the very strong enthusiasm of Republican voters who were willing to walk through fire to vote. Also, every poll shows Romney winning independents by large margins. That's a huge danger sign for Obama. Well, two more days, and we'll see who's right.

I was thinking the same thing. The liberal MSM bias shines through on the stories they DON'T cover.

I had the same reaction. While some conservatives might like it, I agree with you about the effect it would have on left-leaning independents. Also, the word "enslaved" over a Black woman's face feeds into the stereotypes that some have of the "racist tea party." I think this will do more harm than good for our cause.