Maybe the people in St. Fuckin Louis applaud students who go to trade school. In the school district where I teach -- highly affluent metro DC -- everyone is four-year college bound, even the kids who can barely string five English words together to form a complete sentence. It's heretical to suggest otherwise.
As far as the professional class with post-graduate degrees suffering because it's not profitable for them -- well, that's just too bad, so sad. Every time I listen to Marco Rubio talk about paying off his loan, I'm like fuck dude, you're a U.S senator running for the President of the United States. Look where that six figures got you. That wasn't a good return on your investment? I have doctor friends pissing about their loans -- and they live in fucking mansions and drive Lexuses. No pity for the professional class and their big loans.
Sorry I think 5-7% interest is insanely low. How about just low? My student loan rate is 5%. It's nothing. I pay like two hundred dollars a year in interest, now that my balance is getting down. In the beginning, true, it was more, but after grad school, I was able to consolidate and refinance, stretched out my term to bring the payment to an affordable $116 a month, and twice I was able arrange a deferment and a forbearance when I was experiencing hardship. So if there are people out there who are being robbed by some shark, I guess that person didn't shop around for the best lender. How in the hell am I able to do what I can -- all under the law -- and nobody else can? And I grew up dirt poor -- not middle class, but the real kind of poor where we didn't have heat in the winter because we couldn't pay the electric bill. My entire college education, both degrees, was financed. And I don't have one bitter thought about it because I didn't go into college expecting it to be "profitable." I went in to fucking learn and better myself.
Lastly, regarding the national debt in general and how we got here. It does no good arguing about the past and throwing blame around. I don't give a shit about which Republican or Democrat spent more or less money or cut or raised more taxes in the past. Just as I deal with my own household debt, I am on a strict spending plan until I get it under control. I pay cash for what I need to have, not charge on a credit card the things that would be nice to have. I try to save as much as I can. It's completely irresponsible for me to do otherwise, and I expect our elected leaders of both parties to do the same -- whether it's Hillary, Bernie, or any of the other 16 side show freaks.
Sorry I write such long posts. I don't have anything else to do.
Seriously? Why does it bother me to pay for someone else to go to college? I went to college. I know what a waste of time it is. I'm in enough debt because of college.
Furthering this the first two years are really a waste and how many will go and never graduate. Heck percentage is horrible now. pssst no one defended MB.
The only reason I got my degree was because of the money I had already spent. To quit after a couple years would have been a colossal waste of money. Imagine how many would quit after a year or two knowing they didn't have to pay for it.
Seriously? Why does it bother me to pay for someone else to go to college? I went to college. I know what a waste of time it is. I'm in enough debt because of college.
Furthering this the first two years are really a waste and how many will go and never graduate. Heck percentage is horrible now. pssst no one defended MB.
The only reason I got my degree was because of the money I had already spent. To quit after a couple years would have been a colossal waste of money. Imagine how many would quit after a year or two knowing they didn't have to pay for it.
Maybe the people in St. Fuckin Louis applaud students who go to trade school. In the school district where I teach -- highly affluent metro DC -- everyone is four-year college bound, even the kids who can barely string five English words together to form a complete sentence. It's heretical to suggest otherwise.
As far as the professional class with post-graduate degrees suffering because it's not profitable for them -- well, that's just too bad, so sad. Every time I listen to Marco Rubio talk about paying off his loan, I'm like fuck dude, you're a U.S senator running for the President of the United States. Look where that six figures got you. That wasn't a good return on your investment? I have doctor friends pissing about their loans -- and they live in fucking mansions and drive Lexuses. No pity for the professional class and their big loans.
Sorry I think 5-7% interest is insanely low. How about just low? My student loan rate is 5%. It's nothing. I pay like two hundred dollars a year in interest, now that my balance is getting down. In the beginning, true, it was more, but after grad school, I was able to consolidate and refinance, stretched out my term to bring the payment to an affordable $116 a month, and twice I was able arrange a deferment and a forbearance when I was experiencing hardship. So if there are people out there who are being robbed by some shark, I guess that person didn't shop around for the best lender. How in the hell am I able to do what I can -- all under the law -- and nobody else can? And I grew up dirt poor -- not middle class, but the real kind of poor where we didn't have heat in the winter because we couldn't pay the electric bill. My entire college education, both degrees, was financed. And I don't have one bitter thought about it because I didn't go into college expecting it to be "profitable." I went in to fucking learn and better myself.
Lastly, regarding the national debt in general and how we got here. It does no good arguing about the past and throwing blame around. I don't give a shit about which Republican or Democrat spent more or less money or cut or raised more taxes in the past. Just as I deal with my own household debt, I am on a strict spending plan until I get it under control. I pay cash for what I need to have, not charge on a credit card the things that would be nice to have. I try to save as much as I can. It's completely irresponsible for me to do otherwise, and I expect our elected leaders of both parties to do the same -- whether it's Hillary, Bernie, or any of the other 16 side show freaks.
Sorry I write such long posts. I don't have anything else to do.
don't apologize for the long posts. i was the same way a few years ago when i actually gave a shit about trying to convince people about something. now i am just direct because i am lazy, and most people do not read entire posts anyway, so long posts are basically a waste of time on here anymore.
well for starters, look at where you teach. highly affluent DC. probably old money country. those are the people who look down their nose at trade schools. they think trades are below their little Wellington the third and Spalding the second. it is a given for wealthy families to expect their kid to go and get a higher education. after all, that family just pays people to fix their air conditioner when it breaks. they don't do that themselves. i do find it hard to believe that there are people in your school who have such futility communicating in the english language. no child left behind, and the parents of such kids would blame the teachers for that one. there are several trade schools around here. the main criticism they get among locals here is that they advertise help finding a job when there market is oversaturated so people can't find jobs.
i work with surgeons everyday. the main guy i work with owes $180,000 after medical school, residency, and 2 fellowships. he drives a kia and lives in a modest home. it would be much higher than that but he had a college basketball scholarship that paid undergrad. he is one of the rising stars in hip research and is a paid consultant for a couple of different device companies. he will make that money to pay off those loans in just a few years. but he is the exception. most people can't pay that shit off in a timely manner. he is the exception. plus, as you probably know, student loan debt follows you until you pay it off. you can file bankruptcy and still owe those loans. that debt does not go away. the way you made adjustments depends on your lender. i hear of people who can not consolidate loans. i had 14 separate loans. one per semester following my freshman year of college, which i was lucky enough to have had paid by baseball scholarship.
i am a little puzzled how you say that history does not matter how we got here. it is very relevant to how we got here, and it is relevant to the discussion. look at the parties. look who is proposing paying for education, and look who is proposing more defense spending and more tax cuts for the wealthy. it is interesting to note that those not interested in funding education are the ones who got us here. that is all i am saying.
let's be honest. you can't even begin to compare your financial situation and how you stay within your budget to that of the 319 million individuals in the united states. a country, and a federal government does not operate like a single household. that is an oversimplistic way that people like paul ryan try to pass off onto the rest of us.
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
I say history is not relevant to our present situation because the leading candidates of both parties are offering the same tired old economic solutions to an unprecedented amount of debt. It's either cut taxes on the wealthy or raise taxes on the wealthy. It's bull for a choice. Everybody knows it. Clinton can say all she wants about taxing the wealthy to get elected. What she knows but will never say to chumps like you and me is "Bill and I have lawyers and accountants who make sure we pay nothing. But thank you for voting for us so we can continue to enjoy the White House."
I can tell you this -- I freaking LOVED the Bush tax cut. It should have been permanent. Sure, for someone like me, it only came to about $150 extra every month, but when I'm living paycheck to paycheck, that's another tank of gas and another bag of groceries each month. That's one more week's of expenses that I didn't have to put on my credit card. So Obama and his lovely Democratic majority at the time chose not to renew the tax break, and what really do we have to show for stealing that additional 2000 dollars from me or you? NOTHING.
None of the vast majority of us have seen our financial situation significantly change in the past seven years under Obama. None. I have a few friends who now have a health insurance plan with 400 dollar premiums and 10,000 deductibles, so they still can't afford to be sick anyway. But that's about it. In every facet of our lives, we have stagnated in this pool of muck.
We need NEW solutions for the 21st century. These dinosaur baby boomers like the Clintons and the Bushes have already wrecked this country enough with their class warfare left over from the Cold War. Bernie Sanders lost his argument before the Cold War was even over. I'm planning to campaign the hell against Clinton in the Virginia primaries and supporting Jim Webb, who is calling for an overhaul of the tax code and moving the country toward a consumption tax. I know it's a long shot that anybody but she will have the nomination. If I do have to hold my nose and vote for her in the general election, at least I'll know I tried to change the direction of the debate. And if she loses the general election, honestly, it won't make a damned bit of difference -- except maybe I'll get my $2000 back.
I say history is not relevant to our present situation because the leading candidates of both parties are offering the same tired old economic solutions to an unprecedented amount of debt. It's either cut taxes on the wealthy or raise taxes on the wealthy. It's bull for a choice. Everybody knows it. Clinton can say all she wants about taxing the wealthy to get elected. What she knows but will never say to chumps like you and me is "Bill and I have lawyers and accountants who make sure we pay nothing. But thank you for voting for us so we can continue to enjoy the White House."
I can tell you this -- I freaking LOVED the Bush tax cut. It should have been permanent. Sure, for someone like me, it only came to about $150 extra every month, but when I'm living paycheck to paycheck, that's another tank of gas and another bag of groceries each month. That's one more week's of expenses that I didn't have to put on my credit card. So Obama and his lovely Democratic majority at the time chose not to renew the tax break, and what really do we have to show for stealing that additional 2000 dollars from me or you? NOTHING.
None of the vast majority of us have seen our financial situation significantly change in the past seven years under Obama. None. I have a few friends who now have a health insurance plan with 400 dollar premiums and 10,000 deductibles, so they still can't afford to be sick anyway. But that's about it. In every facet of our lives, we have stagnated in this pool of muck.
We need NEW solutions for the 21st century. These dinosaur baby boomers like the Clintons and the Bushes have already wrecked this country enough with their class warfare left over from the Cold War. Bernie Sanders lost his argument before the Cold War was even over. I'm planning to campaign the hell against Clinton in the Virginia primaries and supporting Jim Webb, who is calling for an overhaul of the tax code and moving the country toward a consumption tax. I know it's a long shot that anybody but she will have the nomination. If I do have to hold my nose and vote for her in the general election, at least I'll know I tried to change the direction of the debate. And if she loses the general election, honestly, it won't make a damned bit of difference -- except maybe I'll get my $2000 back.
Clinton released her tax returns....they pay a LOT of tax. A very high % of their income
Have always liked Webb. Checked out his positions. Mostly agree with exception to not supporting Iran deal. Support his position that one shouldn't just vote along party lines, infrastructure, penal reforms consumption based taxing. Understands wars and costs. Would definitely take him over Clinton at this point. Also think he could get votes from independents and even the right. Minorities and women????
Have always liked Webb. Checked out his positions. Mostly agree with exception to not supporting Iran deal. Support his position that one shouldn't just vote along party lines, infrastructure, penal reforms consumption based taxing. Understands wars and costs. Would definitely take him over Clinton at this point. Also think he could get votes from independents and even the right. Minorities and women????
I'll give this a look.I like some of what I am hearing with Webb.Hows his stance on small buisness?
When Hillary unveiled free college paid by me I cringed.
That makes me sick to my stomach.
It makes me sick to my stomach that education in America has been co-opted by the wealthy, further widening the gap between the rich and everyone else.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
When Hillary unveiled free college paid by me I cringed.
That makes me sick to my stomach.
It makes me sick to my stomach that education in America has been co-opted by the wealthy, further widening the gap between the rich and everyone else.
So you think it's ok to have tax money pay for college? If that ever happens, I want reimbursed for what I paid for college. Enough tax dollars are spent on welfare. We already pay for kids to go to school from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is not mandatory to have a college education. If you want it, you should have to pay for it yourself.
When Hillary unveiled free college paid by me I cringed.
That makes me sick to my stomach.
It makes me sick to my stomach that education in America has been co-opted by the wealthy, further widening the gap between the rich and everyone else.
So you think it's ok to have tax money pay for college? If that ever happens, I want reimbursed for what I paid for college. Enough tax dollars are spent on welfare. We already pay for kids to go to school from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is not mandatory to have a college education. If you want it, you should have to pay for it yourself.
I don't think it should be free, but I absolutely think that post-secondary education should be subsidized so that it's affordable for regular students and so that student loans don't ruin their lives after graduation, yes. It's not like that's an outrageous concept. A lot of countries do that very successfully. I also think that the "Ivy League" private university situation is ridiculous. Making all the best schools completely out of reach for most people is disgusting IMO.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
When Hillary unveiled free college paid by me I cringed.
That makes me sick to my stomach.
It makes me sick to my stomach that education in America has been co-opted by the wealthy, further widening the gap between the rich and everyone else.
So you think it's ok to have tax money pay for college? If that ever happens, I want reimbursed for what I paid for college. Enough tax dollars are spent on welfare. We already pay for kids to go to school from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is not mandatory to have a college education. If you want it, you should have to pay for it yourself.
I don't think it should be free, but I absolutely think that post-secondary education should be subsidized so that it's affordable for regular students and so that student loans don't ruin their lives after graduation, yes. It's not like that's an outrageous concept. A lot of countries do that very successfully.
Regular students? Most of us were and are regular students. The 1% of the rich still only makes 1% of the students.
When Hillary unveiled free college paid by me I cringed.
That makes me sick to my stomach.
It makes me sick to my stomach that education in America has been co-opted by the wealthy, further widening the gap between the rich and everyone else.
So you think it's ok to have tax money pay for college? If that ever happens, I want reimbursed for what I paid for college. Enough tax dollars are spent on welfare. We already pay for kids to go to school from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is not mandatory to have a college education. If you want it, you should have to pay for it yourself.
I don't think it should be free, but I absolutely think that post-secondary education should be subsidized so that it's affordable for regular students and so that student loans don't ruin their lives after graduation, yes. It's not like that's an outrageous concept. A lot of countries do that very successfully.
Regular students? Most of us were and are regular students. The 1% of the rich still only makes 1% of the students.
Who said anything about 1%? $20,000+ a year for tuition alone is absolutely unacceptable IMO, as is $100,000 worth of student loans.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
I'd rather use our tax money to fund college students rather than support ilegal citizens and other countries, that's a boat load of cashiesh.
Godfather.
Agreed, and spend more on investing in us, and less in "defense contracts" which are bloated and have little to do with defense and more to do with commerce.
Then instead of making tax payers foot the bill for millions of college kids, why not regulate college tuition at public universities?
The cons hate that just as much, they see ALL schools as liberal indoctrination centers.
No we look at them as a means to facilitate college football season.
I do like what Scott is saying.Let the private universities continue to march to there own drum.If it's for you great if not then head to a state school which should have tuition and fee schedule which would be fine with being supplemented and regulated o on a state by state basis. We use lottery money to help supplement here in Fl,but I'd also be fine with a consumption tax on cigs,booze,and tourism to help keep higher education affordable.
Then instead of making tax payers foot the bill for millions of college kids, why not regulate college tuition at public universities?
What do you mean "regulate"? If they're not being subsidized, then that would just mean that the public universities wouldn't have enough money to be good schools, while the private universities would get all the good teachers and programs because they would still have all the money, making the current problem worse, not better.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
I think it's important to realize that virtually all colleges and universities, whether public or private, are already subsidized. The amount varies quite a bit and it's hard to compare all the different types of institutions, but it would range from a low of about $6,000-8,000 per student up to more than $60,000 per student (per 4 year degree). The tuition charged in no way covers the operating costs of universities. The higher priced, prestigious private universities get subsidies, too, though typically less than the public ones.
Other points - whether you personally think your degree was worth it or not, many studies have shown that individuals with a 4 year college degree make, on average at least $250,000 more in their working lifetime than those without any college education. All being equal they then pay taxes on that income, in addition to spending more over time, which goes back into the economy.
And as for the "consumption" taxes on alcohol and cigarettes - are you sure you aren't already paying at least some of these? We Canadians pay hefty consumption taxes on alcohol and smokes.
my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
Then instead of making tax payers foot the bill for millions of college kids, why not regulate college tuition at public universities?
What do you mean "regulate"? If they're not being subsidized, then that would just mean that the public universities wouldn't have enough money to be good schools, while the private universities would get all the good teachers and programs because they would still have all the money, making the current problem worse, not better.
If you think that the increase in tuition costs went to better professors, I have a bridge for sale I'd like you to see.
When Hillary unveiled free college paid by me I cringed.
That makes me sick to my stomach.
It makes me sick to my stomach that education in America has been co-opted by the wealthy, further widening the gap between the rich and everyone else.
So you think it's ok to have tax money pay for college? If that ever happens, I want reimbursed for what I paid for college. Enough tax dollars are spent on welfare. We already pay for kids to go to school from kindergarten through 12th grade. It is not mandatory to have a college education. If you want it, you should have to pay for it yourself.
I don't think it should be free, but I absolutely think that post-secondary education should be subsidized so that it's affordable for regular students and so that student loans don't ruin their lives after graduation, yes. It's not like that's an outrageous concept. A lot of countries do that very successfully.
Regular students? Most of us were and are regular students. The 1% of the rich still only makes 1% of the students.
Who said anything about 1%? $20,000+ a year for tuition alone is absolutely unacceptable IMO, as is $100,000 worth of student loans.
I think we need to be careful when we say "20,000 a year for tuition is unacceptable." Do we mean 20,000 for the tuition, or do we mean 20,000 for the whole dang package -- room and board (unlimited Wi-Fi and farm-to-table dining hall), fees (the climbing gym with attached sauna), books, parking dad's SUV, etc?
Just to keep it real, I just looked some thing up. I live five miles away from a reputable, major state university, and according to their web site I just read, their 2015-16 costs are outlined clearly for prospective students who would like to *choose* that reputable state school. It does come to about 20,000 a year -- for the whole dang package. Now, given that my whole dang package as a single working professional in the same neighborhood comes to about $50 grand a year, I would say the young stallions at that school have it made. All they have to do is wake up, go to class, live a hell of a life on campus, have no worries except to ace the calculus exam and maybe get laid on a Friday night. For 20 grand a year.
If little Junior were NOT in school, would he get all he gets AT school for less than 20,000 a year? NO! He would be humping a minimum wage job, living in his parent's basement next door to me smoking dope in between shifts, with absolutely no prospects at all (and we have plenty of those in my neighborhood). His parents would be paying more than 50,000 grand to support themselves and little Junior, and sooner or later, he will be collecting a welfare check after they finally kick him out because they've had enough of his mooching of them. If that's not the life little Junior or his parents want, then he and they need to buck up, pay for their shit, get help from the bank if they need it. But it's not my job to pay my 50 grand for me, and then subsidize a portion for Junior.
And besides, if little Junior wanted to go to that perfectly fine, reputable state school while continuing to live in his parents' basement, it would only cost him 10,000 a year, not 20. That is also Junior's CHOICE.
Clearly my philosophical stance is that people in life make choices. And then they pay for them.
The "dumbing down" of America is a really real thing, and I think this issue has a fair bit to do with that.
PJ-Soul, I totally respect your opinion. The average American truly is dumb. I am a public educator of 20+ years and what I have seen happen over a generation is sickening. . . .
But it is just factually incorrect to say that a lack of access to higher education has caused the dumbing down. There are more students going to college now than at any other time in American history. And if you look at the average GPA in America over the past 20 years, you will see nothing but grossly inflated grades at the same time standardized scores have plummeted. Students are admitted to college with A averages and then they take their course placement tests and we find that close to 60% of students need remedial writing and math classes in college because they were pushed into a track they should never have found themselves to begin with. People have been lying to them all their lives about what special geniuses they are, and it finally hits them when they get to college that they are not. But nobody can say, "Oh, you don't really belong in a four year academic institution" because that would just be too politically incorrect and the so-called "under-served" populations will start crying about how their lives matter too, and the white, middle class helicopter moms will pull out their claws and gauge your eyes out. The fact is, colleges and universities in America can't keep up with the demands placed on them -- and *that* has more than a fair bit to do with the reason tuition and fees are going up.
I think you said in another post that tuition should be subsidized for people who need it. Every college or university in America has a financial aid office for students who truly need it. I needed it. It's how I got hooked up to what apparently was a fantastic student loan. There are grants, work study programs, scholarships. You name it. The truth is -- anybody who wants to go to college in America can, and anybody who regrets their investment in their education probably should never have gone in the first place. To expand an already effective needs-based program to a 340 BILLION dollar entitlement for everybody is just wrong.
I'd rather use our tax money to fund college students rather than support ilegal citizens and other countries, that's a boat load of cashiesh.
Godfather.
and bombs to blow up people.
they with the most bombs wins ! do know what pretty much ended the cold war ?...we..America found out that Russia had only a hand full of missle silo's and not near as many as they said(and how we found is another amazing story).....well we had many times more....we won !
grants for the most promicing students should be given with out question, this country needs to focus on and understand that investing in our youth is this countries future.
Comments
As far as the professional class with post-graduate degrees suffering because it's not profitable for them -- well, that's just too bad, so sad. Every time I listen to Marco Rubio talk about paying off his loan, I'm like fuck dude, you're a U.S senator running for the President of the United States. Look where that six figures got you. That wasn't a good return on your investment? I have doctor friends pissing about their loans -- and they live in fucking mansions and drive Lexuses. No pity for the professional class and their big loans.
Sorry I think 5-7% interest is insanely low. How about just low? My student loan rate is 5%. It's nothing. I pay like two hundred dollars a year in interest, now that my balance is getting down. In the beginning, true, it was more, but after grad school, I was able to consolidate and refinance, stretched out my term to bring the payment to an affordable $116 a month, and twice I was able arrange a deferment and a forbearance when I was experiencing hardship. So if there are people out there who are being robbed by some shark, I guess that person didn't shop around for the best lender. How in the hell am I able to do what I can -- all under the law -- and nobody else can? And I grew up dirt poor -- not middle class, but the real kind of poor where we didn't have heat in the winter because we couldn't pay the electric bill. My entire college education, both degrees, was financed. And I don't have one bitter thought about it because I didn't go into college expecting it to be "profitable." I went in to fucking learn and better myself.
Lastly, regarding the national debt in general and how we got here. It does no good arguing about the past and throwing blame around. I don't give a shit about which Republican or Democrat spent more or less money or cut or raised more taxes in the past. Just as I deal with my own household debt, I am on a strict spending plan until I get it under control. I pay cash for what I need to have, not charge on a credit card the things that would be nice to have. I try to save as much as I can. It's completely irresponsible for me to do otherwise, and I expect our elected leaders of both parties to do the same -- whether it's Hillary, Bernie, or any of the other 16 side show freaks.
Sorry I write such long posts. I don't have anything else to do.
well for starters, look at where you teach. highly affluent DC. probably old money country. those are the people who look down their nose at trade schools. they think trades are below their little Wellington the third and Spalding the second. it is a given for wealthy families to expect their kid to go and get a higher education. after all, that family just pays people to fix their air conditioner when it breaks. they don't do that themselves. i do find it hard to believe that there are people in your school who have such futility communicating in the english language. no child left behind, and the parents of such kids would blame the teachers for that one. there are several trade schools around here. the main criticism they get among locals here is that they advertise help finding a job when there market is oversaturated so people can't find jobs.
i work with surgeons everyday. the main guy i work with owes $180,000 after medical school, residency, and 2 fellowships. he drives a kia and lives in a modest home. it would be much higher than that but he had a college basketball scholarship that paid undergrad. he is one of the rising stars in hip research and is a paid consultant for a couple of different device companies. he will make that money to pay off those loans in just a few years. but he is the exception. most people can't pay that shit off in a timely manner. he is the exception. plus, as you probably know, student loan debt follows you until you pay it off. you can file bankruptcy and still owe those loans. that debt does not go away. the way you made adjustments depends on your lender. i hear of people who can not consolidate loans. i had 14 separate loans. one per semester following my freshman year of college, which i was lucky enough to have had paid by baseball scholarship.
i am a little puzzled how you say that history does not matter how we got here. it is very relevant to how we got here, and it is relevant to the discussion. look at the parties. look who is proposing paying for education, and look who is proposing more defense spending and more tax cuts for the wealthy. it is interesting to note that those not interested in funding education are the ones who got us here. that is all i am saying.
let's be honest. you can't even begin to compare your financial situation and how you stay within your budget to that of the 319 million individuals in the united states. a country, and a federal government does not operate like a single household. that is an oversimplistic way that people like paul ryan try to pass off onto the rest of us.
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
I say history is not relevant to our present situation because the leading candidates of both parties are offering the same tired old economic solutions to an unprecedented amount of debt. It's either cut taxes on the wealthy or raise taxes on the wealthy. It's bull for a choice. Everybody knows it. Clinton can say all she wants about taxing the wealthy to get elected. What she knows but will never say to chumps like you and me is "Bill and I have lawyers and accountants who make sure we pay nothing. But thank you for voting for us so we can continue to enjoy the White House."
I can tell you this -- I freaking LOVED the Bush tax cut. It should have been permanent. Sure, for someone like me, it only came to about $150 extra every month, but when I'm living paycheck to paycheck, that's another tank of gas and another bag of groceries each month. That's one more week's of expenses that I didn't have to put on my credit card. So Obama and his lovely Democratic majority at the time chose not to renew the tax break, and what really do we have to show for stealing that additional 2000 dollars from me or you? NOTHING.
None of the vast majority of us have seen our financial situation significantly change in the past seven years under Obama. None. I have a few friends who now have a health insurance plan with 400 dollar premiums and 10,000 deductibles, so they still can't afford to be sick anyway. But that's about it. In every facet of our lives, we have stagnated in this pool of muck.
We need NEW solutions for the 21st century. These dinosaur baby boomers like the Clintons and the Bushes have already wrecked this country enough with their class warfare left over from the Cold War. Bernie Sanders lost his argument before the Cold War was even over. I'm planning to campaign the hell against Clinton in the Virginia primaries and supporting Jim Webb, who is calling for an overhaul of the tax code and moving the country toward a consumption tax. I know it's a long shot that anybody but she will have the nomination. If I do have to hold my nose and vote for her in the general election, at least I'll know I tried to change the direction of the debate.
And if she loses the general election, honestly, it won't make a damned bit of difference -- except maybe I'll get my $2000 back.
Clinton released her tax returns....they pay a LOT of tax. A very high % of their income
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/hillary-clinton-releases-eight-years-of-tax-returns-120882.html
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana
I also think that the "Ivy League" private university situation is ridiculous. Making all the best schools completely out of reach for most people is disgusting IMO.
$20,000+ a year for tuition alone is absolutely unacceptable IMO, as is $100,000 worth of student loans.
Godfather.
I do like what Scott is saying.Let the private universities continue to march to there own drum.If it's for you great if not then head to a state school which should have tuition and fee schedule which would be fine with being supplemented and regulated o on a state by state basis.
We use lottery money to help supplement here in Fl,but I'd also be fine with a consumption tax on cigs,booze,and tourism to help keep higher education affordable.
If there was a way to cap it at a certain rate. We couldn't let congress raise the % every 4 years.
Other points - whether you personally think your degree was worth it or not, many studies have shown that individuals with a 4 year college degree make, on average at least $250,000 more in their working lifetime than those without any college education. All being equal
And as for the "consumption" taxes on alcohol and cigarettes - are you sure you aren't already paying at least some of these? We Canadians pay hefty consumption taxes on alcohol and smokes.
Just to keep it real, I just looked some thing up. I live five miles away from a reputable, major state university, and according to their web site I just read, their 2015-16 costs are outlined clearly for prospective students who would like to *choose* that reputable state school. It does come to about 20,000 a year -- for the whole dang package. Now, given that my whole dang package as a single working professional in the same neighborhood comes to about $50 grand a year, I would say the young stallions at that school have it made. All they have to do is wake up, go to class, live a hell of a life on campus, have no worries except to ace the calculus exam and maybe get laid on a Friday night. For 20 grand a year.
If little Junior were NOT in school, would he get all he gets AT school for less than 20,000 a year? NO! He would be humping a minimum wage job, living in his parent's basement next door to me smoking dope in between shifts, with absolutely no prospects at all (and we have plenty of those in my neighborhood). His parents would be paying more than 50,000 grand to support themselves and little Junior, and sooner or later, he will be collecting a welfare check after they finally kick him out because they've had enough of his mooching of them. If that's not the life little Junior or his parents want, then he and they need to buck up, pay for their shit, get help from the bank if they need it. But it's not my job to pay my 50 grand for me, and then subsidize a portion for Junior.
And besides, if little Junior wanted to go to that perfectly fine, reputable state school while continuing to live in his parents' basement, it would only cost him 10,000 a year, not 20. That is also Junior's CHOICE.
Clearly my philosophical stance is that people in life make choices. And then they pay for them.
But it is just factually incorrect to say that a lack of access to higher education has caused the dumbing down. There are more students going to college now than at any other time in American history. And if you look at the average GPA in America over the past 20 years, you will see nothing but grossly inflated grades at the same time standardized scores have plummeted. Students are admitted to college with A averages and then they take their course placement tests and we find that close to 60% of students need remedial writing and math classes in college because they were pushed into a track they should never have found themselves to begin with. People have been lying to them all their lives about what special geniuses they are, and it finally hits them when they get to college that they are not. But nobody can say, "Oh, you don't really belong in a four year academic institution" because that would just be too politically incorrect and the so-called "under-served" populations will start crying about how their lives matter too, and the white, middle class helicopter moms will pull out their claws and gauge your eyes out. The fact is, colleges and universities in America can't keep up with the demands placed on them -- and *that* has more than a fair bit to do with the reason tuition and fees are going up.
I think you said in another post that tuition should be subsidized for people who need it. Every college or university in America has a financial aid office for students who truly need it. I needed it. It's how I got hooked up to what apparently was a fantastic student loan. There are grants, work study programs, scholarships. You name it. The truth is -- anybody who wants to go to college in America can, and anybody who regrets their investment in their education probably should never have gone in the first place. To expand an already effective needs-based program to a 340 BILLION dollar entitlement for everybody is just wrong.
Godfather.
Godfather.