Bernie Sanders OP-ED: Public College Should BE FREE

[Segami]

"...It is time to build on the progressive movement of the past and make public colleges and universities tuition-free in the United States — a development that will be the driver of a new era of American prosperity. We will have a stronger economy and a stronger democracy when all young people with the ambition and the talent can reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances at birth..."

~snip~

An important pathway to the middle class now runs through higher education, but rising costs are making it harder and harder for ordinary Americans to get the education they want and need. In 1978, it was possible to earn enough money to pay for a year of college tuition just by working a summer job that paid minimum wage. Today, it would take a minimum wage worker an entire year to earn enough to cover the annual in-state tuition at a public university. And that's why so many bright young people don't go to college, don't finish or graduate deeply in debt. With $1.3 trillion in student loans, Americans are carrying more student debt than credit card or auto-loan debt. That's a tragedy for our young people and for our nation.


In my view, education is essential for personal and national well-being. We live in a highly competitive, global economy, and if our economy is to be strong, we need the best-educated workforce in the world. We won't achieve that if, every year, hundreds of thousands of bright young people cannot afford to go to college while millions more leave school deeply in debt. We need to ensure that every young person in this country who wishes to go to college can get the education that he or she desires, without going into debt and regardless of his or her family's income.


It may seem hard to believe, but there was a time when higher education was pretty close to free in this country, at least for many Americans. After World War II, the GI Bill gave free education to more than 2 million veterans, many of whom would otherwise never have been able to go to college. This benefited them, and it was good for the economy and the country, too. In fact, scholars say that this investment was a major reason for the high productivity and economic growth our nation enjoyed during the postwar years. And, in certain states, such as California and New York, tuition was so low that college was practically free for much of the 20th century. That is no longer the case in America, but free college is still a priority in many parts of the world.


In Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Mexico, public colleges and universities remain tuition-free. They're free throughout Germany, too, and not just for Germans or Europeans but for international citizens as well. That's why every year, more than 4,600 students leave the United States and enroll in German universities. For a token fee of about $200 per year, an American can earn a degree in math or engineering from one of the premier universities in Europe. Governments in these countries understand what an important investment they are making, not just in the individuals who are able to acquire knowledge and skills but for the societies these students will serve as teachers, architects, scientists, entrepreneurs and more.



cont'

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-bernie-sanders-free-college-20151023-story.html

[randys1]

1. Wow, look at that, a pro Bernie post with not one snide remark about Hillary. See, it can be done.

How do I know?

Bernie does it ALL DAY LONG.

I appreciate this kind of thread.

[Segami]

2. The day is not over.

In the meantime, grow up!

[randys1]

3. LOL

Oh god, that is rich.

The person working 24/7 to prevent dead Women in back alleys is the one who needs to grow up

[pinebox]

5. What's really rich

is twitter suggesting Bernie support pages as people to follow on your twitter profile XD

[randys1]

6. These are pro Bernie, why is that rich? Everyone knows I am a Bernie supporter, am I missing

something here?

[sabrina 1]

8. Look at this, a snide and FALSE attack on Bernie supporters who post threads every day without

mentioning Hillary.

I can't say I appreciate this kind of comment, but it appears to be the only kind we see from Hillary supporters. Not ALL of them of course.

[Bread and Circus]

4. I like this.

[MineralMan]

7. It's a terrific idea.

Now, all we need is a Congress that will pass such legislation. Let's all GOTV and help make that happen, whoever the Democratic President is in 2017.