Another way to think about it is that the older you are, the easier it was for you to get through college through grants (among other things, I had Pell Grants, which had a 3% interest rate), subsidized state schools (my spouse went to UNC-Charlotte in the 1980s for only $500 a semester), and because minimum wage was much higher relative to costs than it is today.
Reagan and others started slashing at that, making college inaccessible to most Americans without lots of loans – which were outright predatory once transferred to private lenders by the Republican Party (again).
So the reality is that we have a long way to go to bring current students BACK UP to the levels of support you could get from 1950-1984.
As someone who worked her way through college and paid her own way, I have no trouble with forgiving current student debt. My tuition was WAY WAY cheaper back then than it is now. I think it’s crazy how much debt current students are saddled with.
All categories of lower and higher public education should be available for any student gratis as an inalienable right. From university degrees to trade school training to on the job training programs with certification, and retraining for employees of dying industries. This should be a priority. (We all know that there are so many problems that need immediate attention.)
We really do need to do more at basic levels to keep up with the rest of the humanitarian productive countries of the world.
The answer is very simple. Starting (real soon) good basic health care should be free, and you should be able to buy the upgrade for about $600 to $1200 per year. If you have spent more than (pick a number) on medical costs in the last 20 years, show us the receipts and we’ll reimburse you 50% of the inflation-adjusted amount, amortized over the next 5 years. PS: Medical establishments are required to give you the data you need on pain of the CEO going to jail…
I’ve read that we’re a “blame and shame” society. If your job is cut, can’t afford an education, or become seriously ill, you are solely. responsible and if you can’t overcome it, well, it’s what you deserve. Don’t whine about it. You’re a disgusting smear on the American Dream. This is great cover for the “isms”. Racism, Classism, Sexism.
The average college graduate pays about $7800 more a year in federal taxes than the average high school graduate. Over 30 years, that totals about $234,000. If that’s divided by the 4 years it takes to get a college education, the government would break even if it paid every student $58,500 a year to attend school. This doesn’t even consider that with the degree, the person is less likely to ever need unemployment or welfare, that more students would complete high school if they could see a clear way to a really good job, and that they would be enriching the Social Security and Medicare funds. They would also be paying a larger amount in all other types of taxes.The best investment we could make to keep America strong is to not just forgive all student loans but to make all higher education, including trade schools, etc totally free, as long as the student is making decent grades, and increase the number of schools and teachers to make room for all who can profit from the education. There is no better way to spend money than to invest it in our people, to give them every opportunity to be the best they can be. Yes, It’s good for them individually, but the country is made up of individuals, so what’s good for one is good for the country.. We don’t, even during a time of high unemployment, have so much a lack of jobs as we have a lack of people who have the skills to perform the jobs that are available- in other words, a lack of education.
I’ve worked 7 days a week since I was 8 years old, women don’t need the vote, and if you have ever eaten a blue steak you know fire isn’t necessary to enjoy a meal. But if you want a society where your people can compete to be the best in the world, with good paying jobs there needs to be a correction to the cost of the education system, even if it means gearing the subsidies/debt relief to those fields most in need and the over subscribed/less necessary degrees only getting small subsidies or only a percentage of the students in those fields getting debt relief. The most benefit going to those acquiring the most useful skills. We don’t need 100 000 graduates with English degrees per year, but we do need some to educate the next generation, but we definitely need more scientists, doctors nurses, etc.in the college oriented trades and we need plumbers, electricians, welders, etc. in the trades to build for the future.
The median American owes $0 in student loans. The “forgive all student loans” message doesn’t resonate. It doesn’t help that the loudest advocates borrowed huge sums for elite schools & make more than the average American.
Meanwhile, most of the people who are getting crushed by loans they can’t pay for, did not go to elite schools. Most didn’t get to finish because they couldn’t afford the opportunity cost of pursuing an education over other obligations.
I think it’s a serious problem, in need of a serious solution.
Matt, I hate to disagree with you but,……. I feel like the jar-head in your cartoon. I joined the Army to help pay for my education. I invaded Iraq faced IED’s and hostile fire. My education was important to me. Now that benefit in the workplace is going to be given away to my labor pool competition with my tax dollars.
Can I convert my hard won education dollars to a cash payment?
mattro65 about 4 years ago
Change is inevitable. It remains to be seen what we do with it.
Motivemagus about 4 years ago
Nicely summarized!
Another way to think about it is that the older you are, the easier it was for you to get through college through grants (among other things, I had Pell Grants, which had a 3% interest rate), subsidized state schools (my spouse went to UNC-Charlotte in the 1980s for only $500 a semester), and because minimum wage was much higher relative to costs than it is today.
Reagan and others started slashing at that, making college inaccessible to most Americans without lots of loans – which were outright predatory once transferred to private lenders by the Republican Party (again).
So the reality is that we have a long way to go to bring current students BACK UP to the levels of support you could get from 1950-1984.
It’s an investment in the future of our country.
tabby about 4 years ago
As someone who worked her way through college and paid her own way, I have no trouble with forgiving current student debt. My tuition was WAY WAY cheaper back then than it is now. I think it’s crazy how much debt current students are saddled with.
S&C = Dismayed&Depressed about 4 years ago
All categories of lower and higher public education should be available for any student gratis as an inalienable right. From university degrees to trade school training to on the job training programs with certification, and retraining for employees of dying industries. This should be a priority. (We all know that there are so many problems that need immediate attention.)
We really do need to do more at basic levels to keep up with the rest of the humanitarian productive countries of the world.
Daeder about 4 years ago
Nailed it, Matt!
braindead Premium Member about 4 years ago
Didn’t go for the other obvious one, huh Matt?
Concretionist about 4 years ago
The answer is very simple. Starting (real soon) good basic health care should be free, and you should be able to buy the upgrade for about $600 to $1200 per year. If you have spent more than (pick a number) on medical costs in the last 20 years, show us the receipts and we’ll reimburse you 50% of the inflation-adjusted amount, amortized over the next 5 years. PS: Medical establishments are required to give you the data you need on pain of the CEO going to jail…
Ditto for schooling
Andylit Premium Member about 4 years ago
Sorry, just plain stupid. Panels 2, 3 and 4 don’t come out of the taxpayer’s pocket.
sevaar777 about 4 years ago
I’ve read that we’re a “blame and shame” society. If your job is cut, can’t afford an education, or become seriously ill, you are solely. responsible and if you can’t overcome it, well, it’s what you deserve. Don’t whine about it. You’re a disgusting smear on the American Dream. This is great cover for the “isms”. Racism, Classism, Sexism.
rossevrymn about 4 years ago
I guess, but we could probably work something out that might seem more equitable.
Diane Lee Premium Member about 4 years ago
The average college graduate pays about $7800 more a year in federal taxes than the average high school graduate. Over 30 years, that totals about $234,000. If that’s divided by the 4 years it takes to get a college education, the government would break even if it paid every student $58,500 a year to attend school. This doesn’t even consider that with the degree, the person is less likely to ever need unemployment or welfare, that more students would complete high school if they could see a clear way to a really good job, and that they would be enriching the Social Security and Medicare funds. They would also be paying a larger amount in all other types of taxes.The best investment we could make to keep America strong is to not just forgive all student loans but to make all higher education, including trade schools, etc totally free, as long as the student is making decent grades, and increase the number of schools and teachers to make room for all who can profit from the education. There is no better way to spend money than to invest it in our people, to give them every opportunity to be the best they can be. Yes, It’s good for them individually, but the country is made up of individuals, so what’s good for one is good for the country.. We don’t, even during a time of high unemployment, have so much a lack of jobs as we have a lack of people who have the skills to perform the jobs that are available- in other words, a lack of education.
theincrediblebulk about 4 years ago
I’ve worked 7 days a week since I was 8 years old, women don’t need the vote, and if you have ever eaten a blue steak you know fire isn’t necessary to enjoy a meal. But if you want a society where your people can compete to be the best in the world, with good paying jobs there needs to be a correction to the cost of the education system, even if it means gearing the subsidies/debt relief to those fields most in need and the over subscribed/less necessary degrees only getting small subsidies or only a percentage of the students in those fields getting debt relief. The most benefit going to those acquiring the most useful skills. We don’t need 100 000 graduates with English degrees per year, but we do need some to educate the next generation, but we definitely need more scientists, doctors nurses, etc.in the college oriented trades and we need plumbers, electricians, welders, etc. in the trades to build for the future.
Uncle Joe Premium Member about 4 years ago
The median American owes $0 in student loans. The “forgive all student loans” message doesn’t resonate. It doesn’t help that the loudest advocates borrowed huge sums for elite schools & make more than the average American.
Meanwhile, most of the people who are getting crushed by loans they can’t pay for, did not go to elite schools. Most didn’t get to finish because they couldn’t afford the opportunity cost of pursuing an education over other obligations.
I think it’s a serious problem, in need of a serious solution.
Super Fly about 4 years ago
Some of the good old days actually were good. that 90% tax rate was one of the good old things. Also unions.
jhayesd31 about 4 years ago
Matt, I hate to disagree with you but,……. I feel like the jar-head in your cartoon. I joined the Army to help pay for my education. I invaded Iraq faced IED’s and hostile fire. My education was important to me. Now that benefit in the workplace is going to be given away to my labor pool competition with my tax dollars.
Can I convert my hard won education dollars to a cash payment?