[a_thro_away]

I don't disagree, but where I saw it begin was approx. +25 years ago when business started demanding degrees for jobs that had previously had no requirement, and for career advancement, as well as refusing on the job training. They would pay for expensive tuition and book benefits with no problem though. People began beating the doors down of colleges as this was the only way to enter many careers, or advance to the next level once there. Once this cascade started, the government wanted to make sure there was some kind of equal access to education, so funding had to be made available to allow the less privileged to attend, students or adults. Just my take on it.