It's a combination of many factors without many cost-saving aspects. Reduced state support is a big reason for the increase in public school tuition, otherwise there is also, increased administration, increased funding for sports (only a few of the top programs make a profit, most make losses), a tiny increase in the salaries above inflation (although these have often been cut in the last 5 years for academics) and an increase in services provided (particularly for dorms, but also the university in general, the gyms now are much better than they were 30 years ago). There may be more, but those are the most common reasons given for an increase in tuition in the studies I've read, although I haven't read any recently so they may be slightly outdated.

If you purchase before the release date many steam games allow you to download the game before hand in an encrypted format. At the designated release time, the keys are distributed and the game finishes installing. So you can often play it quicker than if you were to go to the store (though your point is valid for games that aren't a new release but are readily available in a store).

Can you give any evidence of this occurring? Many cases of false registrations (e.g. ACON) occur because they have to submit all registrations they receive even if it seems clearly false to them [e.g. Mickey Mouse] (the requirement to submit all registration is necessary, so you don't have a liberal/conservative leaning group rejecting conservative/liberal aligned people who think they will now be registered).

The Senate race in Minnesota was a mandatory statewide recount. The Democrats didn't ask for it, and they certainly didn't focus on only Democratic precincts. Getting within 200 votes is hardly a Democratic strategy, I imagine they focus on winning by more than 0.5%

Social security also bought in ~$680 billion in payroll taxes. It was a minor contribution, and people pay a highly regressive tax in order to fund this social service.

Ability to teach controversial topics without reprimand within their classroom, beginning to sound like arguments for teacher tenure. On the other hand, if you encourage teachers to 'teach to the test' they won't have any time for the 'controversial' subjects.

A 1% return is likely to be above inflation. Also the kid has no choice, it was declared treasure, which means that it will be available for sale to a museum at the appraised value. In any case, because it is split 50-50 finder-landowner he wouldn't be able to keep it unless he could also agree with the landowner.

If it's a pure sales tax. They haven't paid tax on it until they purchase something with it. So no. That isn't what they were advocating.

In typical legalese fashion the letter contains contradictions:

Unless you provide us with notice that you wish to opt out within 30 days of us providing notice to you in your bill or through the mail, we will assume that you give us the right to share your CPNI with the authorized companies as described above.

Q4. How do I give my consent to share CPNI? A. Unless you provide us with notice that you wish to opt out within 45 days of receiving this letter, we will assume that you give us the right to share your CPNI with the authorized companies described above.

Its only a 50% difference after all.

So why is fire a basic need but health care isn't? Even though fires can spread, so can many diseases, so should the government work to prevent contagious diseases? What about curing those diseases before they can spread?

The term is Herd Immunity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity.

Given how long it takes a vaccine to go to market it isn't surprising. Varicella vaccine was invented in the 70's yet was only released in '95. Hepatitis B vaccination is also probably within the last 30 years. I know it wasn't around when I was a baby. HPV you already know. Thats just from my memory.

Yes, but whites were barred as well, they had 'the same rights' to marry someone of their own race. If you consider that forcing one to marry within their 'race' (which is biologically meaningless, but in many cases gender isn't clear cut) unfair then why should a male not be able to marry the same people as a female or vice-versa?