Free College

[Jeff Hahn]

Every time I bring that up people tell me the greater good of society.

The "greater good" argument is a slippery slope and can be used to justify anything that someone thinks might benefit society. To me, a true public work is something that is in the interest of a society, BUT is in no one's particular interest. Examples would include building a dam to create a reservoir to prevent flooding or creating a road system are good examples. Getting an education is something that is in an individual's interest. It will get them a better job, earning more money, and getting better benefits than if they had not gotten that education. Since getting an education is in the individual's interest, they should pay for it. While having a better educated population is in the interest of a society, that goal can be achieved through individual's pursuing their own self- interests and paying for it themselves, rather than burdening other tax payers with the bill.

[robertboyd]

I've always thought parents should contribute a higher percentage of their children's education.

[Ckfishin]

Maybe we should levy an extra tax on everyone who graduates highschool when they get a job.

My parents paid a tax for me to go since I was private schooled....

[FrancoCialone]

We need more "skilled tradespeople", plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, etc. Not educated people who don't want to pay for their degree and can't find a job basket-weaving once they graduate. They should learn early in life that NOTHING IS FREE !

[n2ratfishin]

https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/20...ation-pays.htm

It's obvious education can be a very good idea. Not only are the median earnings higher, but unemployment percentages are WAY higher for high school drop outs.

Consumers pay for things we can't, won't or don't know how to do. How much we pay depends on how valuable the skill or service is to us. A person would do well to keep their skill sets updated somehow throughout their career. Right now the skilled trade labor market is really short on qualified workers.

[Quillback]

Maybe we should levy an extra tax on everyone who graduates highschool when they get a job.

We do that already, if you assume an education leads to better paying jobs. The more you make, the more they take.

[n2ratfishin]

FWIW education also gets billions from lottery ticket sales.

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/11481...ions-powerball

[Quillback]

FWIW education also gets billions from lottery ticket sales.

https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/11481...ions-powerball

Yeah, if you support free college, go buy a lot of lottery tickets.

[n2ratfishin]

https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018...for-university

A good article from 2018 on skilled trades...this one is from 2018 and the pool of qualified applicants continue to get smaller.

Also, keep in mind the "for profit" education system that was gutted by the feds in 2015 trained the majority of skilled tradesman further leading to the current labor shortage. After working in for profit, non profit, and .gov school systems the .gov systems would be shuddered in a week if they had to follow the same regulations as the old for profits.

[Transom]

Maybe we should levy an extra tax on everyone who graduates highschool when they get a job.

It is called Income tax.

[188Musky]

I can't believe we're not charging kids for grade school. Why sould my taxes pay for your kid to learn their ABCs or algebra? Bunch of freeloaders!!!

Grade school is funded locally, by the citizens that live in the communities the schools are located in.

Talk of free college is always about federal level funding.

Surely you can see the difference.

[The5thDutton]

Somebody is going to foot the bill... you can bet on that..

[Quillback]

Somebody is going to foot the bill... you can bet on that..

Or the feds will just print more money, which is basically how things are funded these days.

[The5thDutton]

Or the feds will just print more money, which is basically how things are funded these days.

Yep. What's a little more inflation at this point

[donpilot]

The most expensive thing I ever got was free.

[1stindoor]

Post 9/11 GI Bill. College is quite affordable.

[pavi69]

We need more "skilled tradespeople", plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, etc. Not educated people who don't want to pay for their degree and can't find a job basket-weaving once they graduate. They should learn early in life that NOTHING IS FREE !

In February 2022, the unemployment rate for people 25 years and older who were high school graduates with no college was 4.5 percent. Those with less than a high school diploma had a similar unemployment rate, 4.3 percent. The unemployment rate for people with some college or associate degree was 3.8 percent. Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent.

[D.O.C. 989]

In February 2022, the unemployment rate for people 25 years and older who were high school graduates with no college was 4.5 percent. Those with less than a high school diploma had a similar unemployment rate, 4.3 percent. The unemployment rate for people with some college or associate degree was 3.8 percent. Those with a bachelor’s degree or higher had the lowest unemployment rate at 2.2 percent.

I would bet the reason for the lower unemployment rate for BS degrees is because employers who would normally hire HS degrees is taking the college guys. Why wouldn't you hire a college degree if they were available. The working world saw a huge influx of college grads and they took the place of normally hired HS grads. They don't make any more money than the HS grads if they stay in those jobs.

[188Musky]

We can get that college grad unemployment rate to at least triple, by making college free.

[Quillback]

We can get that college grad unemployment rate to at least triple, by making college free.

Yeah, a degree will become worthless. And you'll still have private schools where the elite will get their degrees.