Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Sanders to propose canceling $1.6 trillion in US student debt [View all]HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)Within the last 15-20 years, the cost of college has skyrocketed. Everything from textbooks, tuition, fees, meal plans, housing, etc. costs significantly more now than it did a couple of decades ago, yet the necessity of a college education has never been greater. Sure, there's good paying jobs that don't require much education, but not everybody wants to be an electrician or a plumber. Want to be a teacher? That's 5+ years of undergraduate and graduate courses. Want to be a computer programmer? That's 4+ years of college. Accountant? 4+ years. Researcher? Likely 8+ years. Then there's the barrier of entry into the workforce. Entry level jobs these days often require 2, 3, 4+ years of experience in addition to a degree. Want to change careers? Good luck with that. Remember being younger and everyone told you going to college would result in a high paying job? I remember. That message was hammered into myself and everyone I went to high school with. You know who else was listening? College administrators, Sallie Mae, loan sharks. If the ratio between the cost of college and job salaries remained the same, then I'd be more willing to agree with you, but that has not been the case. People are making money hand over fist from others just trying to get an education and better themselves financially and in other ways. It's a broken system, and it has been for a long time.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided