The Rising Cost of College Is a Good Reason to Spread the Wealth
Reader Comments
They're going to spend it on education?
Don’t tell me for one minute that the opportunity is not there for everyone at this very moment. Show me a poll that says our kids aren’t going to school because they can’t afford it. Do you know how many scholarships and grants go un-used each year? I think it’s rather because they have no motivation because they’re not being challenged as it is by the soft academia in our schools. Instead they’re taking classes on “how to feel good about themselves” so they’re self esteem won’t get hurt. And as if handing them more money they didn’t work for will motivate them to go. I went 60k in debt and worked 3 jobs through college to achieve my degree and you can bet it was worth every penny. I have since paid off my debt by living below my means and continuing to work hard. The satisfaction, pride, work ethic and lessons learned which will help our kids succeed cannot be achieved by “spreading the wealth.”
In addition,how are you going to guarantee that the recipients of the spread wealth are going to spend it on education? I thought we wanted to spread that wealth around because the middle class spends more money on goods than the upper class and thereby stimulate the economy? So which is it?
snowshoes
WHERE ARE MINE?
Not for Everyone? Of Course It Is!!!
I agree that college is not for everyone but the fact remains that it is an opportunity that exist whether you want it or not. I have a BA in English and never had plans to teach. Why did I spend 3.5 years getting that BA, because I loved the subject; still do!!! Now I'm working on a Master's in Public Administration; this is my practical degree and I love that too. So go forth and learn something, anything. Or make money in the tradition of Bill Gates and dropout. But most assuredly have fun and lots of it.
Spread the Wealth
If those who desire to, but can't afford to attend college never get that chance, the odds of them attaining a college-education level job are against them. We need to make higher education affordable for everyone, no matter their income level. If this means spreading the wealth by raising taxes depending on income, so be it.
I'm about to drop the Bachelor's Degree off my resume, as a matter of fact. I've been unemployed long enough to be glad of the benefits extension and I'm tired of the deafening silence when I apply for jobs I'd love to do but that I'm probably not considered for, given my experience and education.
I'm all for higher education, but let's not pretend it actually gets you anywhere these days. You're assumed to be pricier, that's all.
What is the Federal Governments Responsibility?
Keith, in your copy of the Constitutional does it say that it is the responsibility of the government to "promote the general welfare"? Mine does and making sure our citizens become educated is probably the most important way to promote it.
college costs
1. If we teach basic money management in elementary, middle and high school, then going to a state school no longer becomes such an issue. There was a day when we taught life skills, but those have gone the way of music and art while athletic depts rake in the dough. Maybe we need to emphasize teaching in our schools, so that the skills to plan for college are there.
2. My experience is that those who want to go to college can work it out. Maybe it won't be paid for by mom and dad, and maybe there are some loans to pay back, but it is in the college's interest to make sure that students can get there.
3. College president salaries are increasing at a rate much greater than those of the college professor, much like CEO salaries and worker's wages. Maybe some belt-tightening there is called for.
4. In Sweden college is paid for by the government and has been for quite a while--I would look at their experience as far as pay back on the investment. Sweden also has much higher taxes than we do for the middle class. But I would rather give money for college education than I would for automakers bailouts
5. One has to have some investment in the education before it is worth paying for--ask many a parent on that.
Education is NOT the Federal Governments Responsibility
Maybe the first thing that we need to do is to teach history and the US Constitution in Jr High and High Schools.
If you want to help the middle class stop spending money on pet programs and cut everyone’s taxes. Better yet, how about we do away with the income tax altogether? Move to a national sales taxes and everyone pays their fair share. The more someone makes, the more they will spend, and the more taxes they will pay.
As far as your college argument, not everyone should go to college. College is not a prerequisite for success. In the last 30 years college has gone from a place of higher learning and knowledge to an extension of high school. I know plenty of people without college degrees that are making a lot more money than I am making. Now why did I spend all that money and time????
Thanks for the TR quote
Sounds like a real liberal, that old Teddy Roosevelt! Maybe we're entering that era again, with a smart Obama.
