2016 Presidential Race AND POLL

[Jack Brickman]

How is "free" college for everyone a possibility?

You could ask all the other first world countries that provide free or highly subsidized higher education.

 

[Huber.]

You could ask all the other first world countries that provide free or highly subsidized higher education.

None of which have the population the size of America.

 

[Jack Brickman]

None of which have the population the size of America.

And none of which have our capital.

 

[MRMsix6]

You could ask all the other first world countries that provide free or highly subsidized higher education.

"free"

 

[Jack Brickman]

"free"

Well yeah, they generally pay higher taxes than we do. However, given that most other first world countries consistently outrank us in every category that matters, maybe it's time to consider that they're doing something right and we're doing something wrong. We're one of the wealthiest, most powerful countries in the world. We shouldn't be ranking behind fifty other countries in education or literacy. It's insulting that we do, and even more insulting that we seem totally unconcerned with changing that.

 

[NasstyNate]

"free"

What do you call it when you get a service and do not receive a bill?

 

[Jack Brickman]

What do you call it when you get a service and do not receive a bill?

If we're going by the logic that you pay for it via taxes, then public schools aren't free in this country either. We pay for them, just indirectly. Nothing is truly free. The money to fund it has to come from somewhere, or be cut from somewhere else.

 

[MRMsix6]

What do you call it when you get a service and do not receive a bill?

The government doesn't send bills. They are called "taxes" and they are paid when you earn income, buy goods, own property, etc..

 

[MRMsix6]

We pay for them, just indirectly. Nothing is truly free. The money to fund it has to come from somewhere, or be cut from somewhere else.

Now we're getting somewhere.

 

[NasstyNate]

The government doesn't send bills. They are called "taxes" and they are paid when you earn income, buy goods, own property, etc..

No. You put scare quotes around free. If a student goes to college and does not pay tuition, is that not free?

If your point is that taxpayers would pay for it, well that's basic enough to be assumed.

 

[gourimoko]

The government doesn't send bills. They are called "taxes" and they are paid when you earn income, buy goods, own property, etc..

I agree with you that it isn't "free." We're paying for it. But don't you think college education is something society should pay for?

If someone is earning a masters degree isn't it worthwhile for society that they succeed in that endeavor?

 

[Jack Brickman]

I agree with you that it isn't "free." We're paying for it. But don't you think college education is something society should pay for?

If someone is earning a masters degree isn't it worthwhile for society that they succeed in that endeavor?

And then those who benefit from the "free" education are the ones who go on to get jobs and pay the taxes that support the higher education of future young adults. It's effectively a system where everyone wins. Yeah, you'll presumably have to pay higher taxes, but I assume the majority of college students would trade an extra couple percent coming out of their paycheck for the crippling student loan debt most of them would have otherwise.

 

[gourimoko]

And then those who benefit from the "free" education are the ones who go on to get jobs and pay the taxes that support the higher education of future young adults. It's effectively a system where everyone wins. Yeah, you'll presumably have to pay higher taxes, but I assume the majority of college students would trade an extra couple percent coming out of their paycheck for the crippling student loan debt most of them would have otherwise.

This.

 

[David.]

@Huber. I hope this answers your response from the weed thread

 

[MRMsix6]

I agree with you that it isn't "free." We're paying for it. But don't you think college education is something society should pay for?

If someone is earning a masters degree isn't it worthwhile for society that they succeed in that endeavor?

For anyone and everyone who gets a high school diploma? No.

I'm ok with a program that allows students to demonstrate that they have both the desire and ability to take advantage of a college education to receive government subsidies. I'm not sure what form that takes, but there should be some achievement/dedication based barrier of entry that filters out those who only go to college because society tells them to. Too many people aimlessly head into a very costly education because they believe it's the only way to get ahead and the money is made available to them. It's not, and frankly many high school graduates would be better off heading into various trade skills.

So to answer your question: in some cases, yes.