Yup, and then it became "I was able to work a summer job and pay for my entire tuition, why are you whining you lazy young kid", ignoring the fact that you literally can't do that anymore.

I am ineligible for any federal or state grants. I'm an adult who lives alone, works full time, and pays all my own bills. I had to drop out of college because I couldn't afford the 20k a year tuition. The government told me that based off my income I should be able to afford to pay $39k worth of tuition and fees on my own, at the time I was making about $44k a year in total pay with OT. I guess I can just go live in a fucking box and eat out of the garbage while I finish my degree.

Meanwhile my old boss, who is married with a kid, dual income making a 6 figure salary and owns a really nice house, gets over 10k a semester in grants to attend 2 college classes a semester, because having a kid and owning a house means you can claim those expenses. I can't claim my rent as a living expense on the FASFA, therefore the government assumes I get free housing somehow.

pretty much.

they basically didn't want to pay taxes, and all during the 70s and 80s they slashed tax rates and spent the money on cars and boats and travel.