Why higher education should be free

[AmyNation]

I predict in the next 50 years a college education will be free, or in some serious way supplemented by the goverment. Its simply the way we are headed as a nation.

You are really in for a shock then.

I doubt it

 

[eflatminor]

You did that much travelling and did not come to appreciate the public education systems in ANY of those places? Strange.

As I said, what I came to appreciate MOST was the educational experience provided by private schools, those not under government control. Not strange really.

 

[alan1]

Why higher education should be free

Are the teachers and administrative staff going to work for free?
Is some company going to build the college for free?
Is somebody going to build the student housing for free and then let the students live there for free?
Is some benevolent chef going to provide free meals to the students?
Is a publisher going to give textbooks away for free?

You sure do expect a lot of free stuff for your kids.

 

[eflatminor]

I predict in the next 50 years a college education will be free, or in some serious way supplemented by the goverment. Its simply the way we are headed as a nation.

Wanna bet?

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

Not only is that financially unfeasible, it's ill advise. Why in the world would you want government to screw up higher education the way they have affordable K-12?

 

[jillian]

Bob Samuels: Why All Public Higher Education Should Be Free

Tell me why this would be wrong? Do we want a nation of idiots? Ya see what that got us...Bush for 2 terms and Obama so far for one....seriously tell me how normal people can afford college without going into extreme debt...

i think we should do everything possible to give people the opportunity to get an education.

 

[Wiseacre]

Well fuck it, why don't we make everything free? Free education, free housing, free food, free health care, free fucking everything. We can make Obama emperor for life, kick all the repubs out of office and disband the GOP. No more personal responsibility, no accountability, no worries, and no more inequality either. Whoopee! Hope I'm dead before that happens.

Who the blue blazes fuck do you think is going to pay for all these pipe dreams? How long do you think you can keep adding to the national debt before interest rates go up and nobody will finance our debt? How long do you think you can make the interest payments on the debt, in ten years it could exceed a trillion bucks a year. Are you really willing to saddle our kids and grandkids with all that debt?

Or maybe you wanna raise taxes on the rich? That's all Obama and the democrats can say, raise taxes on the rich. Do you really think you can get that much extra revenue that way? Do you not realize how debilitating that would be to the economy, if I was a rich guy I'd beat feet outta here for greener pastures where I could get a better ROI and not get raped by US taxe rates. I'm always amazed that the left thinks they can soak the rich with no consequences. You know what happened back in the 80s when Sweden raised tax rates; a whole lot of rich Swedes sold out, packed up, and moved out. Same thing is happening now in France, wealthy frenchmen are going elsewhere. And the same thing will happen here if we go down that road.

 

[alan1]

Bob Samuels: Why All Public Higher Education Should Be Free

Tell me why this would be wrong? Do we want a nation of idiots? Ya see what that got us...Bush for 2 terms and Obama so far for one....seriously tell me how normal people can afford college without going into extreme debt...

I graduated from college debt free. My parents didn't pay a single penny towards my education expenses nor towards my room and board when I was in college. I had no scholarships or grants.

Now how is that possible? Hint, I worked full time and supported myself through college, first at a 7-11, then in a warehouse.

 

[Dissent]

Why higher education should be free

Are the teachers and administrative staff going to work for free?
Is some company going to build the college for free?
Is somebody going to build the student housing for free and then let the students live there for free?
Is some benevolent chef going to provide free meals to the students?
Is a publisher going to give textbooks away for free?

You sure do expect a lot of free stuff for your kids.

You have a point,what can I expect since all of us are born and raised in a controlled society I thought of myself as more free but obviously my brain isn't 100% free yet. Its just a shock that we would have to pay for our child's education. I do wonder though. Would kids who's parents can afford a better school be allowed to go there or would all kids in a community attend the 1 school? Would the public school I pay for be as good for my kids as the private school that costs more?As a parent I want only the best for my kids and these things worry me

 

[alan1]

Bob Samuels: Why All Public Higher Education Should Be Free

Tell me why this would be wrong? Do we want a nation of idiots? Ya see what that got us...Bush for 2 terms and Obama so far for one....seriously tell me how normal people can afford college without going into extreme debt...

i think we should do everything possible to give people the opportunity to get an education.

The opportunity already exists. Some just aren't willing to work and pay for it.

 

[eflatminor]

What do you expect. You wrote the words of an idiot. You speak from a position of ignorance.

That you're not responding with anything other than childish name calling speaks to your ignorance. You can choose to debate like an adult or not. Your call. I shall remain civil.

When you do more than dish up tired platitudes like the idea that the goal of progressives is to have total control...

Looking at my original post, it is clear that is not what I said nor implied. Specifically, I stated "you want a more centrally planned economy over time". That is clearly not "total control". I would suggest that a more centrally planned economy and society is clearly a goal of Progressivism. If not from general experience, from the dictionary definition: ...favoring or promoting political or social reform through government action, or even revolution, to improve the lot of the majority.

That "through government action" part refers to increased government oversight in all maters, including the economy.

But I say let's set aside the various definitions of Progressive and stick with the point of the thread.

 

[AmyNation]

I predict in the next 50 years a college education will be free, or in some serious way supplemented by the goverment. Its simply the way we are headed as a nation.

Wanna bet?

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

Not only is that financially unfeasible, it's ill advise. Why in the world would you want government to screw up higher education the way they have affordable K-12?

I will take that bet

Honestly, 3 things make me almost assured college will be part of a public education in the future. 1, we are living longer, already looking to push back the age of retirement and it's natural to then look to and adjust the age of adulthood as well. Most people dont view your average 18 year olds as an adult anyway. 2, more and more college is becoming a necessity instead of a luxury. The more we lose unskilled jobs that pay well ie factory workers, the more people will be forced to seek a higher education to feed their families. And 3, kids today are graduating college with mountains of debt, they are the people who will be writing future laws and they are going to be far more inclined to see the value of free college then anyone before them

 

[alan1]

Why higher education should be free

Are the teachers and administrative staff going to work for free?
Is some company going to build the college for free?
Is somebody going to build the student housing for free and then let the students live there for free?
Is some benevolent chef going to provide free meals to the students?
Is a publisher going to give textbooks away for free?

You sure do expect a lot of free stuff for your kids.

You have a point,what can I expect since all of us are born and raised in a controlled society I thought of myself as more free but obviously my brain isn't 100% free yet. Its just a shock that we would have to pay for our child's education. I do wonder though. Would kids who's parents can afford a better school be allowed to go there or would all kids in a community attend the 1 school? Would the public school I pay for be as good for my kids as the private school that costs more?As a parent I want only the best for my kids and these things worry me

Then send your kids to a private school if you want the best for them.

I really have no sympathy for you, since you already admitted that you don't pay taxes that means you are a net drain on the society.

 

[AmyNation]

Bob Samuels: Why All Public Higher Education Should Be Free

Tell me why this would be wrong? Do we want a nation of idiots? Ya see what that got us...Bush for 2 terms and Obama so far for one....seriously tell me how normal people can afford college without going into extreme debt...

I graduated from college debt free. My parents didn't pay a single penny towards my education expenses nor towards my room and board when I was in college. I had no scholarships or grants.

Now how is that possible? Hint, I worked full time and supported myself through college, first at a 7-11, then in a warehouse.

What year did you graduate?

 

[eflatminor]

I predict in the next 50 years a college education will be free, or in some serious way supplemented by the goverment. Its simply the way we are headed as a nation.

Wanna bet?

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

Not only is that financially unfeasible, it's ill advise. Why in the world would you want government to screw up higher education the way they have affordable K-12?

I will take that bet

Honestly, 3 things make me almost assured college will be part of a public education in the future. 1, we are living longer, already looking to push back the age of retirement and it's natural to then look to and adjust the age of adulthood as well. Most people dont view your average 18 year olds as an adult anyway. 2, more and more college is becoming a necessity instead of a luxury. The more we lose unskilled jobs that pay well ie factory workers, the more people will be forced to seek a higher education to feed their families. And 3, kids today are graduating college with mountains of debt, they are the people who will be writing future laws and they are going to be far more inclined to see the value of free college then anyone before them

And who will be paying for this?

While you ponder, consider that you currently owe just under $140,000 towards the debt...just YOU. So, how will you be paying? Cash or check...before you start adding to that debt with more free gubmint stuff?

 

[Dissent]

Are the teachers and administrative staff going to work for free?
Is some company going to build the college for free?
Is somebody going to build the student housing for free and then let the students live there for free?
Is some benevolent chef going to provide free meals to the students?
Is a publisher going to give textbooks away for free?

You sure do expect a lot of free stuff for your kids.

You have a point,what can I expect since all of us are born and raised in a controlled society I thought of myself as more free but obviously my brain isn't 100% free yet. Its just a shock that we would have to pay for our child's education. I do wonder though. Would kids who's parents can afford a better school be allowed to go there or would all kids in a community attend the 1 school? Would the public school I pay for be as good for my kids as the private school that costs more?As a parent I want only the best for my kids and these things worry me

Then send your kids to a private school if you want the best for them.

I really have no sympathy for you, since you already admitted that you don't pay taxes that means you are a net drain on the society.

I don't want your sympathy I wanted someone to explain how this would work. Taxes are illegal so I really don't care what you say on that point.

 

[Toro]

Bob Samuels: Why All Public Higher Education Should Be Free

Tell me why this would be wrong? Do we want a nation of idiots? Ya see what that got us...Bush for 2 terms and Obama so far for one....seriously tell me how normal people can afford college without going into extreme debt...

How very socialist of you.

It is a statistical fact that the more education a person has, the more likely that person will make a higher income. Therefore, more educated people should pay more for their education because they are the primary beneficiary of the education. The more higher education is subsidized, the more it is an economic transfer up the socioeconomic ladder, i.e. we are subsidizing the better off. We shouldn't be subsidizing the better off in society.

 

[Toro]

You have a point,what can I expect since all of us are born and raised in a controlled society I thought of myself as more free but obviously my brain isn't 100% free yet. Its just a shock that we would have to pay for our child's education. I do wonder though. Would kids who's parents can afford a better school be allowed to go there or would all kids in a community attend the 1 school? Would the public school I pay for be as good for my kids as the private school that costs more?As a parent I want only the best for my kids and these things worry me

Then send your kids to a private school if you want the best for them.

I really have no sympathy for you, since you already admitted that you don't pay taxes that means you are a net drain on the society.

I don't want your sympathy I wanted someone to explain how this would work. Taxes are illegal so I really don't care what you say on that point.

Please explain how "free" education is funded without "illegal" taxes.

 

[AmyNation]

Wanna bet?

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

Not only is that financially unfeasible, it's ill advise. Why in the world would you want government to screw up higher education the way they have affordable K-12?

I will take that bet

Honestly, 3 things make me almost assured college will be part of a public education in the future. 1, we are living longer, already looking to push back the age of retirement and it's natural to then look to and adjust the age of adulthood as well. Most people dont view your average 18 year olds as an adult anyway. 2, more and more college is becoming a necessity instead of a luxury. The more we lose unskilled jobs that pay well ie factory workers, the more people will be forced to seek a higher education to feed their families. And 3, kids today are graduating college with mountains of debt, they are the people who will be writing future laws and they are going to be far more inclined to see the value of free college then anyone before them

And who will be paying for this?

While you ponder, consider that you currently owe just under $140,000 towards the debt...just YOU. So, how will you be paying? Cash or check...before you start adding to that debt with more free gubmint stuff?

I imagine it will be paid for the same way we pay for k-12 now.

 

[Dissent]

income tax is theft. Plain and simple.

 

[Unkotare]

Does anyone really need it spelled out that there is no such thing as "free college"?