Playing .50/1.00 game for experience

[Loren]

It seems that the experts advice, many times, to beginners is to play in a cheap game to learn. Once you feel you can beat it, move up. OK. But how can anyone learn how to play the game of holdem when up against players who are there to play showdown. I tryto play tight and aggressive and pretty much follow the dictums of Lee Jones. To no useful purpose. Most of the times 5 or 6 people see the flop and if they hit anything at all, will go all the way the the river and beat your buns off. It does no good to raise preflop to protect against these sorts of players.
I know you say, that in the long run just play better cards than the river rats and you will prevail. It just doesn't seem to work that way with me. Advice anyone? Would sure appreciate it.