A 2017 College Board study estimated that the cost of college has increased 100% since 2001. The St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank estimates that U.S. college tuition debt has increased from $480 billion in 2006 to $1.5 trillion in 2018. Several 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary candidates have argued that the cost of college is out of control and that the government should pay for tuition. Opponents argue that the government cant afford it and point to estimates from the Committee for a Responsible Federal budget that estimate programs would cost the government $80 billion a year.
Narrow down which types of responses you would like to see.
Narrow down the conversation to these participants:
Discussions from these authors are shown:
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
@B7X6MTMIndependent 8mos8MO
College isn't necessary but should be accesible to all, giving everyone an equal opportunity to do more and be well educated, the only issue would be job opportunities would be harder to guarantee, but this could be avoided if these students end up making their own businesses in the process.
@B7YGD4K8mos8MO
@B7YTLXY8mos8MO
@B7WP6RT 8mos8MO
Although free college sounds like a luxury, only a few people deserve to be educated and it all depends on their mindset. Some individuals aren't as motivated and dedicated to actually learning, the only thing they want is a job that makes money. If people don't have the ture dream to learn and adapt to their profession, the world would be dealing with many careless "professionals" in their day to day life.
@B7YCX6Y 8mos8MO
If collage is free for all then collages would severely decline and the education you are receiving from it will not be nearly as valuable. This would also increase tax payer dollars significantly and cause the general public to have less spending money hurting the economy. You could argue that this extera education would race the economy as people would be better educated and be able to do more by starting bussnises etc.. but I believe the cons out way the pros. Along with this collage drop out rates would increase. I believe that we need to keep our collage grants and assistance but if we… Read more
@B8BZ38R 7mos7MO
The amount of opportunities for people would be highly increased, many low-income students are stuck with loan debt throughout their entire life, low-income students will never be able to pay for their tuition, despite some being highly intelligent with much potential, and scholarship opportunities just don't cut it. I whole-heartily believe that students, especially low-income, should have their college tuition paid for, in full, by the government.
@B86DPQW 7mos7MO
Most highschool students when they leave highschool are unable to pay for college or get a job without income so therefore we should agree to help out those kinds of students.
@B86PL4X7mos7MO
@B87NK44Republican7mos7MO
@B89SRKJ7mos7MO
@B88VXZZIndependent7mos7MO
@B8LVK6N 7mos7MO
Higher education should be achievable by people of all backgrounds. Student loans can be live ruining for people who are lower or middle class which discourages more than half of the population to get a degree or certification that allows for them to work in crucial roles. We ask "where are all the doctors? nurses?" while making it financially impossible for 50%+ of the population to work as one.
@B8MKZFW7mos7MO
@B8MHQ7R7mos7MO
@B8MDFWB7mos7MO
@B8N2FST7mos7MO
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
@B9J3ZPX 5mos5MO
Top Disagreement
When discussing cases of free education, multiple factors must be addressed, such as value of education in the modern day, the requirement of higher education in the modern workfield, and whether funding would be from the Government, or taxing the people.
The value of education in the modern day is that if you are informed of
@B9JL6LN5mos5MO
@B9J8LK35mos5MO
I agree with this comment. Free college is a complex issue that involves multiple factors, including the societal value of education, accessibility, and the funding source. Education today is increasingly necessary for many careers, so making it accessible could improve economic opportunity and reduce inequality. However, funding through the government or taxes must be carefully considered to ensure fairness and sustainability. Overall, I think it’s important to balance the benefits of free education with practical financial planning and societal impact.
@B9JGQNM 5mos5MO
I agree with this comment because free college for all is more complicated than it sounds. Higher education is valuable today, but not every job requires a four-year college degree. Many careers can be reached through trade schools or other training programs, which should also be supported. Another important issue is funding. If the federal government pays for college tuition, the money has to come from taxes paid by the people. This could place a burden on taxpayers, including those who do not attend college. Because of this, it makes sense to carefully consider the value of a college degree, who truly needs it, and how the costs would be shared before making college free for everyone.
@9FFPFR73yrs3Y
Free college for all is good because our society can have less stress on getting education and our country can be more advanced if more people are able to get education.
@9FFRCGMLibertarian3yrs3Y
@B9J2WJH5mos5MO
There is no reason for the federal government to not fund tuition at four-year colleges and universities. Many students end up in severe debt which can cripple their financial ability for years to come and can lead to heightened poverty rates throughout the country. Education should not be locked behind a mountain of money when it's what can get you earning that much money in the first place.
@9FRRB5G3yrs3Y
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
@B89RDV7 7mos7MO
Top Disagreement
I think all students should have a chance to have scholarship opportunities. It's great that low-income students can get free college, but these opportunities should be for everyone.
@B8B78TY7mos7MO
@B8CFLWN7mos7MO
@B8B7GHN7mos7MO
@B7WMF6ZWomen’s Equality 8mos8MO
I believe that lower-income students should get the opportunity to get scholarships from the government because those students aren't set up for success.
@B7WVM3C8mos8MO
@B7WVMKJ8mos8MO
@B8LH7GDRepublican 7mos7MO
You want people to become smarter so that there are more workers but will not allow them to go to college for free even when they can not afford it. This causes more unemployment and less job opportunities for these people.
@B8LM9RV7mos7MO
@B8M8YJL7mos7MO
@B8LN2MN7mos7MO
@B8LPJ3X7mos7MO
I do agree with this because this is a real-life issue. I feel we have many geniuses, but since they aren't given the chance to be born into a wealthy family, they won't be given the same opportunities as someone who is born into a wealthy family, and all of that talent will just end up going to waste.
@B8FNYGR 7mos7MO
Student debt is a huge problem regardless of your class rank. All students, regardless of income should be given free income if their household makes under $200K a year
@B8HVQJHIndependent7mos7MO
As a citizen of the United States, I believe students should not be overwhelmed with student loan debt. Education should be free for all citizens. After graduating, students could repay society by dedicating a certain amount of time to public service within a set period, such as working four to eight unpaid hours per week until the required hours are completed. If they are unable to fulfill this obligation, then they should repay the program financially.
@B8GFCNC7mos7MO
@B8G63627mos7MO
@B8G7Q557mos7MO
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
@9FT8J9V3yrs3Y
@9FM5XPB3yrs3Y
Students don't want student loans or college debts because then they would have to pay it off later and that could rack up to a lot of money and they probably wouldn't be able to pay it off. They would have to worry about that on top of whatever else they have to do. Having Free College would put less stress on the person and they wouldn't have to worry about debt or paying back student loans.
@B25T8HT1yr1Y
“Students don't want student loans or college debts because then they would have to pay it off later and that could rack up to a lot of money and they probably wouldn't be able to pay it off.”
I agree because student loans can be a huge financial burden that takes years to pay off. Free college would reduce stress and let students focus on their education and future careers without worrying about debt. It would make higher education more accessible for everyone
@9FSJK373yrs3Y
@9FGR8FGWomen’s Equality3yrs3Y
The Federal government isn't responsible for providing individuals with a college level education. However, the government should strive to help improve the number of citizens who are able to obtain a college education by helping lower student loans rate. School should be an investment that you can realistically pay off. Such as how we paid for failed businesses during COVID and how we paid to help bail out big banks. Why not give the money back to people who could also use the help.
@ISIDEWITH7yrs7Y
@9GLFMSY 3yrs3Y
Top Agreement
Many students do not come from a wealthy or even stable family. These students also have limited resources and are not able to find scholarships. Students who have experienced more hardships than average kids should most definitely have free college opportunities. Other students should also have the opportunities for a more affordable college.
@9GLHW9RRepublican3yrs3Y
@9GLHVCYRepublican3yrs3Y
@9GLMJGJ3yrs3Y
@9GLJ8BF3yrs3Y
@B9RRWK2 5mos5MO
With the rise of colleges. I believe that there should be more funding in pursing future chairman and business people. Since there is so much money in the united States, if a small portion went to help reduce the costs of colleges who knows what opportunities awaits for those driven from harsh backgrounds.
@B9VC4J44mos4MO
@9FT8J9V3yrs3Y
@B87K98N7mos7MO
@8LXMDF56yrs6Y
@94Z37B44yrs4Y
@8G5FNF4Libertarian6yrs6Y
@9D5CTP53yrs3Y
Yes, but this should only apply to State colleges and Universities. Any aid for private will be based on the Public cost.
Private colleges often offer unique programs and smaller class sizes, which may be more suitable for some students. If federal aid is solely based on public cost, it might deter students from attending private institutions due to financial constraints, even if that institution is the best fit for their educational needs.
@9DVX7BM3yrs3Y
Yes but only for students entering college with a high likelihood of graduating. Admission process should be competitive.
@WittyRedWhiteBlue3yrs3Y
I agree with your point. For instance, a model similar to the one employed in many Scandinavian countries could be effective. They offer free higher education, but the admission process is highly competitive, ensuring only the most dedicated and capable students can attend. This model maintains a high standard of education and ensures that government resources are effectively utilized. However, this would require a significant shift in our current education system. Do you think such a drastic change could be implemented successfully in the US?
@9DRRZJZ3yrs3Y
Well I sure hate to burst your bubble, but human nature being what it is, government WILL have a vested interest in what is taught at universities and schools that it funds, and it will seek to indoctrinate and not to educate the citizens. Government does not collect taxes to provide services it provides services as an excuse to collect taxes, which is an excuse to grow its power over your life and this is an example. Plus last I checked the Constitution doesn't give the government any authority to bribe college students into blind obedience, servitude, and slavery using a check made of fake fiat money as a little birthday present from their Uncle Brandon.
@9FDPBFS3yrs3Y
I see where you're coming from, and it's a valid point. However, let's consider a student who excels in high school and gets into a good college, but then struggles due to circumstances beyond their control - say illness, or having to work part-time to support their family. According to a merit-based approach, this student could lose their funding and perhaps be unable to continue their education.
From my own experience, I've seen peers struggle in their early semesters, only to turn things around and excel in their final years. Sometimes, it's just about adjusting to a new environment and workload.
So, the question is, should we risk penalizing students who may initially struggle but have the potential to succeed? What could be a fair and effective alternative to the merit-based system you proposed?
@B4JM6VD1yr1Y
@8JCYF7F6yrs6Y
@8KWVHJ8Women’s Equality6yrs6Y
@8SQZ4BS 3yrs3Y
Increase the federal pell grant funding for the low and middle class students. And instead of forgiving student loans, make the interest rate 0% in perpetuity.
@FinickyAntelope3yrs3Y
@9D5CBD23yrs3Y
@MindRaisinsLibertarian3yrs3Y
At private Ivy League universities where tuition is generally high, they offer top-notch education, world-class facilities, and attract renowned faculty. If the federal government were to pay for tuition, it could lead to a compromise on these aspects due to budget constraints. What are your thoughts on this? How do you propose we maintain the quality of education while reducing costs?
@95PTX8K4yrs4Y
@9CC8LWWRepublican3yrs3Y
@B4C4KVQ1yr1Y
@B3L4GG51yr1Y
@9YFFHFL2yrs2Y
@9DPC86L3yrs3Y
@9SBR6FL2yrs2Y
@B87M3C67mos7MO
@9F56462Progressive3yrs3Y
@9FFK4XM3yrs3Y
@9DNPBB7 3yrs3Y
@9GPLPTK3yrs3Y
yes but only for degrees that are useful and needed such as engineering and medical. Not like english or humanities.
@VulcanMan6 3yrs3Y
This persistent glorification of STEM fields, along with the suppression and rejection of the humanities, is creating deep societal problems. The promotion of STEM without the humanities just produces intellectual monsters, in which we end up with powerful industries run by people who could engineer weapons of mass destruction yet couldn't explain to someone how the holocaust happened. Our society's cultural and economic disincentivization of the humanities is actively creating this dangerous world where even incredibly "intelligent" people are completely ignorant to the world around them and the atrocities and injustices taking place.
@9GNGKQN3yrs3Y
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...
Join in on more popular conversations.
