Democrats and Republicans disagree whether college is worth the cost

[LisaM]

25. Well, you just seem tied to the idea that education is strictly for earning money, and not

for becoming a thinker. I'll also add that the computer programming classes I took, while not part of the curriculum for my major, did ultimately help me in the workplace.

I'm not the least bit wealthy financially, but my education has helped me immeasurably in leading a better, intellectually richer life. I value that. Perhaps it's not for you, but I don't see everything in the world with an eye to a profit. Your mileage obviously varies.

My job entails both some writing and some computer skills, so to that extent, my knowledge base is very helpful and has probably helped me advance a little more than I would have otherwise. I write better than about 90% of my colleagues, which helps both me and my company.

I also write poetry on the side, which I find very emotionally satisfying. I'd also posit that my liberal arts education helps me enjoy both travel and concerts more than if I'd never gone to college or at least been exposed to learning.

Again, yes, I paid money for an education, not a career (and was also partially helped by a scholarship) and even if I'm not Richie Rich, it doesn't bother me, and I think the money was well spent. I'm glad I borrowed money, and washed dishes, and refereed volleyball, and bused tables, and lived in a lot of different shared housing, and was really poor when I first started out. I may not be the best person or the best company in the world, but at least I respect myself more than the people I know who did things like take out student loans and bank them for the interest, or brag to me about getting big salaries out of the gate, or work for oil companies, or do a lot of things that I'd find compromising. Not sure what you have against Pynchon, but I'm glad I challenged myself taking-high level English classes and looking for secondary meeting and societal themes in literature because it gives me a nuanced view of the world that I don't think everyone is privileged enough to have.