<p>Joszacem’s post moved me. I also paid my own college but some of my sibs did not. My parents were often unequal to us kids. The Mad Men thread helped me feel more peaceful about this because I realize my parents were a product of their times.
My two kids graduated from completely different colleges: one pricey private and the other State Univ. I treated them financially & emotionally as close to equal as I knew how. Parent contribution the same for both kids. Private has a student loan still in repayment and state u is loan free, due cost of their choices.<br>
As I look at death issues, the forum threads on equality in death have also informed me. I think people appreciate being rewarded (by being treated as equal) for being successful (contributing to community, paying own way) instead of “punished” by parents leaving more to less “successful” offspring.<br>
So, OP, I respectfully disagree with “to each according to his or her needs.” My choice has been equality at every level.</p>