I have a different take on it. I went to college in the 80's . It was expected of me as it was of all of my classmates . We were middle class. 98% of my HS classmates went right along with me to 4 year Universities . 20% of my grad class went on to Ivy League schools. Whether your parents paid or you worked it cost about 8K a year for a state university and about 15K a year for an Ivy League school. Yes, people really did " work their way through college by themselves" .

But somewhere along the line, college became big business. As in, the sky rocketing tuition began to reflect the investment / debt balnce sheet of the colleges as they borrowed and speculated in the financial markets.

With universities spending more and borrowing more, you'd think that every one attending would be taught by "leaders in their field" Wrong again, just as ruition started to sky rocket, Universities started only hiring " Assoc Profs" and paying them less, and no benefits.

FF 20 years, the average american middle class family is looking at 40K a year to 50 K a year for university only to have their child taught by Assoc Profs and TA"s who are often just part time employees ( A choice the Univ makes to avoid paying them benefits , like health insurance and paid vacation)

WHERE IS THE TUITION $$$ that the University is getting going ??

Its being used to pay debt, to build endowment , to what ???

Enter Obama with " the solution" :

Don't worry Middle Class America: your kids can all go to Community College for "free" .

In other words, for the middle class, the standard of hope for a better future has been lowered to community college ( formerly the bastion of girls who got PG and boys who did jail time and got a GED)

And the 1% ust keep getting richer and teh gap wider.

Here's the question: how much money do you need ? When are you rich enough ?

What is operating to make college cost 50K a year? Its insane. And don't tell me that more people are going , they aren't and there are less young people as well ( pop of youth is less than boomer generation)

Something doesn't mesh here.

Anonymous wrote:Sure, I understand an educated work-force benefits all of us in the long run. I understand a 4 year college or university education is really really really expensive.

But damn, how in the HELL are we going to pay for this? Our primary education system is still fundamentally lacking and underfunded, and increasingly strained with children not paying into the system.

Is the cost of community college already so prohibitive that people who are intelligent, resourceful, hard-working, etc. can't find a way to pay for it?

People are not entitled to a college education. This idea is just ridiculous.

I agree, we need to spread out the public education wealth first. Far too many "public" schools in high net worth areas with excessive resources compared to struggling schools just a few miles away. If primary education was indeed equal for all SES levels the community college cost would become a minimal issue.

I am sure most people against this have no sense of reality and grew up/live in the DC bubble where everyone makes a decent living and education.

You want to get rid of entitlements, how about mortgage interest tax deductions. They help out only the wealthiest Americans, and yes even you poor souls making only $150k are at the top of the income earners in this country.

Just quit. Let the super computers take over .. We are 15 years from done.

Anonymous wrote:I am a Republican. I am not poor--middle class. I am intrigued by this IF the schools are of good quality. Many countries offer free upper education, but you get kicked out if you don't work hard/maintain your place. My worry is everything just get dumbed down. "Free diplomas" That won't help anyone.

Very true. I think we already see that w/ a lot of 4 year colleges, especially some of the un-traditional ones. I don't think a UMUC diploma is work the paper it's printed on, but it's considered a "real" 4 year college.

Anonymous wrote:I'd contend that our biggest problem is that the primary and secondary education system has become weak. The typical high school graduate today is emerging less well-educated than a high school graduates did decades ago. A 2-year degree today is roughly the equivalent of what a high school diploma was 50 years ago.

We really need to focus on more robust primary and secondary education, along with providing better options. Not everyone wants or needs to go to college, and we really do not do vocational training and trades justice.

I don't believe this at all. What my daughter is doing in 6th grade is light years ahead of what I did in a very well regarded public 35 years ago. The work load that HS students are put through is crazy. What _has_ changed is the amount of education necessary to have a decent job. I'd agree that an associates degree is probably similar to a HS degree in terms of the type of job it can get you, but IMO that has a lot more to do w/ the jobs we have out there now vs. the educational system.

I am a Republican. I am not poor--middle class. I am intrigued by this IF the schools are of good quality. Many countries offer free upper education, but you get kicked out if you don't work hard/maintain your place. My worry is everything just get dumbed down. "Free diplomas" That won't help anyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I say take money from the damn Pentagon. That should be enough for any and all social programs.

Do you understand that half the money the pentagon spends is the result of earmarks by congressmen and women who want money spent in home.districts? Sure take that money - it may come back.to bite you though. Dont curse the pentagon though. They do their best to.keep us safe under political management.

Their best is not good enough. They are not worth their keep.

Anonymous wrote:I say take money from the damn Pentagon. That should be enough for any and all social programs.

Do you understand that half the money the pentagon spends is the result of earmarks by congressmen and women who want money spent in home.districts? Sure take that money - it may come back.to bite you though. Dont curse the pentagon though. They do their best to.keep us safe under political management.

I'd contend that our biggest problem is that the primary and secondary education system has become weak. The typical high school graduate today is emerging less well-educated than a high school graduates did decades ago. A 2-year degree today is roughly the equivalent of what a high school diploma was 50 years ago.

We really need to focus on more robust primary and secondary education, along with providing better options. Not everyone wants or needs to go to college, and we really do not do vocational training and trades justice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Obama's plan is just another entitlement for illegal immigrants.

You can't be serious.

Do you think everyone who graduates from a high school in the U.S. will be covered by the proposed plan? The proposal seemed to suggest it.

Our community college system is actually ok. Does a good job at a fair price. Please don't let Obama f#ck this up too.

I say take money from the damn Pentagon. That should be enough for any and all social programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Universal access devaluates education. 4-year college used to mean something. Now it means nothing. PP is right, garbage in, garbage out.

It needs to be MUCH more competitive (based on merit).

And high schools need to step it up and teach more vocational skills. More does not equal better.

Vocational skills are far too complicated for typical high school students to master. Vocational skills require math, logic, perception, strength, stamina, and troubleshooting skills which are far beyond the physical and academic abilities of typical high school students.

Vocational skills should be taught in a post HS graduate instructional setting.

Anonymous wrote:IT IS NOT FREE as the teachers are still getting paid, right????!!!!!


The middle class will pay for CC for the poors.
Headlines need to change to say, "Obama proposed the middle class provide community college degrees for American poors.

Sad, but +1

IT IS NOT FREE as the teachers are still getting paid, right????!!!!!


The middle class will pay for CC for the poors.
Headlines need to change to say, "Obama proposed the middle class provide community college degrees for American poors.